Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
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The Kimball Junior Livestock team competed at the FFA CDE in Kimball – and they did it well. The team included Aubrey Culek and Dakota Vrbas, who earned third place individual, and Wyatt Cook and Trey Cook, who each earned red ribbons. According to the event rules, only members in grades 9-12 are eligible to compete. Because two members are in the eighth grade, the team was not eligible to compete for team awards. Had they been eligible, the team would have taken fourth place in the district, a...
On a wintry late February Friday, it was that time of year once again for FFA enthusiasts to drive tractors to Kimball High School. Nolan Cook brought the family Case/Steiger into town....
On a cold and snowy Friday, Kimball High School FFA enthusiasts drove tractors to school. Grace Anderson ride of choice was the Cook family's John Deere tractor, which she drove in from the farm.... Full story
For the past seven years, 17-year-old Emily Miller has taken advantage of a unique government program that enables her to take out an ag-related loan and operate her own income-producing project. The FSA Youth Loan program is available for kids ages 10-20 in all areas, including Kimball and Banner counties. Emily, from Sidney, is just what the Farm Service Agency Youth Loan program was looking for when the program was designed. Through the program, she said she has "learned how to manage money b... Full story
While most Kimballites were hunkered down in their houses during the recent weather events, ranchers were out in the elements trying to feed, water and take care of their livestock. Each individual rancher has their story – some were fortunate to have moved their stock home to their corrals, while others were in the pasture or out on cornstalks. "It was tough," local producer Doug Lukassen said in reference to the recent blizzard, then the extreme cold snap and raging winds of last week. L...
Farmers Day wouldn't be Farmers Day without the Kimball FFA having a presence. Above, the Longhorns mascot represents the Kimball FFA chapter during the celebration's annual parade Saturday, Sept. 24, carrying the FFA flag on East 2nd Street downtown. A good crowd lined the parade route.... Full story
Kimball County 4-H youth recently showed pigs at the Nebraska State Fair. Wyatt and Trey Cook along with Bodie Carruthers were in showmanship on Saturday and market classes on Sunday. Pictured are Wyatt Cook and Bodie Carruthers preparing to enter into the show ring in the same barrows market class. This was the first year that the Cook boys participated in the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island. They all received blue ribbons in showmanship and market classes.... Full story
Kale Schnell and his reserve champion beef, a crossbred Charolois, get their picture taken during the livestock sale at the Kimball-Banner County Fair. The Observer will run fair results once they become available.... Full story
Wednesday August 3 5:30 pm Archery competition (Location: Kimball golf course/Trap house) Monday, August 8 8:00 am – 10:30 am – Clothing Judging (Location: Plains Historical Society Museum) 8:00 am – 10:30 am – Life Challenges (Location: Plains Historical Society Museum) 11:00 am – Conclusion Fashion Revue (Location: Plains Historical Society Museum) 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Public Fashion Show (Location: Plains Historical Society Museum 6:00 pm – Pre-Fair cleanup Tuesday, August 9 11:00 am – 4:00 pm... Full story
Last weekend, Halligan Agency held the Little Daddy Ranch Sorting at the Kimball-Banner County Fairgrounds. The two-day event, held in advance of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Big Daddy Ranch Sorting event, boasted 362 first round teams and 180 second round teams. According to event organizer Cody Halligan, "It was a lot, a lot of work." While local riders were not in abundance, Texas had the most sorters. Halligan explained that the Texans can stop here and "get warmed up on northern cattle"... Full story
Amidst the late frost, the sawfly infestation and the lack of moisture, area wheat farmers are preparing for a lackluster harvest as well as predictions of a long, drawn-out harvest. Hope Hinton, grain originator from Frenchman Valley Coop, said, "Everything is just so slow right now, just because they get going, then they run into wet stuff, then they get going and run into wet stuff." Hinton does the buying and selling of grain from Potter to the Burns area. According to the morning report...
The Colts and Fillies 4-H club had their first arena practice June 23 at the Kimball arena. Everyone was very excited to start riding and getting prepared for the fair. At the start of the practice, Lavalla Reher talked with all of the members present about goals that they wanted to accomplish in the coming year. The goals ranged from getting better at trail and walking over the tarp, loping comfortably, and getting to know their new horses. The next thing they talked about was how to feel which...
Here are the Kimball FFA Alumni Progress Show results: Grand Champion Swine – Aspyn Jagers Reserver Champion Swine – Hunter Creech Grand Champion Lamb – Kasson Bowman Reserve Champion Lamb – Cooper Dudden Grand Champion Market Goat – Tenley Becker Reserve Champion Market Goat – Teagan McGuire Grand Champion Heifer – Carly Keller Reserver Champion Heifer – Kasyn Snyder Grand Champion Market Beet – Sydney Huckfeldt Reserve Champion Market Beef – Sydney Huckfeldt Beef Showmanship Senior... Full story
The annual Kimball Ranch Rodeo featured two rounds of saddle bronc riding and four ranch rodeo events, with seven teams competing for the title and belt buckles. The crowd was treated to some outstanding bronc riding, with Justin Quint winning the event with a score of 84 points, followed closely by Cinch Hebb with 83 points, and third place went to Cody Miller with 82 points. The Ranch Rodeo events started with trailer loading, roping and doctoring, team tying, and the crowd favorite, wild cow...
