November 1-2, 2024, Kendallville, IN

Explore culinary practices and health benefits of herbs. Participants will sample herb-infused olive oil and vinegar and make their own refreshing herbal mocktail. Lydia Hall is a Community Outreach Dietitian at the Parkview Center for Healthy Living, focusing on chronic disease management and lifestyle medicine. She is passionate about food as medicine while also being enjoyable for sustainable nutrition changes. Lydia’s favorite herb is cilantro.

With years of experience in poultry processing, the Hochstetler's will walk the group through every step of home-processing poultry. Join them for a hands-on experience where you'll actively participate in the entire process, from start to finish.

For more information Hochstetler's Haven, visit www.hochstetlershaven.com.

Nasturtiums, marigolds, violets, and other beauties grown in your garden can add beauty not only to a vase on your dining table but also your dinner plate. Brighten up your dishes with the vibrant beauty and delicate flavors of edible flowers! These floral accents not only enhance your plate visually but also add a unique and delightful twist to your culinary creations. Elysia Rodgers is the Ag and Natural Resources Extension Educator in DeKalb County. She and her family homestead with dairy goats, cattle, and a garden that fills the canning cellar.

Limited to the first 16 registrants for safety and "elbow room," the group will learn the importance of food safety during food preservation, the necessary equipment & supplies, and the proper method to safely preserve chicken in a pressure canner. Participants will can chicken, 1-2:50 pm, followed by bone broth creation, 3-4:50 pm, where you will learn about the health benefits of bone broth while it simmers on the stove. Participants will help prepare the food items for preservation and properly can the poultry products from start to finish under the expert guidance of Abigail Creigh and Molly Hoag, Purdue Extension Health and Human Sciences Extension Educators. Abigail is a registered dietician and serves in Noble County but travels to other counties to teach proper food preservation. 

*This is a 4-hour session, and participants must be present for the entire 4-hours. They will not be able to participate in other sessions happening during this session block.

Molly will join Abigail in teaching this 4-hour interactive class, 1:00-4:50 pm. Molly serves as the Health and Human Sciences Extension Educator in Wells County. She and Abigail both serve on the Statewide Food Preservation Team.

AgrAbility's goal is to enhance the quality of life for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities, so that they, their families, and their communities continue to succeed in rural America. Whether you have a disability or not, why not make the work smarter rather than harder?! Ed Sheldon of AgrAbility will showcase ergonomic tools that can do just that for homesteaders of any demographic.

AgrAbility's goal is to enhance the quality of life for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities, so that they, their families, and their communities continue to succeed in rural America. Safety is key on a farm or homestead in order to ensure the longevity of the operation and the lifestyle. One bad accident could wreck your entire gig. Get the facts about homestead safety around machinery and animals from those who help in the aftermath. While AgrAbility aids those who have experienced tragedy, they aim to prevent it before they need to act on their mission. Ed Sheldon of AgrAbility will increase your sense of attentiveness and caution on your land so that you can provide for your family for years to come!

Cora will join Ed in presenting best practices for safety on your homestead. Cora serves as the Community Development and Ag & Natural Resources Extension Educator in Bartholomew County. Cora is passionate about livestock production and researched ssafety and health concerns with livestock producers while studying at Ohio State.

Whether you have a passion for preserving pollinators or are interested in using honey as a natural sweetener in your home, Chet Gilbert will equip you to get started. We won't be bashful about it...there's a lot to learn about these little buzzers, but the reward is worth it. Chet started as a hobby beekeeper and made beekeeping his full time profession about 10 years ago. He is now one of the larger beekeepers in the area with 400 hives that he owns and another 800 that he manages. Chet has a master’s degree in environmental and sustainable management, and he teaches a Beekeeping for Beginners class every January/February in Angola that draws residents from surrounding counties and the tri-state area.

We aren't just going to lecture about chainsaw safety. We're actually felling a tree with permission from the Noble County Community Fairgrounds Association. Witness the precision and skill of tree felling in our live demonstration, where you'll see professional techniques that ensure safety and efficiency. Learn firsthand how to tackle even the largest trees with confidence and expertise, all under the expert instruction of Duane McCoy, Timber Buyer Licensing Forester with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Duane's day job is traveling the state to work on the Timber Buyers Licensing program, Indiana Forestry Best Management Practices (BMP) program, Watershed Conservation through Forestry program, and the Hoosier Ecosystem Experimental (HEE) Research Forest project. Let's just say...he knows a thing or two about timber and forest management!

