Calendar: Field Day at Pinney Purdue Agricultural Center

WANATAH, Ind. — Pinney Purdue Field Day will be held Aug. 21 at the Pinney Purdue Agricultural Center, 11402 S. County Line Road, Wanatah.

Participants will have opportunities to get updates on current ag production issues, visit with neighbors and fellow producers as well as ag supply and service exhibitors, and enjoy a meal. Registration and exhibitor booths open at 7:30 a.m. CT in the machinery shed on the east side of County Line Road; parking is also on the east side of the road.

The field day program starts at 8:15 a.m. with Dr. Bernie Engel, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, giving an update on Purdue University College of Agriculture. Dr. Todd Kuethe, Purdue Extension ag economist, will then give an outlook for the agricultural economy.

Field tours will begin at 9:20 a.m. and include discussions on soybean management by Shaun Casteel, Purdue professor of agronomy; corn disease issues, Darcy Telenko, Purdue associate professor of plant pathology; soybean cyst nematodes, Marisol Quintanilla, Michigan State nematologist; and insect management in agronomic crops, Christian Krupke, Purdue professor of entomology.

The field day will conclude with a sponsored pork chop lunch cooked by Birky Family Farms of Kouts. Participants are welcome to visit with field day exhibitors, who will be recognized for their help in sponsoring the field day, and talk to neighbors and presenters.

A twilight program is planned on the same day for those unable to attend the morning program. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and twilight presentations start at 6 p.m. Dan Quinn, Purdue agronomy professor, will discuss corn issues for 2024, and Marcelo Zimmer, Extension weed specialist, will discuss weed control strategies.

For more information, call 219-465-3555 or 219-733-2379.

Preserve It Now

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Preserve It Now, Enjoy It Later will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET Aug. 19 at Johnnie Mae Farm, 2518 Winter St., Fort Wayne.

Learn the basics of boiling water bath and pressure canning through education and a hands-on workshop. Participants will prepare and process a recipe to take home.

Cost is $60. Register by visiting https://tinyurl.com/46y2skjk.

Summer Twilight Series

CARMI, Ill. — Intensive Vegetable Production, Processing and Freezing will be the topic of the Summer Twilight Series event, 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 19 at Sunnybrook Gardens, 1152 Bob Martin Drive, Carmi.

Sunnybrook Gardens is a family-owned and operated specialty crop farm growing fruits, vegetables and flowers. After more than 30 years in the coal mines, Mike Huff retired and made his favorite hobby (gardening) his new career.

After taking the beginning farmers course at the University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Center to learn to grow fruits and vegetables on a larger scale, he teamed up with his son, Brandon, and opened Sunnybrook Gardens in 2004. Brandon and his wife, Nathelee, now work full time on the farm and have found ways to expand and grow.

Participants can learn about the variety of specialty crops grown on the farm and tour the commercial kitchen where the Huffs process and freeze sweet corn and peaches.

Healthy Indulgences

CARLINVILLE, Ill. — The program Healthy Indulgences: Desserts will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Aug. 20 at the Macoupin County Extension office, 60 Carlinville Plaza, Carlinville.

Participants will learn about tasty and popular — and even healthy — desserts.

This class is presented in collaboration with the Macoupin County Home and Community Education Association.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/3dh4jsan.

Farm Safety for Youth

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Farm Safety for Youth: Keeping the Next Generation Safe will be 11 a.m. to noon Aug. 20.

Young people are uniquely vulnerable to farm hazards, and children and teens make up a significant portion of injuries and fatalities in agriculture. Presenters will review child labor laws and resources for legally employing youth in agriculture. Learn about equipment risks, key safety practices to prevent farm incidents, and effective ways to train young workers and ensure safe behaviors around the farm.

Container Gardening

MONTICELLO, Ill. — Vegetable Gardening in Raised Beds and Containers presented by Dewitt and Piatt County master gardeners will be noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Piatt County Extension office, 210 S. Market St., Monticello.

Participants will learn the basics of vegetable gardening in raised beds and containers, from understanding optimal planting times to mastering planting techniques, soil preparation and post-planting care. Learn how to make your veggies thrive, regardless of your gardening space limitations.

NRCS Field Day

SAUK VILLAGE, Ill. — NRCS Field Day will be 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 20 at It Takes a Village Farm at Grace United Church of Christ, 2500 223rd St., Sauk Village.

Farmer Paul Krysik will explain the conservation practices implemented on the diversified vegetable farm, and speak of his contract experience with the NRCS program. Representatives from the USDA Chicago urban ag office will be on site to meet farmers and answer questions about applying for conservation reimbursement programs.

Cover Crop Field Day

BELLEVILLE, Ill. — Cover Crop Field Day will be 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at SIU Belleville Research Center, 2036 Charles Lane, Belleville.

Prepare for the fall cover crop planting season by learning about species selection, seeding rates, and effective planting management. The event includes research updates, plot tours, and a free meal as part of the program.

Garden to Table

DANVILLE, Ill. — The Garden to Table program will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Red Barn at Bunker Hill Historic Area in Kennekuk County Park, 22296 Henning Road, Danville.

Join Vermilion County master gardeners as they review the highlights and challenges of the 2024 growing season. Learn what crops thrived, which struggled, and how they managed specific insects and pests. Discover creative ways to use your extra zucchini, peppers and tomatoes.

Watershed Program

VALPARAISO, Ind. — The Illinois-Indiana Master Watershed Steward Program will be 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 20 at Purdue University Northwest’s Gabis Arboretum, 450 W 100 N, Valparaiso.

