Purdue Extension Martin County Blast September 18. 2023
The Purdue Extension Martin County weekly column is provided to help all learn
about programs & opportunities. We highlight events from Purdue University & Extension
where we hope you will choose to be part of Extension….. where there is Opportunity4All!
SHARING IN GENEROSITY, 9 YEAR 4-H MEMBER PRESENTS AT THE MARTIN COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING
John Hart and parent Racheal Hart, attended the September 18th Martin County Council meeting with County Extension Director Dena Held, sharing the events leading up to and making for a full circle grateful donation from John, where he seized an opportunity to give back to the community at the 2023 Martin County 4-H Fair. Special recognition also to the Hawkins’ family for their contribution to 4-H.
The full story may be found at: https://extension.purdue.edu/county/martin/martin-county-indiana-4h.html
Pictured are Council Members Warren Albright, J. Keith Gibson, Monty Gregory, Racheal Hart, John Hart, Jordan Dant, Adam Green, Jim Hamby, and Andrew Beaver.
Photo Courtesy of Purdue Extension Martin County
DEDIDICATED TEXT NUMBER FOR PURDUE EXTENSION MARTIN COUNTY
You now have an option to text with Extension staff.
Text 812-653-2089 to reach Purdue Extension Martin County.
All are invited to send a text with your name and in return a full detailed contact card will be texted back for you to save in your device contacts. The contact card will include helpful links will be easy for you to save in your contacts for future use. Then, going forward, you may text as a straight communication option for your Purdue Extension needs!
NATIONAL 4-H WEEK IS OCTOBER 1 THROUGH OCTOBER 7
For more than 100 years, 4-H has inspired families, shaped careers, and impacted communities. From October 1-7, we will celebrate the impact of 4‑H during National 4‑H Week and we need you to celebrate to!
The theme of this year’s National 4-H Week is “I 💚 4‑H.” As you plan ahead for how you will celebrate National 4-H Week in your family and places and spaces, here are some ideas of you can celebrate 4-H and show all the ways you 💚 4‑H:
- Wear green or the 4-H Clover anytime – but especially on Thursday, October 5th for Wear Green Day! Share pictures of you and your family and friends by texting pictures to: 812-653-2089
- Post pictures on social media and celebrate
- Share 4-H ideas and encourage other 4-H professionals, alumni and 4-H’ers to participate in wearing 4-H clothing!
- If you are Kindergarten to 12th grade – enroll in 4-H during 4-H week at v2.4honline.com
- As an adult – help youth enroll
- As an adult – become a 4-H volunteer
- Speak to elected officials on how 4-H has impacted you and why their support is needed and appreciated
TWENTY DAYS OF TERRIFIC: INDIANA 4-H ENROLLMENT IN MARTIN COUNTY
4-H is open to all youth in grades 3 to grade 12 ($20 enrollment fee) and Mini 4-H is open to grades Kindergarten through 2nd (no enrollment fee.)
Here is the great opportunity: Enroll from October 1st to October 20th and the $20 enrollment fee is paid by the Martin County 4-H Council.
How to enroll? enroll at v2.4honline.com starting October 1st. The 4-H Program year runs from October 1st to September 30th annually. Enroll early to take advantage of all the projects, trips, and experiences Indiana 4-H offers!
4-H JR. LEADERS HOST 2ND COOKIES AND CANVAS FUN OPPORTUNITY
WHEN: Sunday, October 1, 2023
TIME: 2:00 pm
WHERE: Martin County 4-H Fairgrounds Community Building, 2668 US 50, Loogootee
COST: $10.00 – includes all painting items and refreshments
RESERVATIONS: Due by Friday, September 22 4:00 pm by calling the Extension Office at 812-295-2412
Please include any special accommodations or special dietary needs at the time your reservation is made.
There will be a 4-H enrollment station for parents of K – 12 graders from 2:15 pm to 4:00 pm.
