What does Purdue Extension do? Check out some of our recent program successes in Spencer County!
UAV Program Prepares Potential Pilots
In recent years, the role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in agricultural production has become more defined and the technology more accessible to producers. To help producers learn how to make the most of this technology, Purdue Extension’s UAV Program covers topics related to the operation of UAVs as well as prepares participants to take the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Test required for commercial or hobby UAV use. Spencer County offered this two-day program this spring with nine participants. All participants reported increased awareness of legal issues, safety protocols, and troubleshooting techniques as well as a better understanding of applications associated with UAV technology. Following the program, four participants took and passed the FAA test, with an average score of 93 percent.
3rd Graders Learn Financial Skills
Assessments of our community needs indicate that financial education is a high priority for children and adults alike. Purdue Extension has provided financial education opportunities this year in partnership with both North and South Spencer School Corporation as well as St. Bernard’s in Rockport. Captain Cash is an interactive education program designed to teach basic financial management skills to students. Over four classroom sessions, students focus on earning, saving, spending, and borrowing money. They learn common vocabulary words and basic economic concepts through games and activities that meet Indiana academic standards for math and social studies. One student shared, “I loved Captain Cash and now I can be smart about money. I wish it didn’t have to end!”
Summer Meals Continue to Help Community
For seven summers, Purdue Extension has been part of the planning team for summer meals in the North Spencer School district. Due to summer construction at David Turnham and Chrisney Elementaries that prevented their use as summer meal sites, Purdue Extension worked with the school corporation to develop an alternative plan to prevent the cancellation of the program. This resulted in a partnership with Lincoln Heritage Public Library in which meals would be prepared at Heritage Hills High School and transported to the Dale and Chrisney library branches for distribution. In addition to lunch, a grab and go breakfast was served for children to take home and eat the next day. In all, these efforts resulted in a successful summer meal program serving 2,347 breakfasts and 2,346 lunches.
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