Nebraska Extension - Platte County

10/20/2026

Cooking with Kids | Winter Squash
“Fall is a fun time for families - picking apples, selecting pumpkins, and celebrating the garden harvest is a fantastic way to get your child involved in the kitchen and cooking with you. Use these colorful days of autumn to focus on the harvest and enjoy the sweet and spicy aromas of fall that can fill your kitchen on a cool autumn day!” – UNL Food

Download a recipe for Apple Filled Squash from UNL Food: go.unl.edu/wintersquash
For more recipes and ideas for healthy snacks, visit: go.unl.edu/family_cooking

10/20/2026

10/19/2026

Did you know that almost two-thirds of rural Nebraskans use the trails near their communities? Join us for the next Nebraska Rural Poll webinar, where we’ll discuss trails and trail systems in rural Nebraska. Special guest speakers will share insights on why Nebraskans use trails, how much, and ideas on how trails can improve. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. CT. Register at ruralpoll.unl.edu.

10/16/2026

🌟Please consider joining our team!

Nebraska Extension in Colfax County is seeking a dedicated full-time Office Manager to oversee daily office operations, provide exceptional customer service, and support the delivery of research-based Extension and 4-H programs. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter, organized, dependable, team oriented, willing to learn, and able to manage competing priorities independently.

Send Your application, Resume, and 3 references to: [email protected]

If you have any questions, please call: (402) 352-3821 and ask for KateLynn or TJ.

10/15/2026

Not too late to join us for Taste of Columbus! Proceeds raised from this event will go to Platte County Fair Foundation. For more information and tickets, go to https://members.thecolumbuspage.com/events/details/2026-taste-of-columbus-23368

10/15/2026

The first frost of fall is on its way, are your plants weather ready? Follow these steps to prevent landscape damage as nighttime temperatures dip below 36°F this week.
1. Water and mulch soils around plants and trees, especially for new plantings.
2. Bring tender plants inside or cover them with staked bedsheets overnight, then uncover in the morning.
3. Unhook garden hoses from spigots and drain them prior to freezing temperatures (32°F) to prevent splits, burst fittings and frozen pipes and back flow devices.
4. Don’t walk or drive on green lawns showing frost, or mow or fertilize them.
5. Don’t cut spent foliage to the ground for winter—leave at least 12 inches as insulation from wind and cold.
6. Wait until spring to prune trees to avoid frost cracking.
COMMENT: Find more weather ready tips at hles.unl.edu.

10/13/2026

Want to get the most value from your hay? Testing is the first step. Contact your local Extension office to borrow a hay probe and get started: https://beef.unl.edu/beefwatch/do-your-herd-and-your-bank-account-favor-test-your-hay/