The Colts and Fillies 4-H club held their monthly meeting Sunday, April 24th at the 4-H building. There were 11 members present accompanied by an uncounted number of parents and helpers. They held a regular business meeting led by president, Emily Whitney. During the meeting, Mia Varra talked about how to get your horses in good working condition for spring and summer activities. Then LaValla Reher and Mia both talked about how to read vital signs in your horse and spot signs of sickness. They a...
Dr. Karla Wilke, assistant professor of animal science at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff, shared her thoughts and information on avian influenza. A backyard flock in Scotts Bluff County became infected with avian influenza and the chickens and waterfowl had to be killed and incinerated. Early detection is essential to controlling the disease, according to Wilke. In March, avian influenza was detected in a commercial flock in Butler County and backyard flocks in Merrick and Holt counties, and...
The Colts and Fillies 4-H club held its monthly meeting at the 4-H building, Sunday, March 27th. President Emily Whitney led the meeting with 12 members present. During the meeting vice president Rachel Burger gave a demonstration on different kinds of equine bits, for her Level ll testing, which corresponded with the purpose of the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to learn more about bits and bridles. Going with the theme, Mia Varra and Austin West talked about leverage in bits and how... Full story
A great crowd came out to support the Kimball FFA Chapter at its Labor Auction and Alumni Feed on Friday, March 25. Twenty-one FFA students were auctioned off as well, as their adviser. Student prices ranged from a few hundred dollars for eight hours of work to over $1,000. Each student introduced themselves and shared what skills they possessed. Then area auctioneer Royce McConnell sold the students to the highest bidder. After the sale was complete, the student handed the buyer a business...
National FFA Week at Kimball Jr./Sr. High School culminated last week with Drive Your Tractor to School Day. Kimball FFA member Justin Klosterman, above, opted to drive a combine instead of a tractor on Friday.This week, area FFA students were headed to Kimball on Wednesday for the FFA CDE. Kimball FFA also will hold its annual Labor Auction on March 25.... Full story
Since the 1950s, the Aksarben Foundation has been celebrating Nebraska farm families with its tradition of awarding Pioneer and Heritage Farm Family Awards. Banner County residents Dan and Linda Barrett were awarded this year with the Pioneer Farm Family Award, which recognizes 100 years of ownership. The award is presented by the Aksarben Foundation in partnership with the Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers. Below is Dan Barrett's application information for the... Full story
Results are in for the FFA Alumni Progress Show on Father's Day weekend at the fairgrounds in Kimball. Goat Show In the Goat Show, there were 21 goats and 15 goat showmen. Grand Champion received $300 and Reserve Champion was awarded $200. Grand and Reserve Champion Progress Goat – Cael Langford. Grand Champion Sr Showman – Allison Carpenter. Reserve Champion Sr Showman – Cael Langford. Grand Champion Int Showman – Eli Kalous. Reserve Champion Int Showman – Jayme Gittlein. Grand Champion...
Locally, Mark and Bryce Halstead from the EH Ranch, LLC approached Karen Hewitt of Karen's Kitchen in Kimball to promote "Meat on the Menu Day." They said that they wanted to purchase the first 20 prime ribs on Saturday at her restaurant to "support the beef industry and her business." Karen said the customers appreciated it, and it "went great." She said that she cooked four prime ribs and only had four end pieces left. Karen did mention that another beef employer purchased 40 meals for their...
Brendan Halligan, 10, goes after the number 5 calf as he participates in last Saturday's ranch sorting event north of Kimball. This was Brendan's second ranch sorting event. Cinch RSNC Ranch Sorting made its debut in the Kimball area with rounds for beginners, rookies, novices and above. Halligan Agency LLC sponsored the event with 189 first-round teams at the Y3 Indoor Area....
As calving season concludes, the thought of springtime rituals like branding begin occurring. But in this crazy, unusual time, Panhandle Public Health District has cautioned ranchers about their spring social gatherings. This year must be different. It will undoubtedly take longer and be harder, but in an effort to stop the spread of this virus it is imperative that local ranches follow the guidelines. The first thing on the list is to limit branding to the smallest and most essential crew that...
“We are taking a lot of heat because people think we are not doing enough. But the issue is more complex; there is not an easy fix.” This according to Melody Benjamin, vice president of member services with the Nebraska Cattlemen Association. Benjamin’s comment was in response to the rumors that the packing industry was gouging the rancher. Articles and information had surfaced that large beef packing houses had the power to set cattle prices. Litigation and investigations had already started before the coronavirus, but the drastic drop in be...