Platte Co. Extension Happenings

By Blake Wert, 4-H Youth Development Instructor --

The Nebraska State Fair is the premier opportunity for 4-H members across the state to showcase their hard work, dedication, and skills. Each year, Platte County youth have the opportunity to represent their county and share their projects and talents on the state level. The 2026 Nebraska State Fair will once again highlight 4-H through static exhibits, livestock shows, and a wide variety of additional contests.

Static Exhibits

Static exhibits at the State Fair showcase the creativity, knowledge, and growth of 4-H members across a wide range of project areas. From photography, foods, and clothing to woodworking, robotics, and beyond, each exhibit represents the time and effort youth have invested in developing their skills. Projects exhibited at the Platte County Fair may have the opportunity to qualify for the State Fair, giving 4-H members a chance to receive additional feedback, recognition, and encouragement for their accomplishments.

Livestock Shows

The 4-H livestock shows at the Nebraska State Fair provide youth with an opportunity to take their showing experience beyond the county level. Exhibitors may enter beef, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits, poultry, dairy cattle, horses, and dogs at the state level. These shows allow youth to demonstrate the animal care, preparation, and showmanship skills they have developed throughout the year, while also connecting with other 4-H members and families from across Nebraska. For many exhibitors, the State Fair is an exciting opportunity to challenge themselves, gain new experiences, and celebrate Nebraska’s rich agricultural heritage.

4-H Contests

In addition to static exhibits and livestock shows, the Nebraska State Fair is home to numerous 4-H contests that challenge youth to use their communication, teamwork, problem solving, and critical thinking skills to the test. Events include:

• Fashion Show – highlighting sewing and textile projects with modeling and presentation.
• Culinary Challenge – where teams prepare dishes using a secret ingredient and explain their food and nutrition knowledge.
• Horticulture, Tree ID, and Weed ID Contests – testing youth knowledge of plants, trees, and weeds in a competitive setting.
• Robotics Showcase – youth present their working robots and showcase how they have put their robotics knowledge into action.
• Dairy Judging Contest – youth demonstrate their knowledge of dairy cattle breeds, conformation, and management through live evaluation.

These opportunities ensure that every 4-H member has a place to shine at the State Fair whether their interests lie in agriculture, family and consumer sciences, STEM or another area of 4-H.

Celebrating Platte County Youth

The Nebraska State Fair is about much more than ribbons and awards—it is a celebration of growth, learning, hard work, and achievement. Platte County 4-H is proud of every youth who represents our county at the state level, and we look forward to cheering on our members as they share their talents, projects, and passions in Grand Island this August and September.

By Taylor Cammack, Extension Instructor

The cooler days and reduced weed pressure make this an ideal time for turfgrass seeding, and fall provides plenty of time for landscape plants to establish root systems before winter. You can also get a second harvest out of cold hardy vegetables yet this year.

Turfgrass

Seeding turfgrass is best in the late summer, from August 15 to September 15. When putting down turfgrass seed, be sure to make good contact between the soil and the seed. This might include raking any debris out of the turf or core aerating before seeding. A starter fertilizer, which is high in phosphorus and low in nitrogen and potassium, can be used to stimulate faster root growth. Most Nebraska soils have adequate levels of phosphorus, so starter fertilizer is not always a necessity. Check out turf.unl.edu for more information.

Fall Vegetable Garden

Cold hardy vegetables can be planted now and harvested yet this fall. Vegetables like leafy greens, carrots, brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli, cabbage, radish, turnips, and beets are great options. These plants thrive in cooler temperatures and can tolerate some of the weather that causes heat-loving veggies to slow down or die. Some varieties can even handle temperatures down to 20 degrees without getting frost injury.

Be sure to look at the seed packet and check the days to maturity. You can find vegetables that are ready for harvest in 30-60 days. Before planting, make sure your planting bed is ready for the seeds. Remove any weeds and be sure to moisten the soil a day or two before planting. Plant the seeds at the recommended depth or slightly deeper, water thoroughly, and cover lightly with mulch.

Even after the first freeze there are typically several weeks of favorable growing weather. Applying a thick layer of mulch around plants or using row covers can extend the growing season.