This event is sponsored by the Junior Leaders and was well attended last year so be sure to get out your names on the list as soon as possible. Walk-ins may be accepted on the day of the event as long as enough supplies are available - no guarantees, so please RSVP.
MARTIN COUNTY 4-H TURKEY DINNER
Sunday, November 5, 2023
Martin County 4-H Fairgrounds & Event Center, Community Building
2023 4-H FALL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Sunday, November 5, 2023 12 noon EST to 12:30 pm EST
Martin County 4-H Fairgrounds & Event Center, Community Building
2024 martin county 4-h fair
July 11-16, 2024
What Makes 4-H Different from other Youth Serving Organizations?
4-H is a part of the community. A club becomes involved with improving economic and social conditions where the members live. They learn how to be good citizens by taking community responsibility.
4-H is “learning by doing.” It’s an action program. Participants watch others, they study, they experiment, but they “do and practice” themselves. People remember 20 percent of what they are told, 30 percent of what they see, 50 percent of what they hear, 70 percent of what they say, and 90 percent of what they do and think. 4-H offers much DOING AND THINKING!
4-H is Inclusive. Youth of all races, places of residence, socioeconomic situations, and educational backgrounds are welcome. Youth may become 4-H members when they enter the third grade. They may continue membership until they complete the 12th grade. Maximum 4-H membership is 10 years. It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service that all persons have equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, services, activities, and facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, disability or status as a veteran. Purdue University is an Affirmative Action institution. This material may be available in alternative formats.
4-H is real life experience. It is learning how to do jobs and how to make decisions similar to those that are important in adult life.
4-H can be a family affair. There is a place for all family members if they want to participate. Sometimes you can reach and teach others: friends, parents, brothers, and sisters through the 4-H members.
4-H is adaptable. Programs can and should be “tailored” to fit any individual, any home, or any community. You can help your club adapt the program so that everyone gains from the experience.
4-H is decision making. Learning to stand on one’s own feet and learning to work with a group are important. Early practice in making both personal and group decisions builds for the future. You help members find possible answers. You encourage them to explore and decide which path they will follow.
4-H provides for ownership. Making, buying, and selling are included. Each project “belongs” to the member.
4-H is based on science and fact. The resources of Purdue University, our Indiana land-grant college, are used consistently in developing and implementing projects and activities.
WHAT ARE THE 4-H Delivery Methods?
Youth can participate in 4-H in a variety of ways, below is a list of ways.
Organized 4-H Community Club - Club members meet as a group on a regular schedule under the direction of an approved adult volunteer with a planned program. Clubs typically have elected youth officers and a set of rules approved by membership to govern the club, or for very young groups, other developmentally appropriate structures and operating processes. Community clubs typically meet in the evenings or on weekends and offer self-chosen, multiple learning experiences and activities.
Organized 4-H Afterschool Club - Club members meet as a group on a regular schedule under the direction of an approved adult volunteer with a planned program. 4-H after-school clubs are organized within after-school programs administered by cooperative Extension staff or other organizations (i.e. other youth development organizations, housing authorities, faith-based groups). They meet the above definition of a 4-H Club, and the young people and adult staff identify themselves as 4-H members and volunteers. They may have officers and elements of a club structure.
Special Interest or Short-Term Program - Special interest and short-term programs include groups of youth meeting for a special learning experience that involves direct teaching by Extension staff or trained volunteers, including teachers.
4-H SPARK Clubs – provide six hours of instruction on a specific topic of interest to the youth and adult volunteers. SPARK club audiences are typically new to the 4-H program. The SPARK club topic is designed to “spark” an interest in further 4-H participation.
Overnight Experience - Youth taking part in an Extension-planned educational experience that takes place over multiple days away from home.
Day Camping Program - Day camps consist of multiple-day programs with youth returning home each evening.
School Enrichment - School-aged youth receive a well-planned sequence of learning experiences during regular school hours.