Keep your small engines in top shape with our practical class on maintenance and repairs, designed to give you hands-on experience and showcase best practices. Learn essential techniques to troubleshoot and fix common issues, ensuring your equipment runs smoothly and efficiently for years to come. Matt Dice is currently an Extension Educator who taught Small Engines for 17 years in high school Ag classrooms. With Small Engines being his favorite high school class to teach, Matt rebuilt approximately 2500+ engines during his tenure as a teacher. Matt is currently restoring a 1949 Chevy truck and recently rebuilt a 292 Chevy engine.

Learn how to create a sourdough starter, sample baked sourdough products, and discuss sourdough's nutritional benefits in the diet. Abigail Creigh, Purdue Extension Health and Human Sciences Extension Educator in Noble County, is a registered dietician and travels to other counties to teach proper food preservation. 

Sharon Cripe will join Abigail in teaching this 2-hour interactive class, 10:00-11:50 am. Sharon serves as the President of the Noble County Extension Homemaker Association.

Tami Mosier is a Purdue Extension Educator and wife of a combat veteran. Tami will moderate the Veteran Farmer Panel in which participants will hear stories of triumph despite the wars that shaped these noble men. Lean how these American heroes found healing in agriculture, what fulfills them now, and the struggles and strategies to overcome challenges on the farm and homestead. This session will be especially helpful for veterans who are still trying to figure out their purpose on the civilian side of life where the uniform now consists of a different set of boots.

Veteran Panelist (10:00-10:50 AM): Working in several different agricultural arenas, Jamie Perry, US Army Veteran, now finds himself helping veterans by working with the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service. Jamiee is currently a Soil Conservationist but has also served as  a market farmer, greenhouse manager, college instructor, soil health specialist, and mentor farmer for the Burmese community. He holds multiple degrees in agriculture with an emphasis in small farm intensive vegetable production.

If you are looking for a way to start small with high yield or you have limited space, raised beds might be the right choice for you. Learn how to get started and fill the beds with all of best materials. Keri Salb-Mertz serves as the Community Wellness Coordinator in Wabash County and has experience with raised beds in community garden spaces.

This session is limited to the first 10 registrants. Janel Franks, Purdue Extension Health and Human Sciences Extension Educator in Blackford County, is a creative spirit at heart and enjoys repurposing and upcycling. In this session, some sewing machine knowledge and experience is required because in only two hours, you'll refashion a denim garment into something useful. *PARTICIPANTS MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN DENIM.

Dr. Kyle Yarde of Yarde Veterinary Services will speak about the best management practices for small ruminant animals. Dr. Yarde will talk about nutrition, preventative practices, and more, offering insights tailored to enhance the health and productivity of the ruminants you have invested in.

Uncover the fascinating world of soil health with expert insights from Ann Kline, Ag & Natural Resources Extension Educator in Noble County. Join us as she reveals how soil composition and care directly influence garden vitality. Ann will share practical strategies to enrich your soil, promote biodiversity, and cultivate stronger, more resilient plants.

Play the detective to sleuth what's happening with your livestock. Secure better herd and flock health with this educational session on necropsy, where you'll go through a post-mortem exam and learn tips to collect samples for diagnostic testing. Gain valuable insights from the Purdue University Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory on using necropsy as a diagnostic tool to prevent future outbreaks and improve overall animal care.

Discover how to evaluate and select the best hay for your livestock in this informative session on forage quality and purchasing. Learn pro tips on assessing the right time to harvest, nutritional value, storage practices, and making cost-effective decisions for your homestead's livestock. Arthur Franke of the United State Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service will help you become more aware and attentive to what you're growing or buying. Arthur grew up on a small family farm in LaGrange County. His job experiences in agriculture include working with vegetable and orchard production at home, as well as serving as a field crop scout for hybrid seed corn, potato, and tomato growing operations. He began his NRCS career as an intern in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, learning a lot about forestry, before working with NRCS in northern Indiana as a Soil Conservationist.