News

The Wild West has captivated national and international audiences for generations. In the mid-1800s, if you lived “back East” in the United States, you almost certainly knew someone who had packed up and ventured West.

If you've spent much time around town, chances are you've seen Ron Mercure. Whether it’s a weekend, holiday, or evening after most have called it a day, you’ll often find him walking our streets with a trash bag in hand, quietly picking up litter.

The 2026 Clothing Day Contest was held on Thursday, July 23, 2026, located at Mid-Plans Community College. The judges were Liz Ravenscroft, Nancy Allard, and Debbie Galloway. A total of 24 4-H members participated in the contest which included quilts, textile construction, and a fashion show. The following are the awards presented and their recipients.

The Niobrara Council held a meeting June 18, 2026, which was called to order at 1:16 p.m., with the delay waiting for a quorum of members to be present. The meeting was held at the Cherry County South building .

Elizabeth Exstrom was honored with the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) during the organization’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference held July 11 in Denver, Colorado.

PERU, NE — Peru State College has been named 2026 Liberal Arts College of the Year by Education Insider Magazine, recognizing the college’scommitmenttoaccessible, high-quality education, student success, community engagement, and preparing graduates for meaningful careers and lives of purpose.

Valentine Swim Coach Shevaun Adams shared the following results: Midwest Championships are going on and July 20, 2026, at Papillion LaVista, Tuff Yager had the following results for boys 8 and under - 5th 50 y Backstroke, 6th 100 y Freestyle, 7th 25 y Freestyle, 8th 50 y Freestyle, 8th 25 y Backstroke.

Superior Steer Sales Stickout Sale of the Day Valentine Livestock in Valentine, NE, was recognized with the Superior Steer Sales Stickout Sale of the Day, where livestock market analyst Corbitt Wall praised the market for hosting “an unusually good sale for the way the market is,” and said the auction featured “a lot of trade” and “some really impressive cattle at some impressive prices.” The strong performance was reflected throughout the sale, Thursday, July 23, 2026. Valentine posted the nation’s top six individual eight-weight steer sales on Thursday, led by 180 steers averaging 881pounds that sold for $382.50 - the highest eight-weight steer sale reported anywhere in the country during the week.

As we move through midsummer, it’s time to evaluate our forage situation. Depending on your location, meadow hay harvest might be starting, you could be on your second cutting of alfalfa, or preparing to cut warm-season annual crops soon.

Washington, D.C., July 29, 2026 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative to recruit veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses into mission-critical careers that protect America’s food supply, strengthen rural communities, and defend the nation’s agricultural security.