Farm Fresh forms available

The Blackford County Extension Service now has the 2011 Farm Fresh forms available to sign up for the Farm Fresh Directory for Blackford County and surrounding communities.
The directory can help local residents and consumers to find locally grown produce, flowers and other farm commodities. The directory lists the grower/producer, products available and their contact information.
Those interested in being in the directory can stop by the Blackford County Extension Office at 119 N. High Street in Hartford City.
There is no cost to be in the booklet. Forms are due by March 1. For more information call 765-348-3213.

Raising livestock basics course to begin Feb. 14 in Hartford City

Did you ever want a few chickens or a horse on your property? Or maybe curious about what it takes to own goats, sheep, pigs or cows?
Back to Basics: A Novice's Guide to Farm Animal series will begin Feb. 14 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Blackford County Extension Sevice at 119 N. High Street, Hartford City.
The goal of the series is to inform the novice owner about the latest information and trends related to common livestock found on small farms.
Topics for each class are as follows:
Feb. 14: Goats and Sheep.
Feb. 21: Cattle for your property.
Feb. 28: All about chickens.
March 7: A Home for Horses.
March 14: Swine Guidance.
The cost to attend all the lessons is $50. Cost to attend one session at a time is $15. Second person on the same farm is free.
Deadline to register is Feb. 7. Call 765-348-3213.

4-H Extension Calendar

Jan. 25 — Wells County 4-H BB & Rifle Safety Sign Up, Community Center, 4-H Park, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 — Northeast IN Livestock Auctions Workshop, Allen County Fairgrounds, 2726 Carroll Rd., Fort Wayne, 7-9 p.m.

Feb. 1 — Wells County 4-H BB & Rifle Safety, Community Center, 4-H Park, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Feb. 4 — National Wear Red Day, American Heart Association
Feb. 4 — Reservations due: Issues & Answers for Today's 4-H Volunteers

Feb. 5 — Purdue Ag Fish Fry, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Blue Ribbon Pavilion, 11:30 a.m. Speaker: Former Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman. Tickets $20.

Feb. 7 — Wells County 4-H Jr. Leader Club, 4-H Park, 7-8:30 p.m.

Feb. 8 — Wells County 4-H BB & Rifle Safety, Community Center, 4-H Park, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Feb. 12 — 4-H Volunteer Training: Issues & Answers for Today's 4-H Volunteers, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Grace Point Church, Fort Wayne

Feb. 14-20 — Random Acts of Kindness Week

Feb. 15 — Wells County 4-H Foundation, Community Center, 4-H Park, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 15 — Wells County 4-H BB & Rifle Safety, Community Center, 4-H Park, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

4-H Extension Calendar

Jan. 25 Wells County 4-H BB & Rifle Safety Sign Up, Community Center,
4-H Park, 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Jan. 27 Northeast IN Livestock Auctions Workshop, Allen County
Fairgrounds, 2726 Carroll Rd., Fort Wayne, 7 - 9 PM

Feb. 1 Wells County 4-H BB & Rifle Safety, Community Center, 4-H Park,
6:30 - 8:30 PM

Feb. 4 National Wear Red Day, American Heart Association

Feb. 4 Reservations due: Issues & Answers for Today's 4-H Volunteers

Feb. 5 Purdue Ag Fish Fry, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Blue Ribbon
Pavilion, 11:30 AM. Speaker: Former Secretary of Agriculture
Dan Glickman. Tickets $20.00

Feb. 7 Wells County 4-H Jr. Leader Club, 4-H Park, 7 - 8:30 PM

Feb. 8 Wells County 4-H BB & Rifle Safety, Community Center, 4-H Park,
6:30 - 8:30 PM

Feb. 12 4-H Volunteer Training: Issues & Answers for Today's 4-H
Volunteers, 9 AM - 12:30 PM, Grace Point Church, Fort Wayne

