Happy February!
Welcome to the Webster County Extension Newsletter! This newsletter contains information regarding upcoming programming in all areas of Nebraska Extension. This will be separate from the Webster County 4-H Newsletter to provide information to clientele interested in extension programming outside of 4-H. We hope this is convenient way to keep everyone in the loop on upcoming opportunities in Nebraska Extension. We hope you enjoy this newsletter!
Sincerely,
The Webster County Extension Staff
Webster County Extension Calendar of Events
Understanding Cattle Health Concerns on Cornstalks
Lindsay Waechter-Mead, DVM, Nebraska Extension Livestock Systems Educator
Grazing corn residue is common practice in the Midwest and a quality resource for cattle producers to utilize. While the forages available can provide the necessary nutritional requirements, there are a few health conditions that need to be planned for prior to turn out.
Acidosis
Acidosis or grain overload occurs when cattle consume large amounts of feed that contains high quantities of fermentable carbohydrates, leading to clinical signs in the animal. When grazing corn residue, the feedstuff would be too much dropped corn. Rumen microbes rapidly begin to ferment the carbohydrates in the corn, which leads to an increase in lactate formation. When lactate production increases, the rumen pH drops below the normal range of 5.6-6.9 and begins to damage the rumen epithelium. This leads to an increase in acid-loving bacteria and yeast in the damaged rumen. All of these affect the blood volume and hydration status of tissues throughout the body, leading to acute clinical signs of diarrhea, dehydration, depression, and anorexia. Treatment involves restoring the rumen microbes, correcting dehydration and acidic rumen microenvironment, and managing secondary complications. Long term consequences of acidosis may include abortions and laminitis.
Management is key to preventing acidosis and is more rewarding than treatment. Knowing how much corn is in the field will help establish a grazing plan. The risk of acidosis increases if fields contain more than 8 bushels of corn per acre. Bushels can be estimated by counting dropped ears of corn in three different 100 feet rows and dividing this number by 2. If too much dropped corn is a concern, rumen microbes can begin acclimating to increased carbohydrate diets by slowly increasing amount of corn fed over a 10-day period prior to grazing. More management strategies can be found at Grazing Corn Stalks – Management Strategies | UNL Beef.
Nitrate Toxicity
Nitrates accumulate in plants when uptake by the roots exceeds the rate of conversion to protein, such as during episodes of drought and plant stress. When a ruminant consumes high-nitrate plants, the rumen microbes convert the nitrate to nitrite. Excess nitrite is absorbed into the bloodstream, where it changes the oxygen carrying capacity in red blood cells by converting hemoglobin to methemoglobin. Methemoglobin is unable to carry oxygen to tissues in the body, resulting in asphyxiation. Clinical signs of toxicity include weakness, rapid breathing, lethargy, muscle tremors and sudden death. Abortions may occur 10-14 days after ingestion of high nitrites due to lack of oxygen to fetus.
Knowing the nitrate levels of plants intended as feed is vital information in establishing a prevention plan. Nitrate samples can be taken from both standing plants and baled forages. Forages with >10,000 ppm nitrate may lead to acute toxicity signs and sudden death. Levels over 5,000 ppm should not be fed to pregnant animals due to the increased risk of abortion and stillbirth. More information on managing high nitrate forages can be found here: Options for Safely Using High-Nitrate Forage: Grazing, Silage and Haying | UNL Beef Any health concerns should be discussed with your veterinarian to establish proper prevention and treatment protocols.
BeefWatch Podcast of the Month
The BeefWatch Podcast is an audio companion to the UNL BeefWatch newsletter. It provides the same timely information as the newsletter, just in a downloadable audio form. Information is geared to helping beef cattle producers improve the sustainability and profitability of their operations.
As a busy rancher, you have limited time to spend reading. You often have time available to listen while in the pickup or tractor cab. The BeefWatch Podcast brings you the information you need in a format you can use.
Calving Resources
Calving Resources It's calving season, which means focusing on cow condition, calf health, managing for weather conditions, planning for the upcoming year and—maybe, once in a while—sleeping. BeefWatch Podcast: Preparing for calving season with Dr. Lindsay Waechter-Mead Cow Nutrition Articles Calf Health Articles How colostrum works, why calves need it, and what to do if they aren't getting it Cattle diseases that can make people sick, and how to avoid them
We hope these calving-related resources are helpful, but if there's anything we're missing or if you have questions, please contact your UNL Beef Extension Educator or email beef@unl.edu and we'll do our best to get you in touch with someone who can help.