The program engages participants as stewards of natural ecosystems and resources through science-based education and volunteer service. It includes eight in-person classes Aug. 20 to Oct. 8.

Cost is $50 and CEUs are available. Register by visiting tinyurl.com/3w6j4fvx.

Harvesting Tomatoes

FREEPORT, Ill. — Tomatoes will be the topic of the Harvesting Your Garden program, 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas St., Freeport.

There are numerous varieties of tomatoes, and they are relatively easy to grow, producing several pounds of tomatoes per plant. This often leaves gardeners with ample tomatoes to eat, preserve, or share with friends and family. If you are fortunate enough to have an abundance of tomatoes this summer, find someone to share them with or consider donating them to your local food pantry.

This class will discuss why tomatoes are a healthy addition to your diet, how to select, purchase, and prepare different varieties of tomatoes, which variety works better than others for making salsa, and how to store them to extend their shelf life. Leave with recipes to try at home as you explore new flavors and discover what varieties of tomatoes work best for you.

Natural Areas Conservation

URBANA, Ill. — Natural Areas Conservation in Illinois will be the topic of the online Forestry Stewardship Series program, 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 21.

Explore Illinois’ role in the natural areas movement, review conservation and legal protection options, and discuss how management is often necessary to maintain biodiversity and natural resources in addition to legal protections.

Discover ways you can contribute to the legacy of natural area protection and management alongside natural resources professionals, landowners, and volunteers who are working to make a difference in the Prairie State.

Preserving Safely

FARMER CITY, Ill. — Preserving Safely: Freezing, Drying, Fermenting will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at Outreach of Farmer City, 701 E. Clinton Ave., Farmer City.

Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educator Caitlin Mellendorf will share up-to-date information and processes to preserve safely at home.

The workshop is free but advanced registration is required. Register by visiting tinyurl.com/8bdp4umm or call 217-935-5764.

Crafting Fresh Salsa

SHERIDAN, Ill. — The program Crafting Fresh Salsa will be 6 to 7 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Robert Rowe Public Library, 120 E. Si Johnson Ave., Sheridan.

Learn about different fruit and vegetable salsas like spicy tomato salsa, salsa verde and sweet mango salsa. Savor the season using produce from your garden, grocer or farmers market. In class, make a recipe and taste the freshness of summer. Take home recipes to craft your own fresh salsa.

The program will be repeated 11 a.m. to noon Aug. 22 at the Lacon Community Center, 405 N. Washington St., Lacon; and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Putnam County Public Library, 214 N. 4th St., Hennepin. Register at tinyurl.com/y9vzjkws and tinyurl.com/5n6pnt8w.

NEPAC Field Day

COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. — The Northeast Purdue Agricultural Center Field Day will begin at 8:30 a.m. ET Aug. 22 at NEPAC, 4821 E 400 S, Columbia City.

Topics will include:

• Update on weeds in field crops and cover crop termination.

• Technology for weed control now and moving forward.

• Crop scouting with UAVs.

• First aid on the farm.

• Worker Protection Standard (regulatory update).

• Update from Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance.

• Weather and market outlook (after lunch).

Flower Preservation

ELIZABETH, Ill. — Learn how to preserve flowers to enjoy year-round at the Flower Preservation Workshop, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Jo Daviess County Extension office, 204 N. Vine St., Elizabeth.

Flowers can be preserved by drying or pressing and can be used in many ways in your home and garden. At this workshop, participants will learn about the flowers that work best for preservation and the different methods of flower preservation. Participants will use preserved flowers to make a pressed flower bookmark and sachet to take home with them.

Cost is $10. To register or for more information, visit tinyurl.com/pefdpnkf or call 815-858-2273.

Ash Borer’s Impact

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The online program Emerald Ash Borer: Is Ash Protection Worth it? will be at 6 p.m. ET Aug. 22.

The emerald ash borer is an invasive beetle native to Asia that has become a significant threat to ash trees in North America, leading to the tree’s decline and often death within a few years of infestation.

Experts will discuss the ash borer’s impact on ecosystems, and the pros and cons of ash protection.

The webinar is part of the 2024 ReportINvasive Webinar series. Register by visiting tinyurl.com/yt89zcmy.

For more information, call 765-494-0822 or email rfbruner@purdue.edu.

Master Gardener Training

GREENCASTLE, Ind. — Purdue Extension Master Gardener Basic Training will be from 6 to 9 p.m. ET Thursdays, Aug. 22 to Nov. 21, at the Putnam County Extension office, 152 E. Columbia St., Greencastle.

Participants will learn about plant diseases, pesticide safety, invasive species, soils, weed identification, insect identification, fruit gardening, lawn care, and vegetable production. Presenters will include Purdue Extension educators and specialists from throughout Indiana.

A Purdue Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Application and Agreement Form is available at tinyurl.com/bdfcczkv. For more information, contact Jenna Nees at smith535@purdue.edu or 765-653-8411.

Upcoming Fairs

Aug. 16-24 — Union County Fair, 185 Herman Wright Drive, Anna, Ill.; www.unioncountyfair.net; unioncofair@frontier.com; 618-833-8923.

Aug. 21-25 — Bureau County Fair, 811 W. Peru St., Princeton, Ill.; www.bureaucountyfair.com; info@bureaucountyfair.com; 815-875-2905.

Aug. 21-25 — Will County Fair, 710 S. West St., Peotone, Ill.; www.willcountyfair.org; willcountyfair@sbcglobal.net; 708-258-9359.

Aug. 23-Sept. 2 — Du Quoin State Fair, 655 Executive Drive, Du Quoin, Ill.; dsf.illinois.gov; 618-542-1515.