Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties

New to Canning? Start with Grape Jelly! 🍇

Interested in learning how to can but not sure where to begin? Making grape jelly is a great way to build your food preservation skills!

Whether you're working with a 4-H club, teaching a group, or spending time in the kitchen with your family, our Canning Grape Jelly Lesson Plan provides step-by-step guidance and activities to help you learn the basics of safe home canning.

📖 Download the lesson plan here:
https://food.unl.edu/sites/unl.edu.ianr.extension.food/files/resources/lesson-plan-canning-grape-jelly.pdf

Gather your jars, roll up your sleeves, and discover the fun and satisfaction of making homemade grape jelly together!

Tick Season Reminder: Check Yourself, Your Kids, and Your Pets!

Ticks are active across Nebraska, so now is a great time to make tick checks part of your daily routine.

✅ Stay up to date on regular tick treatments for pets.
✅ Check pets daily and remove any ticks promptly.
✅ If pets sleep in your bed, use light-colored sheets to help spot ticks.
✅ Take a shower and do a full-body tick check after spending time outdoors.
✅ Pay special attention to young children's scalps after recess, field trips, sports, or outdoor play.
✅ Place outdoor clothing in a hot dryer for 20 minutes to kill any hitchhiking ticks.
✅ Use fine-point tweezers to remove attached ticks from skin.
✅ For crawling ticks, try a sticky lint roller or painter's tape to collect them for identification.

Protect yourself, your family, and your pets by staying tick-aware this season!

Learn more about tick prevention and identification:

Tick Tag Go - Ticks & Prevention | Nebraska One Health | Nebraska Tick Tag Go About Observations & Identification NE Ticks & Prevention Resources Contact Us Content Nebraska Ticks & PreventionTicks can be active all year round, but May/June is regarded as high tick season in Nebraska. An increase in outdoor activities such as trail running, hiking, camping and mor...

Meet Our Expert: Dr. Katja Koehler-Cole

Dr. Katja Koehler-Cole serves as Nebraska Extension's Statewide Soil Health Management Extension Educator, where she leads educational programs and research focused on soil health and regenerative agriculture practices.
In her role, Katja works with producers, landowners, and agricultural professionals to promote practices that improve soil function, productivity, and long-term sustainability. She also serves as Nebraska's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) State Co-Coordinator, helping raise awareness of sustainable agriculture resources and funding opportunities available through the SARE program.
Additionally, Katja co-leads the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's participation in the Transition to Organic Partnership Program, supporting producers interested in organic production and management practices.
Learn more about Dr. Koehler-Cole and her work to advance soil health and sustainable agriculture across Nebraska:
https://epd.unl.edu/profile/kkoehlercole2

Thinking about canning? Before preserving your favorite fruits and vegetables, review our "Common Food and Recipe Issues When Canning" resource for answers to frequently asked questions and research-based food preservation recommendations. Check it out and can safely with confidence!

Common Food and Recipe Issues When Canning | UNL Food | Nebraska Home food preservation has become very popular. It is wonderful to preserve your own fruits and vegetables to fill your pantry. The following are common practices that are no longer consider safe to preserve foods and a few important reminders for safe home canned products.

Attention 4-H'ers!

Did you bake Dad his favorite treat today? Why not enter it in the Sarpy County Fair?

Consider entering the Family Food Traditions class (Department E, Division 412, Class 002)! This class celebrates the recipes and food traditions that have been passed down through your family and helps preserve the stories behind them.

Your entry should include:
✅ At least ¾ of a baked product or four muffins/cookies on a paper plate (may be baked in a disposable pan)
✅ The recipe
✅ The tradition or heritage associated with preparing or serving the food
✅ Information about where the recipe came from or who passed it down to your family

Sourdough entries are welcome!

Whether it's Grandma's cinnamon rolls, Dad's favorite cookies, or a special family recipe enjoyed for generations, we'd love to see the foods and stories that make your family unique.
Please keep in mind Items that require refrigeration will not be accepted, judged, or displayed as exhibits must be safe to eat when entered, whether they are tasted or not.

We look forward to seeing your Family Food Traditions entries at Sarpy County Fair Entry Day on July 28, 2026!

https://4h.unl.edu/4-h-fairbook-nebraska-state-fair/static-exhibits/food-nutrition/

Water Wonders! Drip, pour, and watch water move across dirt, rocks, and leaves. Children explore absorption, flow, and sound while learning how water supports plants and nature.

Book suggestion: "Water Is Water" by Miranda Paul beautifully connects water play to the natural world.

Download the guide at – go.unl.edu/lgo_water

👔 Happy Father's Day! 👔

Planning a picnic or cookout to celebrate Dad today? Before you head out, remember to keep your food safe from the refrigerator or freezer all the way to the picnic table. Safe food handling helps keep your family healthy and your celebration enjoyable!

For food safety tips during hot weather, visit: https://go.unl.edu/food-in-hot-weather

4-H Families: Fair Is Five Weeks Away!

Now is the time to review the Fairbook and make sure your projects meet all exhibit requirements before fair entry day. Taking a few minutes now can help avoid last-minute stress and ensure your exhibits are ready for judging.

Be sure to double-check details such as:

Including a recipe with each food exhibit

Using the correct photography label on photography entries

Make sure you complete the required supporting information for your project area

Visit the Fair Resources page to access the Fairbook and other important fair information. We can't wait to see all of your hard work showcased at the fair!

https://douglas-sarpy.unl.edu/4-h-youth-development/county-and-state-fair-resources/

Next to water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. Here in the U.S., about 85% of tea consumed is black tea and iced. The heat of the summer is the perfect time to enjoy a tall glass of refreshing iced tea, but how you brew it is an important step to keeping you safe. https://go.unl.edu/suntea

Vertical Cracks in Trees: Should You Be Concerned?

Have you noticed a long vertical crack running up the trunk of one of your trees? While some cracks may stabilize over time, others can indicate significant structural problems that increase the risk of failure. In this Backyard Farmer Quick Tip, Kim Todd explains what vertical trunk cracks can mean for tree health, why older trees with internal decay deserve special attention, and when it's time to consult a certified arborist or tree risk assessor.

Vertical Cracks in Trees: Should You Be Concerned? Have you noticed a long vertical crack running up the trunk of one ...