Upcoming Nebraska BQA Workshop, Meet-n-greet w/ John Cook
Join us for this free, educational workshop on February 24 features a Certified Angus Beef ® brand lunch, giveaways and Optional YQCA training for kids exhibiting livestock in Nebraska.
All Nebraska cattle producers and their families are invited to Certified Angus Beef’s Nebraska BQA Workshop on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Round the Bend Steakhouse’s “The Ball Room” in Ashland.
Even if producers are already BQA certified, they may still attend and choose to recertify or keep their current certification.
An optional Youth Quality Care for Animals (YQCA) training will kick off at 10:00 a.m. YQCA is a requirement for all youth exhibiting beef, sheep, swine, goats, dairy, rabbits or poultry in Nebraska 4H and FFA. Kids are encouraged to stay for the following BQA workshop.
A Certified Angus Beef ® brand lunch will be served at 11:00 a.m., with the BQA sessions starting at 12:00 p.m. This event won’t be the “typical” BQA event. The event will conclude at 3:15 p.m. with guest speaker John Cook, University of Nebraska (UNL) volleyball head coach. Participating in the BQA workshops is required to hear Cook speak and participate in the meet-and-greet with him and UNL volleyball players.
For more information and to register for this event, producers can visit https://go.unl.edu/cabbqa or call 308.632.1230.
The event is made possible through the latest Certified Angus Beef (CAB) and Sysco partnership. In 2023, CAB and Sysco launched a cattle care partnership and a new campaign, Raised with Respect™. This campaign leans into the decades old practices of cattle care to tell a stronger ranch story to Sysco's customers in a way that builds confidence and trust in high-quality beef.
“Certified Angus Beef supports BQA because it’s a credible and effective way for producers to communicate animal welfare to people on the opposite end of the beef supply chain,” says Bruce Cobb, CAB executive vice president of production. “By building trust with this segment and consumers, we can help secure the strong beef demand we’ve been experiencing into the future.”
More information on Raised with Respect™ can be found at www.cabcattle.com/RaisedWithRespect.
FireSmart Landscapes
Wildfires were headline news in 2023, including the Lahaina, Hawaii fire and scores of fires across Canada and even Nebraska. It’s comfortable to think a devastating wildfire can’t happen in your area, but it’s better to be aware of the possibility and be prepared. Learn the aspects of Fire Smart Landscaping including creating a defensible space, planning ahead for a fire event, and management of the surrounding landscapes to decrease potential fire damage. Nebraska Extension is offering a virtual workshop you can join from your computer via Zoom. February 27, 20246:30 PM – 8:00 PM Central Time Speaker: Elizabeth Exstrom, Nebraska Extension
More Information: Elizabeth Exstrom, Nebraska Extension in Hall County, email: eexstrom2@unl.edu, Phone: 308.385.5088
Windbreaks
Snow is more than just white fluffy stuff. It gives great exercise to those who scoop it, acts as a buffer between the frigid temperatures and plant material, and it can also show how windbreaks work and tests their effectiveness. Who would have known that snow was so useful?
Windbreaks are a way to slow wind and the snow it carries. They can reduce the effort spent on snow management, which means the possibility of less work for you. Most windbreaks are designed with one of two main objectives in mind: to spread the snow across a large area or to dump it in a relatively small area. The objective of the windbreak determines its design. Those that distribute the snow over a large area, like field windbreaks, are tall and are relatively porous. This allows the snow to be spread out over the field and allows for a more even distribution of moisture. Windbreaks that have multiple rows and are planted close together are designed to slow the wind and dump the snow in a designated area.
If you want to control blowing winds and to confine snow, consider a living snow fence. These types of “snow fences” you only install once, compared to every year with the traditional slat style or plastic snow fences. The benefits of living snow fences include a greater snow capacity, less maintenance once they are established, a longer life span, a wide range of benefits like wildlife habitat, and not to mention the aesthetic value. In major storms, the vertical slat snow fences can reach their snow storing capacity quickly. According to the Nebraska Forest Service, a three-row mature living snow fence with a height of 20 feet will store over 16 times more snow than a single-row slat-fence with a height of 3-4 feet.
There are a few rules to follow when thinking of installing a planting to control snow and wind. The living snow fence is most effective when it is placed perpendicular to the prevailing winter winds. These usually come from the northwest in Nebraska. There should be plenty of room on the leeward side, back side, of the windbreak for drifts. Location of corners and roads also plays a role in the location of the windbreak. Trees should be planted no closer than 200 feet from corners or intersections to allow for traffic visibility and sight lines for vehicles.
