Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills | Nebraska Extension

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

Hyannis Wildfire Meeting April 20, 2026

Nebraska Extension and USDA partners set April 20 wildfire recovery informational meeting for ranchers

Nebraska Extension and two federal partner agencies will hold an additional informational meeting on wildfire recovery April 20 in Hyannis, Nebraska, to help ranchers learn about available resources and address local needs. The program will include information on wildfire disaster relief programs and technical assistance, grazing and cropping options, recovery resources, mental health support and next steps.

The meeting is scheduled from 4 to 6:30 p.m. MDT at Hyannis Public School Lecture Hall. A meal will be served at 6:30 p.m. by Hot Meals USA to encourage group conversation and idea sharing.

The meeting will include presentations by Nebraska Extension professionals and representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Specific topics will include:

FSA assistance programs
NRCS restoration and technical assistance
Range and pasture restoration
Extension resources
Rancher fire experience
Taking care of you
Support moving forward
Next steps

The meeting will focus on information sharing, learning from one another, and discussing the best steps in moving forward in meaningful conversation as we work together.

As part of the outreach effort, Nebraska Extension has wildfire recovery information online at https://disaster.unl.edu/. Nebraska FSA wildfire resources are linked at fsa.usda.gov/ne in the Spotlights section.

The April 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