Feb. 14 - 20 Random Acts of Kindness Week

Feb. 15 Wells County 4-H Foundation, Community Center, 4-H Park, 6:30 PM

Feb. 15 Wells County 4-H BB & Rifle Safety, Community Center, 4-H Park,
6:30 - 8:30 PM

Feb. 19 Wells County 4-H Open House & Sign Up, Community Center, 4-H Park,
8 AM - 12 Noon

Feb. 21 Wells County 4-H Association, Community Center, 4-H Park, 7 PM

Feb. 22 Wells County 4-H BB & Rifle Safety, Community Center, 4-H Park,
6:30 - 8:30 PM

4-H BB & RIFLE SAFETY SIGN UP

Youth in grades 3 - 13 may still enroll in this year's Wells County 4-H BB & Rifle Safety Club on Tuesday, January 22, 6:30 PM at the Wells County 4-H Park in Bluffton.

Meetings will continue each Tuesday night, 6:30 - 8:30 PM until April 5.

Youth in grades 3, 4, and 5 can participate in BB Gun. Youth in grade 6 and above can participate in Rifle or Pistol.

Youth may become 4-H members when they enter third grade or become ten years of age sometime during the calendar year (January 1 - December 31) and may continue their membership for a maximum of ten (10) years or through the calendar year they become nineteen (19), whichever comes first.

A membership fee of $20 for BB Gun and $25 for .22 Caliber Rifle should be paid at the first meeting. The fee covers the cost of equipment, materials, ammunition, insurance, and awards. Checks should be made payable to Wells County 4-H Rifle Club. Scholarships are available by checking with 4-H Leaders at the event. If you have more than one person in the family, the second member is only $15. No person will be turned away due to financial constraints.

The 4-H Shot Gun Safety Club. 4-H Pellet Pistol Safety Club, and the 4-H Archery Club will all begin in April.

For more information about 4-H, contact the Wells County Office of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, 824-6412 or one of the Shooting Sports Leaders: Don Kiefer, 824-1585; Chad Captain, 417-6488; Tex Mauger, 827-0266; Gregg Palmer, 701-2975; and Kevin Springer, 565-3323.

4-H LIVESTOCK AUCTION WORKSHOP

The Allen County Fairgrounds will be the site of the Northeast Indiana 4-H Livestock Auction Workshop, Thursday, January 27, 7:00-9:00 PM at the McComb Administration Building. The fairgrounds is located at 2726 Carroll Road, Fort Wayne. The workshop is designed for volunteers who assist with their 4-H livestock auctions in some way.

Topics which will be discussed in the workshop will include: sharing of survey results of common practices; what works best; software programs that assist with the auction process; and thanking buyers for their support.

The workshop is free and open to the public. Advanced registration is not required. For more information, contact your Wells County Office of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service at 260-824-6412.

AREA 4-H VOLUNTEER TRAINING SCHEDULED

“Issues & Answers for Today’s Volunteers” will be the theme of a northeast Indiana 4-H Volunteer Training to be held Saturday, February 12, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM, Grace Point Church, Fort Wayne. The workshop is designed for adult and teen 4-H volunteers.

Seminar topics at the event will include:

· Healthy Living – Living the Fourth “H”. Learn how to incorporate healthy living in your club and in your life.

· Social Media – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Learn how to use and what to look out for in social media.

· Keeping Older 4-H Members—Panel Discussion with 4-H’ers on how to keep them coming back.

· Being informed on Today’s Drugs. Learn the signs, symptoms and dangers related to synthetic and prescription drugs for today.

· Working with Today’s Changing Families. Learn what to look for and how to handle different situations at meetings and events.

· Back to Basics—Club Self-Assessment. Learn how to improve what you do in your club with agendas, monthly and yearly planning.

· Get-R-Done—Tips and Techniques for Time Management. Learn how to maximize your efforts in your 4-H meetings and at home.

The workshop location, Grace Point Church of the Nazarene, is located just off I-469 at 8611 Mayhew Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46835. Advance registration of $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for youth (grades 7-12) is required for the workshop and is due February 4th at your Purdue Extension Service Office.