The plant material that you use is also important in windbreak design. The species will vary depending on the climate, soil type, windbreak objectives, and most importantly the space that is available for the mature plant.
When choosing plant material, remember the growing conditions and available space. Species diversity is key with windbreak design. Windbreaks that are made up of one or two species are more susceptible to being wiped out by insects or diseases if an infestation occurs. Diverse windbreaks are still functional if an infestation occurs within one or two species.
Windbreaks, like most things, also have a useful lifespan. If your windbreak is mature, between 30-50 years old, it might be time to rejuvenate. Your local Natural Resource District, NRD, might be the place to turn. They offer low-cost seedling trees for planting farm or livestock windbreaks, wildlife habitat, living snow fences, or other plantings. For more information about the NRD Conservation Tree Program contact your local NRD office.
It may be time to rethink your feelings about snow. Instead of thinking of it as a burden, try to think of it as a blessing, especially when it melts.
Upcoming Programs:
Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program- Contact Elizabeth Exstrom at, 308-385-5088 or eexstrom2@unl.edu, prior to January 12th, 2024. More information, updated schedules, an application, and a brochure can be found at http://hall.unl.edu.
Elizabeth Exstrom is the Horticulture Extension Educator with Nebraska Extension in Hall County. For more information contact Elizabeth at elizabeth.exstrom@unl.edu, her blog at http://huskerhort.com/, or HuskerHort on Facebook and Twitter.
Wildlife
The temperatures this year have been a roller coaster. In a matter of a few weeks, we went from subzero temperatures to higher-than-average temperatures. That type of temperature fluctuation is not only hard on us; it is also hard on our landscapes and those that live in it.
While the snow was on the ground, pesky critters were at work. Rabbits have been hard at work munching on your landscape plants during the winter. Rabbits will feed on pencil sized branches and will leave a clean 45-degree angle cut. They can also strip the bark from around the base of trees and shrubs as high as 3 feet tall. Cottontails may be cute, but if there is heavy enough feeding, they can cause some serious damage. Fencing the plants that are the most munched by rabbits will keep them from becoming lunch. Be sure to bury the fence at least 1 foot in the ground and have it stand at least 2 feet tall to help prevent feeding damage.
Oh deer. These ‘large rabbits’ also feed on vegetation. Compared to rabbit damage, deer browsing results in torn or jagged edges of twigs. Deer damage can occur from ground height up to 6 feet tall. Deer can also cause other damage to plant material in the landscape. Male deer antlers develop with a velvet-like coating that must be rubbed off before fall. ‘Buck rub’ damage is common on smaller diameter trees. The rubbing of the deer’s antlers against the tree can remove the bark and outer most water moving vessels of the tree. If severe enough, it can remove all the bark from the tree and eventually kill it. Be on the lookout for the telltale signs of deer activity and consider excluding or putting protective fencing around prized plants.
Voles are a little harder to spot in the winter. Voles are small creatures that look like a short-tailed mouse. They make runways between the turf and the snow cover that are about 1-2 inches wide. Once the snow is melted it looks like a tiny maze of runways zigzagging between plant material. In the areas of the runways, the turf will be nipped off close to the crown of the plant. Normally, the turf will repair itself in the spring and the damage isn’t permanent. If the feeding is excessive, the turf can be over seeded in those areas. Voles can also eat away at the green inner bark of trees and shrubs just like rabbits. If the feeding damage is great enough, it can kill young trees and shrubs. If severe damage is noticed, allow the wound to remain open to the elements and breathe. Avoid covering the damaged areas with tree wraps or wound dressings and paints. Voles also steal bulbs from the ground and eat them. If your prized tulip doesn’t come up this spring, blame the voles.
What’s black with white stripes and is a stinker? You guessed it, the skunk. The well-known smell is enough to warn any passerby of its presence. Skunks are active from dusk until dawn and feed on a wide range of insects. Skunks can cause damage to turf while digging for their next meal. Since they don’t feed on landscape plants, why do you need to know about skunks now? We are nearing the prime mating season of the skunk. Males will travel up to 5 miles in search of females, many times over our lovely highways or through landscapes.
Some critters have been busy this winter munching and snacking. Check your landscape plants to see if there is any damage left behind from these critters and try to steer clear of our little smelly friends, their mating season will soon be over.
Elizabeth Exstrom is the Horticulture Extension Educator with Nebraska Extension in Hall County. For more information contact Elizabeth at elizabeth.exstrom@unl.edu, her blog at http://huskerhort.com/, or HuskerHort on Facebook and Twitter.
