News

VALENTINE, NE — For Mary Mercure, the Sand Painter Art Club isn’t just an organization; it’s a living legacy. Named the club’s Artist of the Month for April, Mary is currently celebrating a remarkable 40 year journey with a group that has become the heartbeat of the local arts scene.

OMAHA, NE, March 25, 2026 — Food Bank for the Heartland is partnering with Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) to host a free Mobile Pantry in Valentine, Nebraska, on Wednesday, April 29, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., or until food runs out. The mobile pantry will take place at the Cherry County Fairgrounds 4-H Building, located at 120 S. Green Street.

Lincoln, NE, April 14, 2026 — Nebraska Extension, in partnership with Nebraska Medicine’s Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, will host free drive-thru “Brake for Breakfast” events from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. April 24 at locations statewide.

Drug and alcohol use and abuse among teens is a serious issue that often starts out feeling harmless. As a teen myself, I’ve seen, and even experienced some experimentation with these substances. In a rural area, it can sometimes feel like there isn’t much else to do besides going to parties, drinking, or smoking weed. It may seem like harmless fun, especially when movies and TV shows portray teen substance use as normal or even expected. We think, “It’s just a little fun, right?” But what begins as experimentation can quickly turn into something more dangerous, something that becomes a habit or even a dependency.

York, NE ~ Central Valley Ag (CVA) is proud to announce Austyn Kieborz as the winner of the Blue Jacket Challenge held in celebration of National FFA Week. His blue jacket photo was selected as the winning entry, highlighting the pride and tradition that FFA represents across generations. Through his winning entry, CVA will donate $250 to the Valentine FFA Chapter.

The annual tractor and equipment safety training courses will be offered in Gering and Gordon in June. The events are hosted by the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health, in partnership with Nebraska Extension.

With our warm days, you may be asking yourself when to start your plants. While cool-season crops can go in the ground in late April, it is best to wait until after our last frost to plant warm-season crops into the garden.

Lincoln, Neb., March 19, 2026 —On cold spring mornings in the Nebraska Sandhills, calving season can test even the most experienced ranchers. Twenty-five years ago, a collaboration between a Sandhills ranch family, a rural veterinarian and University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers led to a management innovation that transformed how cattle producers prevent calf scours.

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Lincoln, NE – Caregiving for an ill, aging, or disabled family member is a challenging and rewarding endeavor. During November, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) celebrates the vital roles all caregivers playinbolsteringcommunitieswith priceless natural supports, allowing loved ones to live independently and in their own homes for as long as possible. The DHHS Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) also recognizes the resources available for caregivers to replenish, rejuvenate, and balance responsibilities.