Ag News Roundup

sealPurdue News
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January 17, 1997

Purdue offers 'Farming Together' workshop

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- A workshop especially designed to help Indiana farm families work better together will be offered by the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Feb. 7-8.

The course will be taught by specialists in the Purdue Department of Agricultural Economics. Participants will evaluate personal skills and financial resources and learn how to improve decision-making, conflict resolution and teamwork. The seminar will include sessions on business goals and mission statements as well as profit sharing and competitive positioning. "We'll also look at how other families are planning their businesses together," said Purdue agricultural economist Howard Doster.

At least two members from any organization should plan to attend, Doster said. A $30 registration fee will cover all participants from a single organization or family. "We've had fathers and sons, husbands, wives and children, partners and even two neighbors who were just thinking about joining parts of their operations attend the workshop," Doster said. "The point is to help people work better in their organization. It doesn't matter what their connection is."

The workshop will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7, in Room 313 Stewart Center and finish by noon Saturday, Feb. 8. Contact your local county Extension office for more information or call Doster at (765) 494-4250 for a registration form.

CONTACT: Doster, (765) 494-4250; e-mail, doster@agecon.purdue.edu

250,000 Indiana 4-H'ers will observe 'their' week Feb. 2-8

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- More than 250,000 Indiana 4-H participants will celebrate 4-H week Feb. 2-8 in recognition of 4-H achievements and activities across the state.

The week is designed to encourage new membership and bring additional adult volunteer leaders into the program. Indiana had 13,271 volunteer adult leaders and 5,786 junior leaders in 1995.

  1. H is an informal education program of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service for anyone aged 9 to 18. In 1995, 24 percent of Indiana's 4-H'ers lived in major cities; 9 percent came from urban and suburban areas of 50,000 people or more; 19 percent were from towns of 10,000 to 50,000; 32 percent were from towns of fewer than 10,000 people; and 15 percent were from farms.

  2. H teaches leadership, citizenship, responsibility and expertise in a variety of project areas. "One way young people can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become successful citizens is through participation in 4-H," said Maurice Kramer, director of the state 4-H program at Purdue. "As 4-H'ers, they gain respect for themselves and others, learn how to use technology, explore career and leisure-time activities, develop leadership and citizenship skills, and acquire good health habits."

  3. H clubs offer members the opportunities to work with other 4-H'ers and adults in completing and exhibiting projects. Some 4-H project areas are animal sciences, environmental education, plant science, mechanical science, and diet, health and nutrition. 4-H also offers opportunities for many trips, including an exchange program with Japan.

    Exploring 4-H, a program for children from kindergarten to third grade, offers individual and group activities and day camps in many settings, including after-school care centers.

    The Indiana 4-H program also offers several school enrichment programs. These programs include Space Station Indiana, which helps students learn science and math through classroom activities and hands-on experience. Exploring the Food Pyramid is another enrichment program that teaches children nutrition and health principles. Other school enrichment programs include: Windowsill Garden, Project LEAD (Legal Education to Arrest Delinquency) and Project Grow.

    For information about joining 4-H, contact any county Extension office or call 1-888-EXT-INFO.

    CONTACT: Kramer, (765) 494-8422; e-mail, msk@four-h.purdue.edu

Lambing school slated for Feb. 8 at Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The annual Purdue University Lambing School, scheduled for Feb. 8, will provide sheep producers with hands-on experience and informal discussion.

The school will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Purdue Animal Sciences Research Center Sheep Unit. It's sponsored by the Purdue Department of Animal Sciences, the Cooperative Extension Service and the Indiana Sheep Breeders Association.

Topics, according to Extension sheep specialist Mike Neary, will include nutrition, reproduction, health considerations, lambing barn obstetrics and necessary management practices. Instructors will be Neary, Extension livestock specialist Wayne Singleton, Department of Animal Sciences shepherd Gerald Kelly and Dr. Dawn Frank of Horizons Veterinary Services.

A $30-per-person registration fee must be received by Jan. 30. A maximum of 40 participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about registration or program content, contact Neary at (765) 494-4849.

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Compiled by Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; Internet, sig@ecn.purdue.edu

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