4-H Projects: A 4-H project is one of the areas where learning-by-doing takes place. As members gain experience, the scope of their projects may be increased and/or they may choose to take on additional projects.
Characteristics of a 4-H Project include:
- Planned work in a subject area of interest to the 4-H members.
- Guided by a volunteer, or other caring adult.
- Aimed at planned objectives that can be attained and measured.
- Summarized by some form of record keeping.
4-H Activities Presentations - opportunities for youth to organize their thoughts and present them to their peers and adults.
Workshops – planned educational program on a specific topic.
Showmanship – youth demonstrate their knowledge about a specific subject or project area, typically in the areas of livestock.
Record Keeping – written document outlining the knowledge that the member has gained in the 4-H experience, including the financial revenue and expenses.
Community Service – opportunities for 4-H members to give back to their communities individually or as a group.
Career Development Events – individuals or teams compete to evaluate specific subject matter areas Fair Exhibits – youth display a product that demonstrates the knowledge they have gained during their 4-H experience.
Multi-county, State and National – wide variety of 4-H opportunities that are available for youth beyond the county borders at the area, state, and national levels. Some of these include camps, workshops, conferences, etc.
4-H Recognition Scholarships and awards – recognition given to 4-H members for their accomplishments during their 4-H tenure
Judging may be through the Danish system or placing. In the Danish system, individual entries are classified as Blue (top), Red (average), or White (below average) based on criteria established for the category. The Placing system is where individual entries are ranked from top to bottom as compared to all other entries in the category
Conference/open/interview judging – youth are present while the adult judges or evaluates their entries. Youth will typically be asked by the judge to explain how the entry was completed and what was learned during the process.
JUNIOR AND SENIOR BOILER VET CAMP
Applications will be accepted for the 2024 Junior & Senior Boiler Vet Camp until February 1st, 2024.
The Junior Camp will run from June 2-8 and Senior Camp will run from June 9-15.
The only camp of its kind in Indiana, Boiler Vet Camp gives want-to-be veterinarians or veterinary nurses the chance to live out their dreams. This camp is designed for students who are interested in becoming veterinary healthcare professionals and provides a preview into the real and vast fields of veterinary medicine. Students who attended a previous camp cannot repeat the same camp.
Through presentations, demonstrations, laboratories, visits and in-depth, hands-on activities, students will discover what modern veterinary medicine is all about. Students will gain personal experience of what it is like to attend vet school and what it takes to become a veterinarian or veterinary nurse through this seven day on-campus experience at one of the premier veterinary schools in the country. Students entering 8th and 9th grades are eligible to attend Junior Camp and students entering the 10th, 11th, or 12th grades are eligible to attend the Senior Camp. The minimum age required to attend Vet Camp is 12 years of age.
Many partnering organizations have joined with the College of Veterinary Medicine to provide financial assistance for both camps. Partial scholarships are available. Camp fees are all-inclusive for the hands-on in-residence camps.
Learn more and apply now at https://purdue.vet/boilervetcamp.
STOCKMANSHIP with CURT PATE
From Ryegate, Montana. Curt Pate uses his personal experience incorporating effective stockmanship principles, supports a “for profit” mindset and focuses on highlighting the increased economic benefits of handling stock correctly. In addition, Curt recognizes the growing public scrutiny surrounding livestock production and the impact that improved livestock handling practices create for the sustainability of the cattle industry.
