URBANA, Ill. — Save the Eagles will be the subject of the online Wilderness Wednesday program at 6 p.m. March 15.

Learn about about what is contributing to an increase in the eagle population, and what you and your family can do to help save the eagles.

4-H Weather Workshop

ATLANTA, Ill. — The 4-H Weather Workshop will be 1 to 3 p.m. March 12 at Union Hall, 120 SW Arch St., Atlanta.

Participants will learn weather terminology, compare climates, learn what weather alerts mean, and use the Beaufort Wind Speed Scale to determine wind speed.

Leader Lessons

FRANKFORT, Ind. — Purdue Extension will host Spring Leader Sessions March 13 at the Clinton County Extension office, 1111 S. Jackson St., Frankfort.

• Guides for Financial Caregivers, 9 a.m.

• Safe Sleep Practices for Infants, 9:30 a.m.

• Super Foods, 10 a.m.

For more information, call 765-659-6380.

Employer of Choice

ROANOKE, Ind. — In addition to the daily responsibilities of keeping an agricultural operation or small business running, managers also have to become human resource specialists in their quest to find and retain the best employees.

To help develop those skills, Purdue Extension in Huntington and Whitley counties will offer the Becoming the Employer of Choice program from 9 a.m. to noon ET March 14, March 15 and March 16 at the Roanoke Brethren Church, 415 S. Main St., Roanoke. The program is a series, so participants would need to plan on attending all three sessions. The popular program, developed by the University of Wisconsin Extension, is designed to improve human resource skills through hands-on activities and interactive sessions.

“An issue identified in the ag industry is the tight labor market and lack of skilled labor currently available,” said John Woodmansee, Purdue Extension educator in Whitley County. “You have to objectively ask yourself what your strengths and weaknesses are as a manager, and if your farm or business is the kind of place where people want to work.” Content also will be applicable to agribusinesses and small businesses, helping managers become an employer of choice who can more effectively compete for the best available employees.

Attendees will gain effective and practical approaches to managing human resource challenges. The program consists of seven modules, addressing topics such as: how different leadership styles are used, reducing mis-hires and turnover through hiring best practices, learning about organizational culture and how it impacts employee motivation and engagement, identifying keys to creating a motivating environment, learning how to effectively communicate expectations to employees, developing skills to provide effective feedback, and learning ways to address and work through conflict.

Cost is $45. Register by visiting www.extension.purdue.edu/whitley or by contacting at jwoodman@purdue.edu or 260-244-7615.

Crop Day

St. MEINRAD, Ind. — Perry-Spencer Crop Day will be March 14 at the St. Meinrad Community Center. 13150 E County Rd 1950 N, St. Meinrad.

Registration and sponsor displays open at 5:15 p.m. CT, followed by a meal and the program.

Program topics will include:

• Soil Health, Fertility and IPM, Hans Schmitz, lead agronomist, CCSI/Purdue Extension.

• Anhydrous Ammonia Safety, Nicholas Held, Extension educator, Spencer County.

• 2023 Pesticide Regulatory Update — Recordkeeping and Supervision, Sara Dzimianski, Extension educator, Perry County.

The program is presented by Purdue Extension and SWCD in Perry and Spencer counties. PARP and CCH applicator credits will be available.

Cost is $5, which includes meal. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yjn5vjph.

Backyard Chickens

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Backyard Chickens and Egg Production will be 5:30 p.m. March 14.

There is more to owning chickens than eggs. Chickens can be a wonderful addition to your farm or backyard, and with the sticker shock of egg and meat prices, many people are considering raising their own flock. Join the discussion to discover a diverse range of breeds for laying or meat production, how to select healthy chickens and chicks, nutrition, flock protection, and more. Tune in for tips before you invest in a coop.

Presenter will be Katie Bell, Extension local food systems and small farms educator. Jill Vonder Haar, co-owner of Main Street Pastures, will share her experience with pasture-raised meats and eggs.

Cool Vegetables

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Cool Season Vegetables will be 6 to 7 p.m. March 14.

Cool-season crops can be grown in spring or fall, each with their own characteristics and potential issues. Learn about growing and harvesting cool-season vegetables including how to manage common insect pests.

Presenters will be Ryan Pankau and Ken Johnson, Illinois Extension horticulture educators.

Cost is $10 Register at https://tinyurl.com/ypucfcr5.

Bull Evaluation

SALEM, Ind. — The Washington County Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation Clinic will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET March 15 at DC Cattle, 1025 S. Orchard Road, Salem.

The BSE includes an evaluation of structural soundness, evaluation of the reproductive anatomy and, most importantly, evaluation of semen quality. During the BSE, a semen sample is collected and evaluated immediately for percent motile sperm. Minimally, 30% of the sperm must be motile in order for the bull to pass the exam. The same sample is then stained and individual sperm are evaluated. Seventy percent of the cells must be normal microscopically for the bull to be an acceptable breeder.

Bulls must weigh at least 900 pounds and be 1 year of age to be evaluated. Cost is $50 per bull. Make an appointment by calling 812-883-4601.

Lunch with a Gardener

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — Home Hydroponics will be the topic of Lunch with a Gardener, 11 a.m. March 15 at the Kankakee County Extension office, 1650 Commerce Drive, Bourbonnais.

Cost is $10, and includes all supplies and instructions for you to either make a project in person, or pick it up to complete it at home.

Lower Cholesterol

WATERLOO, Ill. — The program Eat Right to Lower Your Cholesterol will be 11 a.m. to noon March 15 at the Monroe County Annex, 901 Illinois Ave., Waterloo.

