Impact Highlights

Nutrition Education Program (NEP)

NEP equips limited-resource families to live healthier lives through classes and policy, system and environmental (PSE) initiatives. In 2024, NEP in Lancaster County taught nearly 5,500 adults and 7,700 youth. NEP fostered 51 PSE changes that increased health accessibility and affordability. Programs like Nutrition for Hypertension at the Good Neighbor Center (pictured), taught in Arabic for New Americans, blend cultural traditions with practical skills to navigate new food and health systems to increase health and reduce chronic disease.

Two educators presenting to several women sitting around tables

 

Early Childhood Prep Academy

Extension Educator Hayley Jackson Perez partnered with Lincoln Littles and Ruth Staples Child Development Laboratory to offer 6-hour workshops to 22 middle school students about career possibilities in early childhood education (pictured). This program was aimed at increasing the Early Childhood workforce, which is an issue within Lancaster County and beyond. One participant said, “I enjoyed working with the kids doing hands-on activities. My favorite was assisting in the outdoor learning. The other kids and staff all made the day fun and a great experience.”

Two adults, several teens and many young children outside looking at worms on picnic tables

 

Horticulture, Landscape, and Environmental Systems (HLES) Team

HLES Extension experts assist thousands of homeowners, renters and industry professionals each year to identify issues and solve problems. In 2024, over 15,000 questions were answered by horticulture, entomology and water experts (via emails, phone calls and walk-ins).  The HLES Team of Horticulturist Sarah Browning, Urban Entomologist Kait Chapman and Statewide Domestic Water/Wastewater Program Manager Becky Schuerman assisted over 2,000 Husker Harvest Days visitors during the 3-day event in September (pictured).

Many people in a building talking in small groups

 

4-H Engaged 34,177 Youth

With over 50 clubs ranging from 5 to 75 youth members, clubs are an important part of the Lancaster County 4-H program. 4-H clubs are led by adult volunteers, hold regular meetings, elect youth officers, recite the 4-H pledge, learn together and do community service projects. Pictured is the 4-H Clover Kids club for youth ages 5–7.

A group of youth and one adult holding handmade patriotic windsocks and some wearing patriotic gear

 

Agriculture Outreach

Water & Cropping Systems Extension Educator John Nelson was one of several presenters at the Nebraska Soil Health & Cover Crops Field Day held at the Eastern Nebraska Research Extension and Education Center (pictured). 75 attendees learned about the results of the Highboy Cover Crop Interseeding Project (HiCCIP) and saw an equipment demonstration. As part of Extension’s On-Farm Research Network, HiCCIP included 16 farms covering 2,000 acres. The goal is to address barriers to adopting cover crops in corn fields prior to harvest.

Several farmers talking in pairs or small groups with a large farm highboy machine in the background

“As a result of these lessons, I have made several important changes: I have switched from whole milk and dairy products to low-fat options, I check nutritional labels before purchasing any items, I exercise for 30 minutes each day, I plan my meals for the week and I use a shopping list when I go grocery shopping.” 

—Iman, Nutrition Education Program group class participant at Good Neighbor Community Center
People working and walking around displays of exhibits at a fair
$ 772,431
is the value of 24,861 hours of service given by 2,226 Extension volunteers. Extension benefits from these volunteers who help extend the reach of programs such as 4-H, Master Gardeners and Extension Board members.
Based on Independent Sector’s estimate of Nebraska’s value of a volunteer hour in 2023 as $31.07