WHERE: Southern Indiana Purdue Ag Center, Dubois, IN
WHEN: Friday, September 29, 2023 – Beef Focused Program
Saturday, September 30, 2023 – Sheep & Goat Focused Program
DETAILS AVAILABLE AT:
www.indianaforage.org – www.indianasheep.com – www.indianabeef.org
92nd IBEP PERFORMANCE TESTED BULL SALE & SPRINGVILLE FEEDER AUCION HEIFER & COW SALE
More bull for your buck – performance tested; ranch ready
When: Saturday, October 14, 2023
Where: Springville, Indiana - Visitors are welcome at any time
For more information: Indiana Beef Evaluation Program,1117 State Road 458, Bedford, IN 47421 (812) 249-4330
Visit: https://ag.purdue.edu/department/ansc/idep/2023-summer-test.html
MARTIN COUNTY PESTICIDE APPLICATOR RECERTIFICATION COURSE
Monday, November 6, 2023 10 am – 12 Noon EST
Martin County 4-H Fairgrounds & Event Center, Community Building
RSVP by calling 812-295-2412, texting 812-653-2089, or e-mailing heldd@purdue.edu.
2024 Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy
Learn to be a Leader in Watershed Management & sign up now to improve your watershed management skills. If you’re interested in water quality and watersheds, consider applying for the 2024 Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy.
Working Together for Program Excellence: Indiana Watershed Leadership is a program of Purdue University. The program draws on expertise and resources at Purdue and collaborates with Indiana's major conservation agencies. Support was previously provided by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management through section 319 of the Clean Water Act. A diverse Steering Committee and project team representing a dozen different agencies and organizations is involved in developing and teaching the academy.
Application and Fee Information: The registration fee is $1300, reduced to $800 for non-profit employees or board members, county employees, SWCD board members, students or self-funded attendees. Limited scholarships of $400 are available for applicants that do not work for a funded project or an agency. Registration Fees cover all workshop materials as well as food and lodging for the in-person workshops. Single rooms are available at an additional charge. See information at the end of the application. The registration is payable by December 4, 2022. Accepted applicants will receive information on how to submit payment to Purdue University.
The Academy, organized by Purdue University with support from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and other Indiana conservation agencies and organizations, gives participants the chance to:
- Engage with watershed topics covering leadership principles, watershed science, organization and communication, technology and GIS, stakeholder involvement techniques and policy skills
- Meet, learn from, and engage with others who work in watershed management
- Interact with topic experts
- Gain strategies, skills, and resources for successful watershed management
- Earn a Professional Certificate in Watershed Management
For the online application and information about the Academy, visit https://engineering.purdue.edu/watersheds/academy.html
The program includes three face-to-face group sessions, plus distance learning and online networking (approximately 2 hrs/week). The Academy will run from January to May, 2024, with workshops on January 3-4, March 27-28, and May 22, 2024.
In-depth Training to Strengthen Watershed Leadership: Developing and coordinating a local watershed organization can be a daunting task, especially if you are the person responsible for leading the process. If you would like to build your capacity for successful watershed management, we encourage you to enroll in the Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy. The Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy is designed for anyone with watershed management responsibilities or interests
Recognition: Participants who complete all requirements earn a Purdue University Continuing Education Professional Certificate in Watershed Management.
Application Form: Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy Application Form
or contact: Sara Peel at: speel@purdue.edu.
Applications are due by Friday, November 3, 2023
USDA CLIMATE SMART PROJECT
Climate-Smart Grasslands – the Root of Agricultural Carbon Markets
Farms implement up to six specific practices, each of which has previously documented potential increase soil organic carbon storage, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and enhance system resilience, all while making a positive contribution to profitability, drought resiliency, soil and water quality, and habitat for at-risk grassland birds and pollinators. For more information contact Abby Heidenreich at aheidnr@purdue.edu
PURDUE EXTENSION: FARM STRESS TEAM
You can’t take care of your farm, your livestock or your family if you don’t first take care of yourself.
The Purdue Farm Stress team is part of a 12-state collaborative effort that was awarded the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network grant administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The goal is to create/expand stress management and mental health resources and services to agricultural producers/stakeholders in the North Central region. Listen to the podcast! Tools For Today’s Farmer. Featuring interviews with leaders in the agriculture industry. Find it anywhere you listen to podcasts or simply google search “Tools for Today’s Farmer Podcast.”
