LINCOLN, Neb. (May 12, 2026) – “Backyard Farmer” will travel to the scenic Platte River corridor near Gretna to record an episode Saturday, May 30.
The public is invited to attend this free event at Schramm Park State Recreation Area, 21502 W. Hwy. 31, east of the Schramm Education Center Building. The question-and-answer session starts at 3:15 p.m. CT with the recording at 4 p.m. CT.
Host Kim Todd, Nebraska Extension landscape horticulture specialist, joins a panel of Nebraska Extension experts and other horticulture professionals to answer viewer questions about insect pests, plant diseases, lawn care, fruits and vegetables, and landscape design.
Panelists include Jody Green, Nebraska Extension urban entomologist; Kyle Broderick, Nebraska Extension plant diagnostician, Dana Freeman, Nebraska Extension instructor and Dennis Ferraro, University of Nebraska-Lincoln wildlife professor of practice.
Audience members should bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets, along with questions and samples from their lawns or gardens for the Q&A session.
Ahead of the Backyard Farmer recording, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Nebraska Invasive Species Council will host the second annual Know Your Nebraska Invasives Day from noon to 3 p.m. CT at Schramm Park State Recreation Area.
This free, family-friendly event will feature hands-on activities, games and outdoor experiences to help visitors identify invasive species, understand their impact on Nebraska’s ecosystems, and learn how to prevent their spread. Workshops and activities are designed for all ages and experience levels.
In case of inclement weather, “Backyard Farmer” will be recorded inside the education center. Know Your Invasive Species Day will be cancelled. Parking is available near the education center parking lot. A state permit is not required to park at the education center but is for other areas of the park.
Viewers can submit their lawn and garden questions and photos beforehand via the “Backyard Farmer” webpage, email or Facebook messages. To submit a question or photo for the experts, email byf@unl.edu or visit Facebook at facebook.com/backyardfarmernebraska. The “Backyard Farmer” webpage at byf.unl.edu features additional information about the series and its Facebook page also includes announcements and other garden information.
Past features and episodes are available for viewing on the program’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/backyardfarmer and as a free podcast. Fans of “Backyard Farmer” can also stay up to date with the latest gardening trends by signing up for the program’s monthly newsletter at byf.unl.edu/about/newsletter.
This episode will air at 7 p.m. CT, Thursday, June 4 on Nebraska Public Media.