Perennials and Shrubs

Perennials like hostas, daylilies, or iris can be divided in the fall. This can be done by cutting the crown of the plant in half or thirds with a sharp spade and planting in a new location. New perennials and shrubs from the nursery can also be planted but make sure to inspect and correct the roots. Some root pruning may be necessary since the plants may have grown in their containers all season and become somewhat root-bound.

The plants will spend the fall establishing new root systems into the soil, so be sure to keep the plants moist (but not soggy) up to the soil freezing. Mulching them with wood chips will also help insulate and maintain soil moisture.

Trees

The best time of year to plant trees is in the fall. The cooler air temperatures cause less water stress on the trees and soil temperatures are still warm enough to encourage root growth into the late fall. Before you dig your planting hole, make sure to pull the tree out of the container or burlap and inspect the roots. Carefully inspect the root ball to locate the root flare, where the tree trunk transitions into structural roots. Sometimes the root flare is not at the top of the root ball and may be buried several inches under the soil. Do not be afraid to remove some of the potting soil to find it. Make sure this is exposed before you start planting. The root flare and the tops of the structural roots should be planted at or slightly above the soil level. Trees that are planted too deep will grow slower and tend to have more problems than those planted at the correct depth. Just remember, you’re planting a tree, not a telephone pole.

This webinar series, sponsored by Nebraska Extension and delivered via Zoom, is a great opportunity to join experts from Nebraska Extension to learn and ask questions! All programs are on the second Wednesday of the month from Noon-1 pm CT.

If you cannot participate in the live programs, they will be recorded and made available on this webpage for later viewing, too.

Is your garden producing more fruits or vegetables than you can use? Check out our canning, freezing, and drying resources for preserving food safely at home.

• Canning
• Freezing
• Drying
• Pickling
• Jams & Jellies

With so many options, how do we choose how to preserve the bounty for winter use?

In Nebraska, weather-related challenges are a reality. Wind, fire, and hail can strike suddenly and leave devastation behind. Drought, on the other hand, can develop slowly and persist for months or even years. Stress often follows a similar pattern.

Sometimes stress is immediate and intense, when equipment breaks down during a critical time, or when a storm damages crops, buildings, or fencing. Other times, stress, like a persistent drought, can become chronic, building gradually as one challenge follows another.

While we cannot control the weather, we can develop strategies to better manage stress and reduce its long-term effects on our health and well-being.

Recognizing Stress and Distress

Stress caused by ongoing burdens or threats can turn into distress. When stress feels constant and unrelenting, it can lead to serious physical, emotional, or mental health concerns.

It is important to recognize when stress is affecting us and when we need to take intentional steps to cope. It is equally important to notice signs of chronic stress in family members, employees, or others we work with regularly on the farm or ranch.

When to Seek Help

If stress becomes overwhelming or turns into distress, professional support can help.

The Nebraska Rural Response Hotline (800-464-0258) offers valuable resources, including free counseling vouchers through the Counseling Outreach and Mental Health Therapy (COMHT) program.

If you are with or know someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis or is talking about self-harm or suicide, do not leave them alone. Seek immediate help. Call or text 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.

If you’d like to learn more about suicide prevention programs, there are several, including QPR (Question. Persuade. Refer.). Nebraska Extension has a trained facilitator for this program, and you can check the AgriSafe website (https://www.agrisafe.org/) as they host virtual QPR trainings.

Healthy Ways to Cope During Stressful Times

Some coping habits—such as overeating, undereating, or excessive alcohol use—can worsen stress and harm health. Instead, consider positive strategies such as:

• Eating nutritious meals with fruits, vegetables, and healthy snacks
• Getting seven to eight hours of restful sleep each night
• Listening to calming music
• Volunteering for a meaningful cause
• Writing down three things you are grateful for each day
• Playing games or spending quality time with family
• Spending time with a pet
• Setting boundaries so the farm or ranch does not consume all aspects of life
• Reading or learning something new each day
• Letting go of what cannot be controlled

Additional ideas are available through North Dakota State University in the publication My Coping Strategies Plan – At Home and on the Farm.

The Eight Dimensions of Wellness

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for managing stress. Improving overall wellness in several areas of life can make a meaningful difference.