Resources for Farm Families:
Need help and don’t know where to start:
Call: 211 OR www.211.org
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call: 988 OR https://988lifeline.org/
Be Well Indiana
Call: 211 OR 1-866-211-9966 OR https//www.in.gov/bewellindiana/
Concern Line for Farmers (Hosted by Iowa)
Call: 1-800-477-1985
Farm Aide Hotline
Call: 1-800-327-6243
Strong Couples Project (Partnership with IL)
At: go.illinois.edu/StrongCouples
Check the website for more resources and information: Extension.purdue.edu/farmstress
ONCE UPON A GARDEN FALL SEMINAR
You’re Invited! Make plans to attend the Fall Seminar “Once Upon A Garden” hosted by the Gibson County Master Gardener Association with 4 Guest Speakers plus several vendor booths.
Join us October 21st, 2023 at the Toyota Event Center in Princeton, Indiana.
Doors open at 8 am Central Time, Seminar starts at 9 am.
Register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/once-upon-a-garden-gibson-county-master-gardeners-seminar-tickets-536141913897
INDIANA ORGANIC GRAIN FARMER MEETING
February 28, 2024
Beck Agricultural Center, West Lafayette, IN
The Indiana Organic Grain Farmer meeting increases participant understanding of organic transition, certification and cropping systems through peer learning and networking. This annual event includes education and workshops on transitioning to organic grain, breakout sessions, farmer panels, networking time and an industry trade show.
For more information contact: Ashley Adair - Extension Organic Agriculture Specialist Email: holmes9@purdue.edu
2024 Indiana Small Farm Conference
WHEN: Thursday, February 29, 2024 – March 1, 2024
WHERE: Hendricks County Fairgrounds, Danville, Indiana
The Indiana Small Farm Conference is a unique space to learn new techniques, see what works, and network with others. Over 400 attendees, 40 + exhibitors and a vendor trade show along with several national speakers.
To learn more about the conference and the work that the Purdue team does to make your small farming program work.
Contact Information: Amy Thompson, afthompson@purdue.edu
If you are interested in being a show vendor, contact: Phil Cox at cox119@purdue.edu
DNR – INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES White-tailed Deer Hunting
https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/animals/white-tailed-deer/?_ga
Deer Hunting Dates – 2023-2024
- Reduction Zone – September 15, 2023 – January 31, 2024 (Where Open)
- Youth Season – September 23 – 24, 2023
- Archery: October 1, 2023 – January 7, 2024
- Firearm: November 18 – December 2, 2023
- Muzzleloader: December 9 – 24, 2023
- A full list of season dates, bag limits, and legal equipment can be found on the deer-hunting question and answers page.
A resident youth hunt/trap, deer hunting, or comprehensive lifetime hunting license is required to hunt for deer unless you meet one of the license exemptions. All deer harvested in Indiana must be reported within 48 hours of the time of harvest at an on-site check station, online, through your Indiana Fish & Wildlife Account, or by phone at 1-800-419-1326. There is a $3 charge for the phone service, payable only by Visa or Mastercard. For more information, see our Deer Hunting Questions page.
Carcasses of deer and other wild animals that are lawfully taken cannot be dumped in streams or other bodies of water. Dumping dead deer and other wild animals in a waterway is considered littering and is a criminal offense punishable by a fine. Rotting carcasses in a waterway can also affect water quality for those downstream. Carcasses should not be burned because this can cause air pollution. Carcasses shouldn’t be left in the open for scavengers and others to see without permission from the landowner. We recommend all discarded carcasses and unwanted animal parts be bagged, placed in your trash, and sent to a landfill.
