The University of Nebraska-Lincoln built an agricultural research station in the Panhandle 98 years ago.

As the 21st Century unfolds, agriculture is still at the heart of the university’s mission in western Nebraska, but the variety of programs has expanded to include youth and 4-H, community development, health and nutrition, personal finance and technology.

The public can learn more about UNL programs and activities in the Panhandle District on Tuesday, July 29, at the 2008 Big Red Fair.

“It’s Happening … at the Center” is this year’s theme. The event is scheduled to run from 5-8 p.m. at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center at Scottsbluff. This year’s Big Red Fair is several days earlier than in past years to avoid conflicts with several county fairs.

UNL programs in western Nebraska are wide-ranging, current, and responsive to local needs. The topics on display at the Big Red Fair are diverse as high-tech crop-breeding methods, cutting-edge livestock research, changes in the 2008 farm bill, and 4-H activities related to climate research in Antarctica.

Riding tours will showcase crop research being conducted by UNL specialists in small plots. This year’s tour will convey the diversity of this research, and how it responds to issues unique to this area’s agriculture and environment. Tour stops will include limited irrigation, no-till crop systems; western bean cutworm treatment thresholds on corn; using perennial grasses to replace invasive weed species; and growing crops with limited water supplies.

Two horticultural tours will focus on converting bluegrass to buffalograss and also on saving water in the landscape.

Visitors will be able to visit numerous displays and enter drawings for several door prizes, including volleyballs autographed by the NU volleyball team. Health screening will be conducted by nursing students from the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Nursing in Scottsbluff.

Prospective college students will have the opportunity to talk to UNL representatives. Dinner will be provided by the Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber of Commerce, followed by an ice-cream social.

The Panhandle Research and Extension Center, at 4502 Avenue I, is one of four regional centers operated by UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Center is also the administrative hub for the 17-county Panhandle Extension District, comprising 17 counties in the Nebraska Panhandle and north-central Nebraska.

The staff includes about 18 specialists and 18 educators who are involved in gaining new knowledge through research and sharing the knowledge through extension work.

Booths, Displays and Tours -- Big Red Fair 2008

Groundwater Model: See how ground water and surface water are interconnected. The irrigation canals in the North Platte Valley “lose” approximately 50 percent of the water that is diverted to seepage. This water is not really not “lost”, it is recharging our local aquifer and provides water for many uses including wildlife, farmers, and homeowners. What at first appears to be a very inefficient system is in reality a very efficient system. (Steve Sibray)

ANDRILL: 4-H Youth Explore Antarctica: Activities from the international science research project taking place in Antarctica. ANDRILL - ANtarctic geology DRILLing – is recovering sedimentary rock cores from beneath the ice to learn “Antarctica’s Climate Secrets” to help predict the future. (Jana Schwartz)

4-H Animal Science: 4-H has been teaching youth life skills through the caring of animals for over 100 years. 4-Hers learn responsibility, caring, teamwork while preparing their chicken, goat, rabbit or dog for exhibition. Members will present their many kinds of animals and the skills they have learned. (Jana Schwartz)

Canola & Camelina ... Potential Oil Seed Crops for the Panhandle: Samples of seed, different stages of plant growth (potted plants) and harvested plants from the small plot area, and information on the oil content. (Gary Stone)

Use of Marker Assisted Selection in the Dry Bean Breeding Program: Use of molecular DNA markers for fingerprinting advanced great northern and pinto bean lines, and verification of F1 hybrid production. (Carlos Urrea)

High Plains Ranch Practicum: A three-season, hands-on educational program designed to give participants the skills needed in today’s complex ranching industry. A systems approach, integrating natural resources management, livestock management, and economics, is used throughout. (Aaron Berger)

The 2008 Farm Bill: What do I need to Do Today? (Paul Burgener)

The New Panhandle Research Feedlot: Expansion of the PHREC feedlot and research taking place now, as well as future plans. Some feedstuff and feedlot diets will be displayed. (Judson Vasconcelos)

WEEDS - Know How to Control: Display of different weeds common to this area help to learn to identify them. (Bob Wilson)

Eat beans for a healthy lifestyle: Diets including beans may reduce risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Learn about the latest health and nutrition information on dry edible beans and recipes (Lynn Reuter)

Student Recruitment: Go Green: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Agronomy & Horticulture will have brochures informing about majors and options, and a wide range of study areas to prepare for careers like Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Biology, and Turfgrass & Landscape Management. Career opportunities in plant pathology, a diverse discipline with work in agricultural fields and molecular biology labs and anywhere in between. Materials like sugar beet seedling diseases and bacterial wilt in dry beans will be shown. Also, UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division will showcase nursing education opportunities offered UNMC College of Nursing, Scottsbluff campus. Besides traditional BSN program, we offer LPN to BSN, RN to MSN, MSN to PhD programs plus the new Accelerated BSN program and all on-line RN to BSN program.

Health Screening: UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division students will check spirometry, blood glucose and blood pressure.

Walking Tours • Buffalograss a low water use turf alternative: Learn about where buffalograss fits in the landscape and how to manage the turf. • Low water landscapes: View alternative landscapes that use considerably less water than Kentucky bluegrass.

Research Plot Tours: Three tours will each cover the same route. Each will last 40 minutes and cover a range of the field research we do here at the Center. Tour 1: 5:30-6:10 p.m.; Tour 2: 5:50-6:30 p.m.; Tour 3: 6:10-6:50 p.m. • Purpose and Examples of Using Small Plot Area - Alexander Pavlista, Potato Specialist • Limited irrigation no-till rotation of corn, beans, canola and wheat - Gary Hergert, Soil Fertility Specialist • Western bean cutworm treatment thresholds in corn - Gary Hein, Entomologist • Using perennial grasses to replace invasive weed species - Robert Wilson, Weed Specialist • Growing crops when water supply is limited - Dean Yonts, Irrigation Engineer