BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Veterans IN Farming Winter Farm Conference will be Jan. 24-25 at the Monroe Convention Center, 302 S. College Ave., Bloomington.

The event will kick off at 4 p.m. ET Jan. 24 with the Friday evening social, featuring hors d’oeuvres and networking.

Jan. 25 will feature a breakfast buffet at 8 a.m., followed by a full day of workshops specifically targeted for the farmer veteran community. Lunch at noon will include a membership update, and dinner will begin at 6 p.m.

Workshop topics will include Poultry Processing Basics, NRCS Programs for the Small Farm, Forestry Programs and Resources, Hydroponics on the Microfarm, Getting Started in Farming, Scaling Up Your Operation, Improving Soil Health, Advanced Beekeeping Techniques and Innovations, Adaptive Farming Resources, and Farm to School Program Presentation. Boots to Business day-long session will be held in the Indiana Grown Breakout Room.

There will be door prizes and exhibits showcasing Indiana businesses and services.

For more information and to register, visit https://vetsinfarming.wildapricot.org/Conference.

Smart Snacking

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The program Smart Snacking will be noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 28 at Green Top Grocery teaching kitchen, 921 E. Washington St., Bloomington.

Do you reach for a snack when you’re hungry or is it out of habit? This lesson will have you reflecting on your snacking behaviors and will help guide you to make smart snacking decisions. Enjoy a food demonstration and take home some new healthy snack recipes.

Southeastern Agronomy Summit

ALBION, Ill. — The Illinois Extension Southeastern Agronomy Summit will be 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Edwards County Farm Bureau, 15 S. Fifth St., Albion.

Program topics will include Weed Management Strategies, Economic Risk Management, Insect Pests in Corn and Soybeans, Emerging Technologies in Farming, Tar Spot: What We Know and How to Manage, and Agriculture Loans and Interest Rates.

Wits Workout

FREMONT, Ind. — Wits Workout will be 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 28 at the Fremont Public Library, 1004 W. Toledo St., Fremont.

Wits Workout is a peer-reviewed, pilot-tested, brain-health resource tool developed to assist leaders who provide programming to older adults in community settings.

Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/3zzs735b.

Purge Your Papers

GOSHEN, Ind. — The program Purge Your Papers will be 1 to 2 p.m. ET Jan. 28 a the Elkhart County Extension office, 17746 County Road 34, Goshen.

Do you find yourself getting overwhelmed with the stack of papers accumulating on the counter? It can be confusing knowing which papers to dispose of and which ones to keep. Learn about which paperwork to keep for a certain period of time and which ones can go in the garbage.

To register, call 574-533-0554 or email fink24@purdue.edu. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/448pakwh.

Woodworking Workshop

ANGOLA, Ind. — The Woodworking Workshop will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Steuben County Community Center, 317 S. Wayne St., Angola.

The Northeast Indiana Woodworkers Association will teach children in grades third through 12th how to make their own birdhouse for wrens.

For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/eyussruy.

Master Gardener Training

ALBION, Ind. — Purdue Extension Master Gardener training will kick off with a virtual session at 6:30 p.m. ET Jan. 28.

The training will include online and in-person sessions in collaboration with LaGrange, Noble, and Whitley counties. The training covers various horticultural topics, including ornamental plants, growing fruits and vegetables, soil health, invasive species, and plant pests. The program aims to train volunteers to spread horticultural knowledge throughout the community.

Upon completing the course, there will be a written exam to become a master gardener intern. Interns can then volunteer in the community to become master gardeners.

The cost is $185, which covers all training sessions and a printed manual. For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/e43n7nn9.

Northwest Agronomy Summit

FREEPORT, Ill. — The Illinois Extension Northwest Agronomy Summit will be 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at Highland Community College, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport.

Program topics will include Biologicals in Illinois Row Crops, Managing P & K to Optimize Corn Response to N in Northern Illinois Soils, Highland Community College Agriculture Update, Corn and Soybean Management Considerations for 2025, and Aspects of Weed Management in 2025.

Cost is $25. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4mb5etj5.

Everything Local Conference

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Everything Local Conference Jan. 29-31 at Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield.

The Everything Local Conference brings together Illinois growers, producers, and food system operators from across the state. The three-day conference features keynote speakers, 100-plus educational sessions, a trade show, and conference meals crafted with Illinois-grown foods. Attendees have the opportunity to network and attend workshops on topics like specialty crop production, business development, funding and financing, and more.

For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/5bf8x2yh.

Tree Care

URBANA, Ill. — The online Community Tree Care Series program Planting and Improper Practices will be 9 to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 29.

In the session, presented by Extension horticulture educators Emily Swihart and Sarah Vogel, attendees will learn about proper planting techniques to ensure the investment made in a newly planted tree. Site preparation, planting depth, and care during establishment set trees on the right path toward long-term health and vitality. Finally, explore common improper practices that harm tree health. Learn what not to do when planting, pruning, and placement to ensure your trees thrive.

Cost is $10. Register at https://tinyurl.com/5cpc76jn.

Hearty Soup

BRIGHTON, Ill. — The program Chase Away Winter Chills with Hearty Soup will be 2 to 3 p.m. Jan. 30 at Brighton Memorial Library, 110 N. Main St., Brighton.

Soup is nutritious and generally inexpensive to prepare. Learn about the many varieties of soups, how to layer different flavors, and developing delicious flavors without the added salt. The class invites participants to practice techniques in making flavorful soups, taste-test hearty soup recipes, and make informed decisions for lowering blood pressure.

Decluttering Home and Finances

LE ROY, Ill. — The program Where to Start: Decluttering Your Home and Finances will be 1 to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Living Well United Senior Center, 209 W. Washington St., Le Roy.

Do you feel overwhelmed trying to organize your stuff? Do you have a filing cabinet spilling over with financial paperwork? Join Family Life Educator Sara Attig in a free workshop to get your home and finances organized.

• Explore reasons for clutter and how it makes you feel.

• Identify what financial documents needs to be kept and when to discard documents.

• Explore secure options to discard sensitive financial documents.

• Learn the benefits of decluttering and minimizing.

• Identify strategies and create a plan to clear your clutter.

To register, call the center at 309-830-3433. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/4wnv48pc.

Make Breakfast

BENTON, Ill. — The program Let’s Make Breakfast will be 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Franklin County Extension office, 1212 Rte. 14 West, Benton.

Junior high and high school students will learn essential skills in safe food handling, kitchen safety, and cooking techniques. During the hands-on session, participants will prepare a breakfast menu that includes bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs and pancakes.

Calendar: Veterans IN Farming Winter Farm Conference