About Us

Nebraska Extension in Merrick County provides the Merrick County community with research-based information and educational programs from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

With offices serving 93 counties across the state, Nebraska Extension is able to provide locally focused educational programs and expertise in the areas of agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, healthcare and technology.

Our county office can connect you with regional Nebraska Extension educators who can help answer your questions about gardening, 4-H programs, pesticide application and more. We offer a wide variety of classes, workshops and trainings throughout the year for youth, families, farmers, ranchers and businesses within the community.

Merrick County Extension Office
1784 Fairgrounds Road
Central City, NE 68826-0027
Phone: (308) 946-3843
E-mail: merrick-county@unl.edu

Map to our office

MEET THE MERRICK COUNTY STAFF

PICTURE COMING SOON

Steve Melvin
Ag Educator, Water and Cropping Systems

Phone: (308) 946-3843
Email: steve.melvin@unl.edu

Emily Cumming
4-H Educator, 4-H Youth Development

Phone: (308) 946-3843
Email: esoll2@unl.edu

Kara Wells
4-H Extension Assistant - 4-H Youth Development

Phone: (308) 946-3843
Email: kwells5@unl.edu

Cindie Hostler
Office Manager

Phone: (308) 946-3843
Email: cindie.hostler@unl.edu

Jade Arnsmeier
Office Assistant

Phone: (308) 946-3843
Email: jarnsmeier2@unl.edu

Merrick County Agricultural Society

The Merrick County Agricultural Society meets once a month and consists of fifteen members from across the county. The Extension Educator sits in on meetings as an advisor and liason between 4-H and the ag society. They provide the activities and entertainment at the fair, and oversee the upkeep and rental of the fairgrounds.

Russ Kucera, President                  308-940-1013     teamropr_81@msn.com

Isaac Jefferson, Vice President      308-940-1597     isaac.jefferson.2@gmail.com

Troy Wells, Secretary                     308-940-0333     merrickcountyfair@gmail.com

Brad Wells, Treasurer                    308-940-0028      sandhills1880@aim.com

Dale Nielson Jr.                             308-390-7120     dsnielson@gpcom.net

Aaron Huston                                308-940-2691     ahuston51@hotmail.com

Eric Frauen                                     308-380-8052     edf1983@hotmail.com

Jake Etherton                                 308-750-7904     etherton0917@gmail.com

Kelly Brandes                                 402-440-0369     krbrandes@yahoo.com

Jess Brandes                                   308-940-0208     rugbycwby@gmail.com

Tim Williams                                  308-850-6291      tim8763@hotmail.com

Mikaela Stuart                                402-710-8373     mikaelaw95@gmail.com

Dusty Van Winkle                           402-276-6734      dustyvanwinkle@rocketmail.com

Michael Zmek                                 308-550-1136       bluerockoutfitters@gmail.com

Ryan Kucera                                    308-390-7120      ryankucera1987@gmail.com

Merrick County Extension Board

The Merrick County Cooperative Extension Board, the governing body of the County Cooperative Extension, is made up of eight (8) members plus the chair of the 4-H Leaders Council. Term of office is for three years beginning with the January meeting for the appointed members. The chair of the 4-H Council serves as an Extension Board member as long as he/she is chair of the 4-H Council. The budgeting authority is the Board of Supervisors, with Extension Board members appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

Courtney Root, President                              308-940-0570                  bcroot1027@gmail.com

Lindsey Nelson, Vice President                     308-379-0907                   lnelson@centralcityps.org

Ashley Hake, Secretary/Treasurer                 308-379-6022                  ahake@cdhd.ne.gov

Paul Jarecke, 4-H Building committee          308-548-8382                  paul.jarecke@gmail.com

Karen Benner, Member                                 308-946-5185                   kkbenner@gmail.com

Wes Beck, Jr, Member                                   308-548-8203                  hillside@clarks.net

Heath Reimers, 4-H Council Rep.                  308-940-0269                 heathwlc@hotmail.com

Carolyn Kucera, Supervisor Liason                 308-940-0879                teamropr_81@msn.com

Merrick County 4-H Council

The 4-H section of the Merrick County Cooperative Extension program is planned by the assistance given to the Extension Educators by the 4-H Leaders Council. All 4-H Leaders and Jr. Leaders are members of the Council and Executive committee officers are elected as the governing body.

Heath Reimers, President                           308-940-0269                  heathwlc@hotmail.com

Jen Myers, Vice President                          402-690-5481                    doublejvb@hotmail.com

Justin Ferris, Secretary                               308-940-0940                    jwferris199@gmail.com

 Ryan Kucera, Treasurer                             402-322-9137                    ryankucera1987@gmail.com

Steph Nelson, Central Representative       308-940-2098                   snelson8795@gmail.com

Matt Mottl, At-Large Representative         308-379-7724                  mattm@ppl-usa.biz

Dusty Van Winkle, East Representative      402-276-6734                 dustyvanwinkle@rocketmail.com

Nicole Powell, West Representative           402-710-0816                 npowellpt@gmail.com

Kayden Tyan, Jr. Leader East Representative

Ella Mottl, Jr. Leader West Representative

Eli Ferris, Jr. Leader Central Representative

Renee Reimers, Jr. Leader At-Large Representative