Statistics
Statistics. Perhaps that word brings flashbacks to a horrible math class. Maybe you think of the polls for an upcoming election. Margin of error. This poll shows that the candidates are neck and neck, a statistical dead heat, the results for both candidates are within the margin of error.
In community development we deal with statistics quite often. Unfortunately, those statistics are usually not accurate on the local level. You can quickly go online and find statistics about your community. Income levels, poverty levels, race/ethnicity percentages, and education levels are all statistics that are easy to find. We can even show you how much money the people in your community spend on a certain section of goods and services. Or can we?
Yes, I can bring up statistics for your community. Did someone actually go through your community last year and do a survey? No. Most of the data on local communities that is found throughout the internet is from the American Community Survey (ACS), which is completed by the US census bureau. They survey 3.5 million households per year. That’s a little more than 1% of the total US population. Through the use of statistics, they extrapolate that 1% of answers into data for every community in the entire country. In order to do this efficiently they group communities into categories of like communities.
This process works well in general, but when looking at communities that are changing or growing differently than their group of like communities, the data isn’t very useful at all. Sometimes when we come into a community with data, the conversation changes from a conversation about the community, to a conversation about the accuracy of the data. These can be productive conversations, but it would be much easier if we had accurate local data.
Unfortunately, the only way to get accurate local data is to do the survey locally. If you did take one of those statistic classes you will remember that to have a statically valid result, you have to have a statistically significant sample size. Simply, this means that there are mathematical formulas to tell you how many people you need to ask to get the results you want within an appropriate margin of error. Generally, you want to have a margin of error of 5% or less. If your community population was 500 people, to have a valid result, you need 217 surveys returned. If the population was 100, you would need 80, that’s almost the whole town. But if your town has 500,000 people, you only need 384. That is just crazy, but that’s how statistics work. That is why it is very difficult to get accurate information on rural communities. It is nearly as expensive to get a statistically accurate survey of Omaha, as it is to get similar results from a town of 500.
So what? Rural areas will just have to suffer with bad data? That’s not true. Rural Prosperity Nebraska has the tools and abilities to do local surveys. Our Entrepreneurial Communities Activation Process or ECAP is a data driven program. We do a community survey which can lead to statistically significant results if the community has a high percentage of surveys turned back in. These surveys can be used for comprehensive planning, economic grants, or housing grants. Then we work with the community to discuss results and work on issues brought up by the community in the survey. It gives us a good picture of what is going on in your community.
RPN can help you determine the real data and help you work on your local issues. We simply come in and say, here’s the data we found, does anything strike you as an issue, what do you want to do to work on it. Then we will help you do what you decide.
If your community could benefit from any of the Rural Prosperity Nebraska ideas that I’ve discussed in this column, please reach out to me. I’d love to speak to your community about these topics. You can reach me at jason.tuller@unl.edu or at the Thayer County office at 402-768-7212.
Jason Tuller is an Extension Educator for the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. He works in the Rural Prosperity Nebraska program and covers ten-county area including Kearney, Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Saline, Franklin, Webster, Nuckolls, Thayer, and Jefferson Counties.
Childcare
Over the past several months, I have heard of many communities losing their childcare. Unfortunately, I hear about this only after the childcare center announces that it is closing. If you own a childcare center or any type of business and are thinking about closing in the next six months or even in the next 5 years, my contact information is at the bottom of this column, call me. Let me look for solutions that work for you and your community.
I’ve been attending some meetings and learning about childcare issues over the past year. Some of the issues have solutions, and some do not. It seems that one issue that I hear over and over again is the availability of workers. Did you know that to be a childcare worker you need to be fingerprinted and approved by the state? Sometimes you must travel to a State Patrol facility in order to get fingerprinted. It can take more than a month in many cases to get approval to work, after you’ve been hired. A childcare worker is not allowed to work while their fingerprints are being processed. Can you imagine another job where you couldn’t work for a month after you were hired? Also, you have to be fingerprinted again if you choose to work in the daycare across the street, the permission to work is not transferrable. This issue is one of the many reasons why it is difficult to fill positions in day care centers.
Another reason is wages, this may be a touchy subject. Childcare jobs are lower paid positions in our society. As minimum wage rates increase, the cost of childcare also must increase to ensure that the childcare provider pay stays above minimum wage. This increase in costs is passed on to the parents. There is a point where some parents decide that it is in their best financial interests to have one or the other stay home to take care of their own kids. This is a double financial problem for the community. First it takes a child or two out of the daycare, which possibly eliminates one job, and then you lose one potential employee in the local workforce. Unfortunately, as people move their children out of childcare centers, there is less demand for childcare, and at some point in time, you don’t have enough children to make a child care center sustainable. What can we do?
