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December 29, 2003

Fort Wayne Farm Show features Purdue Extension expertise

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Fort Wayne Farm Show will highlight innovations in agriculture and expertise from Purdue University Cooperative Extension specialists.

The annual event takes place Jan. 13-15 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave., Fort Wayne, Ind. The Farm Show, one of Indiana's largest farm exhibitions, is free and open to the public. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 13, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 14 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 15. Coliseum parking is $3.

Purdue Extension will occupy a major place on the exhibit floor, said Val Slack, Purdue Extension educator in Whitley County. Purdue staff will be on hand to provide visitors with information to help them better manage their homes and finances, as well as assist farmers with crop and livestock inquiries.

"We hope to help further educate and promote agriculture to the public," Slack said.

There will be more than 400 agriculture-related businesses and organizations at the show, which is expected to attract more than 30,000 people.

Purdue Extension and the Northeastern Indiana Soil and Water Conservation Districts are co-sponsoring agriculture workshops each day of the farm show. The workshops take place in the Appleseed Room, located near the main exhibit hall.

The workshop schedule includes:

• Jan. 13, 10 a.m. – Grain market outlook. A first look at the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture crop report with Jon Cavanaugh, marketing director for Central States Enterprises Inc., and David Kohli, market analyst for Ford & Young Futures.

• Jan. 13, 11 a.m. – Soil health and sustainability. Building organic matter and sequestering carbon with Dan Towery, natural resources specialist, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

• Jan. 13, 1 p.m. – Farm program updates. The farm bill's new programs and opportunities, with Jan Hardisty, state conservationist with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, and John Nidlinger, state executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency.

• Jan. 13, 1:30 p.m. – Ag best management practices and water quality with Jane Loomis, executive director of the Saint Joseph River Watershed Initiative.

• Jan. 13, 2:30 p.m. – Managing farm risks with Howard Halderman, president of Halderman Farm Management; Mike Gaynier, agent/owner; and Rick Hall, agent with Special Insurance Agency.

• Jan. 14, 10 a.m. – Agricultural markets update with Mike Swanson, Wells Fargo & Co.

• Jan. 14, 11 a.m. – Alternative agriculture grants. A look at state and USDA grants with Kathy Altman, director of value-added business development and marketing with the state ag commissioner's office, and Jerry Hay, cooperative specialist with Indiana USDA Rural Development.

• Jan. 14, 1 p.m. – Starting new agricultural ventures. Farmers with successful new agricultural ventures and marketing techniques share their experiences.

• Jan. 14, 3:30 p.m. – Grain and livestock market outlook with a Purdue Extension agricultural economist.

• Jan. 14, 5 p.m. – On-site sewage alternatives with Gary Chapple, director of pollution control with the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health.

• Jan. 14, 6 p.m. – Pond construction and management with Cory Wolfe, technical team engineer with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Bill Horan, Purdue Extension educator.

• Jan. 15, 10 a.m. – Grain market outlook. Forecasting today's market uncertainty with Steve Beier, senior account manager, and Marvin Hodgson, manager, Agri Partners, The Andersons Inc.

• Jan. 15, 11 a.m. – Urban expansion and encroachment. Dealing with city-reared neighbors, Joe Tutterow, director of the Indiana Land Resources Council.

• Jan. 15, 1 p.m. – Using living wills, trusts and estates with Denny Treece, trust officer with Wells Fargo and Co.

There also will be workshops available Jan. 15 to be presented by Purdue consumer and family science educators. Session topics include food irradiation, dealing with diabetes, aging and nutrition, wise seafood choices, keys to a strong family, why are you a victim of a rip-off, and computerized accounting to keep financial records.

Writer: Meggie Issler, (765) 494-8402, agnews-stories@purdue.edu

Source: Val Slack, (260) 244-7615, vslack@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu
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