Nebraska Extension in Keith & Arthur Counties

09/03/2026

If it's not safe for you to stay it's not safe for them. Do not wait for an emergency to plan and prepare for livestock evacuation.

Prepare a LIVESTOCK EVACUATION KIT:
🚨Vaccination and health records
🚨Proof of ownership
🚨Current medications and dosages.
🚨Necessary tack - Avoid ropes and halters made of nylon material that could melt during a fire’s extreme temperatures.
🚨Miscellaneous: Shavings, Pitchfork, Leather gloves etc.
🚨Plan for hay, grain, and water for three to seven days

Prepare IN CASE YOU ARE NOT HOME during an emergency; keep a clipboard of all important numbers for use by emergency responders or neighbors:
🤳Veterinarian
🤳Local animal control agency
🤳Animal shelter or boarding facility
🤳Friends or relatives who would be willing to temporarily take care of your livestock

EVACUATING livestock:
➡Plan several routes to leave your property.
➡Plan multiple destinations that can accept your livestock.
➡Make sure your vehicle is set up to tow your livestock trailer.
➡Make sure your trailer is in road-worthy condition.
➡Practice loading your livestock in the trailer prior to evacuation.

Consider the following as IDENTIFICATION OPTIONS:
✅Use spray paint or a livestock crayon to write your name and phone number on the side of the animal.
✅Use clippers to shave your phone number into the animal’s coat.
✅Braid a temporary ID tag with pre-written contact info into the horse’s mane.
✅Attach a neck band or ear tag with contact information.

AS LAST RESORT, If relocation of livestock is not possible:
🚨Open gates to allow livestock to escape.
🚨Turn livestock out to a pasture that is grazed down, disked, or field that is a high moisture crop (irrigated).
🚨Close all gates behind livestock to prevent them re-entering an unsafe area.

For more information about Livestock Evacuations visit: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/evacuation/

For resources regarding preventing and preparing for wildfires on your ranch or farm visit: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/farm-ranch-prevention-and-preparedness/

Stay up to date by following Incident Information - Texas A&M Forest Service

Stay Aware. Stay Prepared. Stay Informed.

09/01/2026

Don't forget- the WITS WORKOUT workshops start TOMORROW! No registration necessary & it's FREE!

Show up on the dates and times on the flier.
The classes last only 1 hour each week for 8 weeks.
You could even miss a class and come the following week.
🧠🧩💪🪫🔋🤓

Wits Workout – An Interactive Brain Health Program

Plan to join each week beginning September 2, 2026 from 12:30 to 1:30 PM MT at the Keith County Senior Center, 202 West 1st Street in Ogallala. Come join the fun!

This 8-week, 60-minute program is designed for adults ages 50 and older to help strengthen factors that cause us to be “forgetful”. The goal of this program is to provide interactive dialog and experiential activities that vary each month. This program draws from the normal brain changes associated with the human memory and aging. By managing stress, and increasing socialization opportunities, the hope is that “Wits Workout” can help to delay or reduce the onset of dementia or other cognitive declines.

08/28/2026

Good luck to these 4-H’ers who are competing in-person at State Fair this weekend! 🍀

Knox Harger - Fashion Show
Macy Harger - Fashion Show
Audrey Moorhead - Fashion Show
Bowyn Armknecht - Swine Show
Braidyn Harger - Swine Show
Jace Harger - Swine Show
Jacob Wendell - Goat Show
Heiser McConnell - Beef Show

Our Fashion Show Entrants will be in Show #3 at 12pmMT/1pmCT
Livestreams will be available on the Nebraska 4-H YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/-h132

Livestock Schedules can be found here: https://www.statefair.org/livestock-exhibitors/

State Fair we will be livestreaming goats, sheep, cattle and swine shows for 4‑H and FFA. It will be linked on the website- https://www.statefair.org/live_stream/, through the State Fair Livestock page- https://www.facebook.com/NSFLivestockExhibitors and through Ringside Live | Live Webcasting- https://www.ringsidelive.co/watchlive

08/27/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FHZ9u2Zg8/

For all the details- visit: https://www.statefair.org/
Events: https://www.statefair.org/events/

Celebrate the people and experiences that help Nebraska youth become Beyond Ready at 4-H Day at the Nebraska State Fair on Sunday, August 30, from 2–4 p.m. in Raising Nebraska! Enjoy interactive activities, a 4-H photo booth, complimentary UNL Dairy Store ice cream (while supplies last), and help recognize outstanding volunteers and members of the Nebraska 4‑H Leadership Academy during the 3 p.m. program. Purchase discounted August 30 gate passes for teens and adults (service fee applies; limit two tickets per purchase) in advance at http://go.unl.edu/2026nsf4hdaypasses and join us for an afternoon of 4-H fun and celebration!

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

Show off your favorite 4-H project -- or even one that didn't go as planned! Every project tells a story of learning, helping youth build the skills to become healthy, productive, and engaged leaders who are Beyond Ready for work and life. Submit your project for the 4-H Project Showcase by September 15 to be featured during National 4-H Week in October and throughout the year at 4h.unl.edu/project-showcase.

08/26/2026

Nebraska Cash Rents: Verbal Lease Termination Deadline, Rental Rates, and Fair Agreements

Aug. 27 at 11:00am MT

Sept. 1 is an important deadline for terminating or changing the terms of a verbal agricultural lease. And new county-level cash rental rates are now available for 2026.
This webinar will explain the verbal lease termination deadline and examine newly released USDA NASS county cash rental rates. We’ll also discuss practical methods for establishing equitable cash rents for the 2027 growing season.

Click the link below to register, to see the schedule and past webinar recordings: https://cap.unl.edu/webinars/

"Center for Agricultural Profitability" https://cap.unl.edu/

https://www.facebook.com/UNLCAP

08/25/2026

Sugar substitutes can be categorized into natural and artificial sweeteners. Natural sweeteners, like stevia and monk fruit, are derived from natural sources (compounds in the stevia plant and extract from monk fruits are used to make these sweeteners sweet). Sugar alcohols occur naturally in certain fruits and vegetables. They are found in processed foods and generally are not used when preparing food at home. Artificial sweeteners, like saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose, are formed through a chemical process, often in a laboratory. Tip: Using sugar substitutes may help reduce your intake of sugar and calories

According to the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, and National Cancer Institute, there is no significant evidence that any of the sugar substitutes approved for use in the United States cause cancer or other serious health problems.

For more info stop into your local Extension office or visit: https://extension.psu.edu/sugar-substitutes

08/24/2026

Wits Workout – An Interactive Brain Health Program

Plan to join each week beginning September 2, 2026 from 12:30 to 1:30 PM MT at the Keith County Senior Center, 202 West 1st Street in Ogallala. Come join the fun!

This 8-week, 60-minute program is designed for adults ages 50 and older to help strengthen factors that cause us to be “forgetful”. The goal of this program is to provide interactive dialog and experiential activities that vary each month. This program draws from the normal brain changes associated with the human memory and aging. By managing stress, and increasing socialization opportunities, the hope is that “Wits Workout” can help to delay or reduce the onset of dementia or other cognitive declines.