This problem is not any different than many of the problems we face in rural Nebraska. As our populations decrease, demands for goods and services also decrease, which lead to fewer stores and fewer jobs. Possible solutions include regional day care centers perhaps for the entire county. Be supportive of your local day cares, perhaps volunteer to work at one where your children attend. If there is a lack of day cares, perhaps two families work together to provide childcare for each other. A longer-term solution is to create a community where young families want to live, be a welcoming community, welcome outsiders, and increase the population. An increasing population increases demand for all services.
If your community could benefit from any of the Rural Prosperity Nebraska ideas that I’ve discussed in this column, please reach out to me. I’d love to speak to your community about these topics. You can reach me at jason.tuller@unl.edu or at the Thayer County office at 402-768-7212.
Jason Tuller is an Extension Educator for the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. He works in the Rural Prosperity Nebraska program and covers ten-county area including Kearney, Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Saline, Franklin, Webster, Nuckolls, Thayer, and Jefferson Counties.
Healthy Eating
Register NOW for our Eat Healthy, Be Active class on February 5! https://fitandhealthykids.unl.edu/one-hour-once-month-webinars #Fitandhealthykids
Early Learners Conference
Join us for our annual on-line conference on February 24. Registration is limited so register TODAY! https://fitandhealthykids.unl.edu/early-childhood-conference #Fitandhealthykids
Doctor's Office
Join us for a virtual field trip to the Doctor’s Office! https://fitandhealthykids.unl.edu/learning-in-the-heartland #Fitandhealthykids
Football Party Food Safety
Football parties are a fun time for people to unwind and enjoy the big game, but food safety must remain a top priority,” said USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban. “Simple steps like not leaving food out at room temperature for more than two hours or keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold can help keep your friends and family safe.” For more tips to keep your game time fun: https://go.unl.edu/hgd3
Food Safety After a Storm
What food should be thrown out after a power outage? How long is food in a refrigerator or freezer safe without power? Are condiments safe after a power outage? Be prepared! Check these resources to know how to handle perishable food if the power goes out during a storm. https://go.unl.edu/foodsafety-storms #UNLFoodSafety
March 8-9, 2024 Returning to the Farm
The Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will present Returning to the Farm, a workshop series for families who are in the transition process of bringing members back to the farm or ranch. It will begin with a two-day workshop in Kearney for multi-generational families on March 8 and 9 at the office of Nebraska Extension in Buffalo County, 1400 E 34th St.
The series assists families and agricultural operations with developing financial plans and successful working arrangements to meet their unique needs. It will guide families in developing estate and transition plans, setting personal and professional goals, and improving the communication process between family members.
“Returning to the Farm gives families the tools and resources to have a successful transition with more family joining the business,” said extension educator Jessica Groskopf. “We really want to have two or three generations come to this together and take that time, as a family, to sit down, learn together and start these important processes.”
Presenters will include extension experts as well as agribusiness and legal professionals. During the program, participants will:
- Learn communication strategies
- Set both personal and professional goals
- Develop a farm or ranch transition plan
- Identify estate planning issues and develop effective strategies for planning
- Review financial feasibility and financial tools
The workshop fee is $75 per person on or before March 1. March 2, the fee increases to $85 per person. Registration includes dinner on March 8 and lunch on March 9. It also includes two follow-up workshops, to be held virtually. Hotel accommodations are not included.
Megan Burda
Engagement Zone 10 Coordinator
Megan is a Nebraska Extension Educator with a passion for fashion! She holds a Master of Arts degree in Textile and Apparel Design from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a specialization in entrepreneurship. Megan serves as an Engagement Zone Coordinator in Zone 10 with a focus on staff development, stakeholder connections, and UNL engagement. She is a maker, entrepreneur, Husker sports fan and baking enthusiast.
Photo and Bio from UNL Extension
Email: megan.burda@unl.edu
Location: 1340 G Street, Geneva, NE, USA
Phone: 402.759.3712
Lynn Devries
Early Childhood Extension Educator
Lynn is an Extension Educator on The Learning Child Team, University of Nebraska Extension in South Central Nebraska. Lynn has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Nebraska Kearney in Vocational Family and Consumer Science Education, and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University Nebraska. Lynn works with families, child care providers, teen parents and schools to promote developmentally appropriate practices and enhance parent involvement throughout the child’s education. Lynn has 11 years of experience teaching Family and Consumer Science in the public schools, and 10 years of experience coordinating programming and curriculum with the Head Start programs.
