April 19, 2006

Purdue offers better living advice at annual conference

"This three-day conference is about bringing people together and learning while having fun," said Karen DeZarn, conference chairperson. "A wide variety of topics are covered, and we encourage women and men of all ages to attend."

Featured keynote speaker Anne Audain, a former professional athlete who is a motivational speaker and businesswoman, will speak at 8:30 a.m. June 15. Her presentation is entitled "Why Walk When You Can Fly? Taking Your Life Experiences and Making a Positive Difference in the World."

Other featured speakers and activities include:

• Michael Kelsey, guitarist and singer-songwriter, will kick off the conference at 8 p.m. June 13 in Loeb Playhouse. Kelsey, a native of Lafayette, Ind., was selected in 2004 as the nation's best unsigned guitarist by judges at the music store chain Guitar Center.

• Steve Eddy of the National Weather Service will offer a two-hour presentation beginning at 2 p.m. June 14. He will teach how to correctly identify hazardous warm-season weather features, such as a tornado, and how to quickly communicate those observations to the National Weather Service.

• Concurrent tours will be offered the morning of June 15. Tours include: the Purdue campus and Ross-Ade Stadium; the Farmers' Institute Academy, first a primary-through-college prep school that was later operated by the Society of Friends of the Quaker Church, and Sarah's Oaks, a historic Quaker home that serves as a restaurant, flower garden and antique barn; Purdue greenhouses and a hands-on flower arranging class; the Museum at Prophetstown, a 1920s farmstead with a home patterned after the Sears and Roebuck catalogue house model; and Samara, a Frank Lloyd Wright home, which celebrates 50 years this year.

• An opening luncheon at 12:30 p.m. June 14. Rose Thomas will share "And So It Was-As I Recall," true stories from her childhood before and during the Depression.

• Fred Whitford, author of "The Grand Old Man of Purdue University and Indiana Agriculture," will talk about his new book at 8:30 a.m. June 16. The book features William Carroll Latta, a former Purdue agriculture professor.

• The closing luncheon, at noon on June 16, will include a style show, called Oh You Beautiful Doll. Showcasing a variety of styles in handmade clothing, the presentation will feature a doll collection, and the models will walk among dinner guests after their stage appearances.

In addition, concurrent sessions will cover many home and family topics, including steps to health and wealth, improving your memory, plants for cut flowers, methamphetamine awareness, tips for eating and living healthier, and new tools for better money management.

A registration form is available online by following the links listed under "Other Resources." The cost to register for the entire conference is $50. The single-day fee for June 14 or June 15 is $32, and the fee for June 16 is $25. For those interested in attending only the evening program on June 13 or June 15, there is $5 fee for each. Contact Susan Umberger, Purdue conference coordinator, at (800) 359-2968 for registration questions.

Blocks of rooms are being held at the Union Club Hotel, University Residence Housing, University Inn and Hilton Garden Inn. University Residence Housing is available at Hawkins Hall, located across the street from Stewart Center. Contact University Residences Conference Housing at (765) 494-0926 for more information.

The Home and Family Conference is sponsored by the American Dairy Association of Indiana Inc., Dairy and Nutrition Council Inc., Indiana Extension Homemakers Association Inc. and Purdue Extension.

Writer: Julie Douglas, (765) 496-1050, douglajk@purdue.edu

Source: Karen DeZarn, (765) 494-8252, kdezarn@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page

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