1. Physical – Exercise and movement can reduce stress.
2. Intellectual – Reading, journaling, puzzles, or learning new skills help engage the mind.
3. Financial – Budgeting tools and financial guidance can ease money-related stress.
4. Environmental – Spending time outdoors or in green spaces can be calming.
5. Spiritual – Prayer, meditation, or personal reflection may provide comfort.
6. Social – Staying connected with family, friends, and community is important.
7. Occupational – Healthy boundaries and time to recharge support work-life balance.
8. Emotional – Relaxation techniques, reframing thoughts, and counseling can help build resilience.

Managing stress is not only important for personal health, it also strengthens families, farm and ranch businesses, and rural communities. When individuals recognize stress early and use healthy coping strategies, they are better able to make sound decisions, maintain relationships, and navigate challenges with resilience. Taking steps to care for mental well-being today can improve quality of life, support long-term business success, and help ensure that Nebraska’s agricultural communities remain strong for generations to come.

Key Takeaways

• Accessible Tools: Free, easy-to-use soil color charts help Nebraska producers, landowners and citizens estimate soil organic matter (SOM) directly in the field.

• Free Lab Analysis: Participants in the citizen science program receive complimentary laboratory organic matter analysis for their submitted soil samples.

• Community Impact: The data you collect helps improve the accuracy and usefulness of these soil color charts for communities across Nebraska.

Soil Organic Matter (SOM): The Cornerstone of Soil Health

Did you know that soil organic matter is the single-most important factor driving soil health? Think of SOM as the "fuel" that powers your soil and ecosystem. Whether you manage a small quarter-acre plot in Omaha or thousands of acres around Holdrege, building and maintaining organic matter is critical for farming success across Nebraska's diverse landscapes.

Higher organic matter translates to better soil structure, increased nutrient exchange, enhanced water storage capacity for your crops, more sequestered carbon, and reduced erosion and runoff.

Why Participate?

Whether you are a farmer, rancher, landowner, educator, or simply curious about your soil, participating in this citizen science program offers several benefits.

Participants will:

• Learn more about the organic matter content of their soils.
• Receive laboratory SOM analysis of the soil samples they submit.
• Compare their field estimate with laboratory results.
• Gain a better understanding of soil health and how SOM influences productivity and sustainability.
• Receive guidance from University of Nebraska–Lincoln soil health and extension specialists if they have questions about their results.
• Contribute valuable information that will help researchers improve the soil color charts for future users across Nebraska.

Although it may not feel like the end of summer, the calendar is reading September which means that it is time for going back to school. The transition out of summertime is never easy but one way that you can start preparing is to put together a list of easy, nutritious back to school breakfasts. Eating breakfast is crucial in order to send kids to school energized and ready to learn. Benefits of eating a healthy breakfast in the morning include: more energy, improved concentration, better grades, and maintaining a healthy weight.

It is also necessary to note that not all breakfasts are created equal. Better breakfasts include whole grains, protein or dairy, and a fruit or vegetable. This will provide youth with sustained energy with complex carbohydrates as well as key vitamins and minerals. Take a look below for a few tasty and nutritious breakfast ideas!

All ages can enjoy this family-friendly outdoor activity. Create your own chalk obstacle course by using your sidewalk, driveway, or other type of pavement.

Supplies:

• Sidewalk, driveway, or other type of pavement
• Sidewalk chalk
• List of fitness activities for sidewalk

Directions:

1. Determine where you are going to create your chalk obstacle course (e.g. sidewalk, driveway, or other type of pavement).
2. Use sidewalk chalk to create your own chalk obstacle course.
3. Design your obstacle course with a variety of fitness activities or see below for an example. Here is a list of activities that you could use:
   • Balance along a squiggly line
   • Run to the next activity
   • Spin around 2 times
   • Jump to each circle, line or box
   • Dance in the rain
   • Follow the zig zag
   • Skip to the next activity
   • 5 squats
   • 10 toe touches
   • Jump like frog
   • Pop the bubbles
   • Hopscotch
   • 5 jumping jacks
   • Walk like a penguin
   • Hop like a bunny
   • 5 jumps to the sky
   • Follow the line

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. https://nebraska.edu/nondiscrimination