Feature stories/news
Local Interest/Resources
The Central Sandhills Area Nebraska Extension Office serves Blaine, Grant, Hooker, and Thomas Counties. These four counties cover a 114-mile stretch of Highway 2 and 2,900 square miles (1,856,000 acres) in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills. Beef cattle outnumber the people and are the main economic driver of the area. While the population of the Central Sandhills Area is less than 2,500 people, it includes four county governments, four county 4-H councils and fairs, four school districts, three state legislative districts, three health departments, two time zones, two educational service units, and one Nebraska Extension office.
Along with our local Livestock Systems Educator, 4-H/Youth Development Assistant, and Office Manager; regional Extension faculty work to serve the mission of Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills Area: engaging with Nebraskans wherever they are, connecting them with the resources, research and innovation of the University of Nebraska.
Local Items of Note
- 4-H Online Enrollment Website
- @beefeducator Resources/Links
- Join 4-H
Hay Testing Probes Available for Checkout
Accurately sampling and testing hay is the only way to get an accurate nutritive value to make sure cows are meeting requirements and to minimize hay waste. Central Sandhills Area Extension loans out hay probes for ranchers to collect hay samples. Call 645-2267 if you would like to borrow one.
- Our office and staff are funded by the four counties we serve and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Links to each county government webpage are below
News of Interest
Workshop to Address the Spread of Cedar Trees and Control Options
Cedar trees are rapidly spreading across Nebraska’s grasslands, threatening valuable forage for grazing animals and habitat for wildlife. In some areas, grass production has dropped by as much as 75% over the past three decades due to cedar tree encroachment. The best time to control your cedar trees is now!
To help landowners and producers tackle this issue, hands-on workshops will be held at two locations on Thursday, June 4, 2026:
10 am to noon MT at the Fairbuilding in Mullen (Hooker County Fairgrounds) or
1:30 to 3:30 p.m. MT at the Winter Building in Hyannis (South Main & Morton Streets).
Gain insight from real-life examples of various cedar control projects, including before/after photos, cost of the projects, cost-share options, and how producers are maintaining cedar-free pastures to maximize grass. Understanding how cedar trees spread and grow will help producers decide the best control options to use. Learn how pastures recover after fire, and how wildlife numbers, like grassland birds, change based on cedar canopy.
Walk-ins are welcome, but registrations are appreciated. To register at either location, call the Central Sandhills Area Extension Office at 308-645-2267 or email Bethany at bjohnston3@unl.edu to register. No cost to attend.
Thanks to these partners: Nebraska Extension, Pheasants Forever, the Nature Conservancy, Sandhills Task Force, Nebraska Game & Parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and NRCS.
The May 4-H Newsletter is Here!
Check out the new 4-H Newsletter Here!
Upcoming YQCA In-Person Trainings
All 4-H youth planning to show beef, goats, sheep, swine, poultry, or rabbits are welcome to join this in-person YQCA trainings.
May 2- Hooker County Library 10:30 AM MT
May 21 - Thomas County Library 10:00 Am CT
May 29 - Brewster 3:00 CT (Location TBD)
Please be sure to register and complete the pre-test prior to the class. In order to take the post-test and receive your certificate, the pre-test must be completed before the class begins.
Please call the CSA office to RSVP 308-645-2267 or email centralsandhills@unl.edu
Rural Poll Reports
Current Reports
By collaborating with the University of Missouri Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES), the Rural Poll team has created an interactive data report showing the results of the longest-running poll of rural life in the United States. The NEBRASKA RURAL POLL INTERACTIVE REPORT helps you explore what rural Nebraskans think about certain issues, such as well-being, civil discourse, artificial intelligence, housing, economy and trade, and their communities. This report can also be used to help local and state leaders better understand the needs, priorities, and viewpoints of Nebraska’s rural citizens.
For the most recent report on rural Nebraskans' views, see here: https://ruralpoll.unl.edu/current-reports/
Center for Ag Profitability (CAP) Free Webinars
The Center for Ag Profitability's webinar series focuses on topics related to farm and ranch management, profitability, economics and farm survival for producers and ag industry professionals in Nebraska and beyond. The live webcasts are typically presented at noon Central time on Thursdays. Registration is always free. View upcoming webinars and watch past recordings at CAP Webinars