More information regarding licensing and regulations all the way through recipes and harvest numbers can be found on the above website published by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
NEW INVASIVE PREDATOR OF HONEYBEES
Adapted from: https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/new-invasive-predator-of-honeybees-purdue-landscape-report/
A new invasive insect of concern has been identified in the state of Georgia. In August of 2023, Georgia’s Department of Agriculture, along with the USDA, confirmed the presence of the yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina, outside of the city of Savannah. To date, this is the only confirmed identification of this insect in the United States; it has already established in Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia outside of its native range. V. velutina is a native of the subtropical and tropical regions of southeast Asia, and it is not yet clear how it arrived in North America. Much like the northern giant hornet, previously known as the Asian giant hornet or ‘murder hornet’, this insect will attack honeybee hives in search of food and represents a potential danger to the beekeeping industry.
Yellow-legged hornets are predators and will regularly attack honeybees to provide food for their young, though it is possible they could attack other, similar species. Since honeybees concentrate their numbers in hives with a lot of in-and-out traffic, they provide an excellent opportunity for the hornets to hunt and provide food for their young. The hornets are effectively ambush predators, waiting in front of hive entrances and capturing workers with their legs as they leave the hive. The hornets then dismember the bees, returning to their young with only the thorax, which contains the largest amount of protein. However, it is believed that yellow-legged hornets only represent a lethal threat to weaker hives that are already experiencing problems; it is also too early to tell how already-existing honeybee issues, such as mite and disease issues, will interact with the presence of this insect.
The yellow-legged hornet, much like other members of Order Hymenoptera, is a social insect. They create oval or egg-shaped nests in trees that can house as many as 6,000 individuals. Colonies are composed of a foundress and her young, who become the workers within the colony. Female hornets will overwinter within tree hollows, leaf litter, or other environmentally stable locations, and once spring arrives, they start their own colony and give birth to new workers who care for young and hunt.
As with any new invasive species, it is critical to successful identify it and differentiate it from other species of wasps and hornets that we experience in the Midwest. At a glance, the yellow-legged hornet is barely discernable from European hornets, yellowjackets, and similar insects; they possess aerodynamic shapes with heavy yellow and black color patterns like many of their cousins. The most easily identified trait is their namesake: the legs of this insect tend to be black closer to the body, with the lower half of the leg bright yellow. The segments of the abdomen follow a similar pattern, with those segments closer to the center of the body being dominated by black, steadily becoming more yellow as you reach the tip of the abdomen. The yellow-legged hornet is also approximately an inch in length, with reproductive individuals sometimes reaching an inch and a half.
While remaining observant will be critical to reporting any invasive species, there are a few things to keep in mind about the yellow-legged hornet. This insect has only been found in one location in Georgia; no other states have any sightings or confirmed reports of this insect. There is also no evidence the insect has established a population in Georgia, there is only one confirmed sighting. The best course of action for now is to be vigilant and report any potential sightings by calling 1-866-NOEXOTIC, or you can contact our local Purdue Extension educator for assistance.
To view this full article and other Purdue Landscape Report articles, please visit Purdue Landscape Report.
You may subscribe and receive the newsletter: Purdue Landscape Report Newsletter.
HOMEOWNER CONSERVATION PRACTICES TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY
Adapted from: https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/publication-homeowner-conservation-practices-to-protect-water-quality/
We all want clean water. But sometimes it is hard to know how one individual or family can make a difference. People who have a home with a yard have the opportunity to make decisions that can protect and improve water quality.
Rain that falls on your yard does not necessarily stay in your yard. Some water is infiltrated into the ground, some is drawn up through plants and into the air, and some can run off and flow into a roadside ditch or storm sewer, where it continues to flow to a lake or river. This runoff can pick up soil particles, motor oil, lawn chemicals, or other pollutants on your property and carry them downstream, where they can cause water quality problems.
Anyone who has a home with a yard can help protect and improve water quality. This publication offers practical advice about reducing impervious surfaces, select proper landscape plants, effective management of lawns, installing rain barrels and rain gardens, and proper care of septic systems.
To receive the free download visit the Purdue Extension’s resource center: The Education Store – Homeowner Conservation Practices to Protect Water Quality.