Purdue Agriculture Calendar

Weeks: 03/16/99 - 04/21/99 For additional information, call (765) 494-8396 March 16-April 6: IDEM confined feeding public forums The Indiana Department of Environmental Management and Purdue are sponsoring seven informational meetings to discuss the draft rules being developed by IDEM on confined feeding operations. IDEM officials will explain the intent and details of the rules and will participate in an open question-and-answer period at each meeting. CONTACT: Chris Cunningham, IDEM agricultural liaison, (317) 232-8587, ccunning@dem.state.in.us Dates and locations: March 16 Rensselaer St. Luke's Lutheran Church 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 18 Vincennes Greene Auditorium 7-9 p.m. March 23 Plymouth Marshall County Extension Office 7-9 p.m. March 25 Greensburg Decatur County Fairgrounds 7-9 p.m. March 30 Frankfort Clinton County Fairgrounds 7-9 p.m. April 1 Warsaw Justice Building 7-9 p.m. April 6 Jasper Dubois County Fairgrounds 7-9 p.m. March 20-21: Alpha Gamma Rho preview show Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity is sponsoring this heifer and steer show, plus a judging contest, at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds in Lafayette for cattle producers and judging enthusiasts. The judging contest will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by the heifer show at 2 p.m. The steer show will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday. More than $2,000 in prizes will be given to winners in the heifer and steer shows. The fraternity also will accept applications from high school seniors interested in winning the $500 Iris Albaugh Memorial Scholarship. CONTACTS: Brian Shuter, shuter@purdue.edu, or Aron Rhoads, arhoads@purdue.edu; phone for both is (765) 743-5500 ext. 306 March 25: Rotational stocking forage conference Forage and livestock producers interested in elevating their profitability can attend a forage conference at the Johnson County 4-H Fairgrounds co-sponsored by Purdue Cooperative Extension Service and the Indiana Forage Council Inc. The program will cover topics such as why rotational stocking, determining fair pasture rent, establishing a forage stand, soil fertility, reducing losses from weeds and insects, harvesting with less rain damage, and developing a hay budget. Other activities will include an economic outlook for hay production and the annual meeting of the Indiana Forage Council. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $10 per person. The fairgrounds are on North Fairgrounds Street, a block west of the junction of State Road 44 and U.S. 31 in Franklin. CONTACTS: Keith Johnson, Purdue forage specialist, (765) 494-4800; or Rick Chase, Johnson County Extension educator, (317) 736-3724 April 10-11: Indiana gourd show This show, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the Johanning Civic Center in Kokomo, is sponsored by the Indiana Gourd Society. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for students. The show will feature demonstrations, arts and crafts, and eight workshops on how to decorate gourds and how to create birdhouses, bowls, jewelry, and flowers from gourds. Preregistration is required for the workshops, which cost $25 each. A buffet dinner at 6:30 p.m. Saturday will include an award ceremony and silent auction, and it costs $10.50. A Sunday breakfast buffet at 7:30 a.m. costs $7.50. Registration for the meals is due March 29. For workshop information and registration, contact Jane Snider, (317) 849-0409. For meal registration and show information, contact Valene Alexander, (765) 981-4823, valalex@comteck.com. More information is on the Indiana Gourd Society Web site. April 16-18: Hoosier horse fair and exposition Purdue and the Indiana Horse Council will hold one of Indiana's largest all-breed expositions at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, with more than 32 horse breeds represented during the three days. In addition to demonstrations and educational seminars, there will be several 4-H contests, such as individual and team judging, public speaking and demonstrations. The event also features three Winchester IPRA rodeo performances and three buildings full of vendors. Gates open at 10 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets, at $8 for adults and $3 for children 6-12, can be purchased in advance at Indiana Marsh Supermarkets. Tickets at the gate are $10 for adults and $5 for children. All children under age 5 are admitted for free. CONTACT: Colleen Brady, Extension Service, (765) 494-8441, cbrady@four-h.purdue.edu April 17-18: SpringFest SpringFest is held on Mothers Weekend across Purdue's Ag campus and offers nearly 100 free events, activities and demonstrations sponsored by the Schools of Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, Consumer and Family Sciences, and Science. Attractions include Bug Bowl, the 36th veterinary medicine open house, and the 86th annual horticulture show. For SpringFest details, call (765) 494-9113 or (888) EXT-INFO or go to the SpringFest Web site. For more information about Bug Bowl, call (765) 494-4554, send e-mail to bug_bowl@entm.purdue.edu or visit the Bug Bowl Web site. April 20-21: Tri-state dairy nutrition conference This conference, sponsored by Purdue, Michigan State and Ohio State universities, is designed to supply current information to individuals who provide nutritional advice to dairy farmers. The two-day conference at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne will cover topics such as nutrition and ovarian function, heat stress, and evaluating changes in feeding programs. Registration of $100 is due by April 2. Hotel reservations can be made at a discount with the Fort Wayne Hilton by calling (219) 420-1100 before March 21. Registration forms can be obtained from Jennifer Winkler, Ohio State University, (614) 688-3143. CONTACT: Timothy Johnson, Purdue Animal Sciences, (219) 481-6316, johnsont@ipfw.edu Compiled by Lynda Stoops, (765) 494-8402; e-mail, news_students@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page