Email: lynn.devries@unl.edu
Website: https://child.unl.edu/
Location: 2975 South Baltimore Avenue, Hastings, NE, USA
Phone: 402.461.7209
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLExtensionthelearningchild/
Elizabeth Exstrom
Horticulture Extension Educator
I am Community Environment Extension Educator with a horticulture focus who works in the Nebraska Extension office in Hall County. I provide horticulture related programs for youth and adults, act as the Central Nebraska Master Gardener Coordinator, and answer horticulture-based related client questions. I am a Nebraska Arborist Association Certified Arborist and a member of the International Society of Arboriculture and Nebraska Nursery and Landscape Association. You might recognize me because I am regular panel member on NET's Backyard Farmer program and even filled in as host a few times. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture with a landscape design emphasis and my Master’s Degree in Public Horticulture from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln.
Photo and Bio from UNL ExtensionEmail: elizabeth.exstrom@unl.edu
Website: https://huskerhort.com/
Location: College Park, U.S. 34, Grand Island, NE, USA
Phone: 308.385.5088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.m.killinger/
Ron Seymour
Crops & Water Systems Educator
Ron Seymour is a cropping systems Extension Educator with emphasis on corn and soybean production. Ron also works extensively in crop pest management with specific expertise in insect issues. Ron has an interest in developing areas that border field crops as habitat that promote populations of beneficial arthropods.
Email: rseymour1@unl.edu
Location: 2975 South Baltimore Avenue, Hastings, NE, USA
Phone: 402.461.7209
Jason Tuller
Rural Prosperity Nebraska Extension Educator
Jason has been working in the economic development field in rural Nebraska for more than a decade. He has worked as a small business consultant and as a rural economic developer. His goal now is to help grow stronger communities in Southeast Nebraska and throughout the state.
Photo and Bio from UNL ExtensionEmail: jtuller2@unl.edu
Website: https://ruralprosperityne.unl.edu/
Location: 825 South Main Street, Nelson, NE, USA
Phone: 402.768.7212
Cami Wells
Food, Nutrition, and Health Extension Educator
I am a Nutrition, Food and Health Educator and Registered Dietitian located in Hall County. Part of my time is allocated to the Nutrition Education Program (NEP) that provides nutrition education to limited-resource families in central Nebraska. I teach a variety of food safety and nutrition programs to adults and youth as well as serve on the media/marketing team that develops content for our food.unl.edu website. I graduated from University of Nebraska–Lincoln with a Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Science and Dietetics and earned a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Health Sciences from Northern Illinois University.
Email: cami.wells@unl.edu
Location: College Park At Grand Island, U.S. 34, Grand Island, NE, USA
Phone: 308.385.5088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLExtensionFoodAndFitness
Dr. Lindsay Waechter-Mead
Beef Systems Educator, DVM
Lindsay Waechter-Mead is the Beef Systems Educator in Webster County and serves surrounding counties in this region. She is excited to bring her interests surrounding cow/calf health and preventative medicine to the Beef Team. Her current work involves looking at environmental effects on neonatal calf immunity and colostral transfer. She is also passionate about rural agriculture and what the veterinary profession can do to positively influence rural communities to ensure that generations can continue to enjoy the life that she loves.
Email: lindsay.waechter-mead@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/webster/
Location: 621 North Cedar Street, Red Cloud, NE, USA
Phone: 402-746-3417
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SCBeefExtensionUNL
Beth Janning
4-H Youth Development Extension Educator in Adams/Webster Counties
Beth Janning is a 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator. She provides programming in school enrichment, after-school, and traditional 4-H Programs. Her topic areas include but not limited to animal science, science, engineering and volunteer development.
Email: elizabeth.janning@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/webster/
Location: 2975 South Baltimore Avenue, Hastings, NE, USA
Phone: 402.461.7209
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WebsterCoExtNE
Alexa Pedersen
Office Manager
Email: alexa.pedersen@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/webster/
Location: 621 North Cedar Street, Red Cloud, NE, USA
Phone: 402.746.3417
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WebsterCoExtNE
Katie Bolte
4-H Programming Assistant
Email: katie.bolte@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/webster/
Location: 621 North Cedar Street, Red Cloud, NE, USA
Phone: 402.746.3417
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WebsterCoExtNE