The program will be led by Kris Juelfs, Extension nutrition and wellness educator and registered dietitian.

No cost or registration required.

For questions, contact Juelfs at 618-939-3434 or kjuelfs@illinois.edu.

Clutter Free

CORYDON, Ind. — The free program Empower Me to Be Clutter Free will be 1 to 2 p.m. ET March 15 at the Harrison County Public Library, 105 N. Capitol Ave., Corydon.

Does the clutter in your life feel overwhelming? Are you looking to get organized, but don’t know where to start? This program offers strategies to help you free yourself from clutter.

For more information, call 812-738-4110.

Bargain Gardens

BUDA, Ill. — The program Bargain Gardens will be 2 to 3 p.m. March 15 at the Mason Memorial Public Library, 104 W. Main St., Buda.

Don’t let a limited budget keep you out of the garden. Find out how gardens can be simple, fun, and inexpensive. You’ll learn gardening tips and ideas that will save you time and money.

Eat What You Grow

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — The program Eat What You Grow will be 1 to 2 p.m. March 16 at the Christian County Extension office, 1120 N. Webster St., Taylorville.

Why not have your landscape provide beauty and food? Explore how to use your creativity to grow plants you can eat alongside your ornamentals.

Diet and Diabetes

EUREKA, Ill. — The program Back to the Basics: Diet and Diabetes will be 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. March 16 at the Eureka United Methodist Church, 208 N. Callender St., Eureka.

Following a healthy meal plan can help keep blood sugars under control. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have had diabetes for years, it’s time to get back to the basics. Join Jenna Smith, Extension nutrition and wellness educator and registered dietitian, to review what carbohydrates are, what counts as a carbohydrate serving, and how to fit them into your meal plan.

There is no cost to attend this program and no registration is necessary.

Cash Flow

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Cash Flow and Keeping Financial Records will be 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. March 16.

This session will break down the why and how of keeping financial records and how they contribute to your understanding of farm cash flows. Discussed will be techniques and tools for keeping accurate financial records.

The program is part of the Annie’s Project Farming Financial Literacy Series. Register at go.illinois.edu/FarmFinances2023 or call 618-687-1727.

Fizz into Spring

AUBURN, Ind. — Youth in grades three and up can fizz into spring by making their own bath bombs from 6 to 8 p.m. ET March 16 at the DeKalb County Office Building, 215 E. 9th St., Auburn.

Participants will learn the science behind a bath bomb, and what makes it fizz and smell so good. They’ll join in to make decorated bath bombs and a shower steamer. Youth will take home items that they help create.

Cost is $5. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4kp6hudn.

Goat Meat

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Getting Started with Meat Goat Production will be 6 to 7 p.m. March 16.

Sarah Farley, Extension educator, will explore basic considerations for starting a meat goat enterprise. Topics include industry overview, meat goat selection, nutrition, herd health, housing and fencing, general management, and markets in northern Illinois. As an introductory session, participants should leave with a general understanding of meat goat production and resources to get started.

The program is part of the Livestock Production and Principles for Beginners Webinar Series. Register at https://tinyurl.com/dp9cevjy.

Paint a Barn Quilt

YORKVILLE, Ill. — 4-H youth will create a painted 2-by-2-foot barn quilt from 4 to 6 p.m. March 17 at the Kendall County Extension office, 7775 B IL-47, Yorkville.

They’ll return to complete the project to take home from 10 to 11 a.m. March 18.

The finished quilt square can decorate your barn, shed, front porch or back patio area, or even inside. Learn how to design and execute this quilt block project, and later, you can use those skills to create a larger scale quilt.

Cost is $15. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3xpzc5mw.

Ag Day Breakfast

PRINCETON, Ind. — The Gibson County Farm Bureau will host the Ag Day Breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. March 18 at Princeton Knights of Columbus Hall, 313 W. Broadway St., Princeton.

A policy discussion will also take place after breakfast.

For more information, call 812-385-2587.

Wildlife Workshop

LOVELAND, Ohio — The Ohio River Valley Woodland and Wildlife Workshop will be 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET March 18 at the Oasis Conference Center, 902 Loveland-Miamiville Road, Loveland.

Experts from Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky collaborate each year to put together a program that is geared toward meeting landowners’ needs. Speakers from the tri-state area will offer information-packed sessions for interested landowners.

Cost is $55. To view the agenda and register, visit https://tinyurl.com/36xwvj3v.

Color of Spring

WATERLOO, Ill. — The Color of Spring Workshop will be 8 a.m. to noon March 18 at the Monroe Annex Building, 901 Illinois Ave., Waterloo.

Program topics will include: Gardening for Good, Landon Brooks, master gardener; Companion Planting 101, Kim Atkins, master gardener/master naturalist; Nature Photography 101, Paul Feldker; Thinking Beyond Flowers for Color in the Garden, Elizabeth Wahle, Extension educator; Nature Remedy, Lisa Dean, master gardener/master naturalist; and Identifying Horticulture Pests and Problems in the Home Garden, Wahle.

Cost is $10. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ycxv7c25.

Garden Day

LINCOLN, Ill. — The University of Illinois Extension Logan County master gardeners will host Russel Allen Garden Day from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 18 at Oasis Senior Center, 2810 Woodlawn Road, Lincoln. Registration will be 8 to 8:45 a.m. for the event, which will feature various presentations related to gardening.

The keynote presentation, Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden, will be provided by Ken Johnson, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.

Breakout sessions will include Selection and Care of Native Trees and Shrubs, Easy Orchids: Growing and Propagating Orchids, Diversifying the Farm, and Gardening Methods for Small Spaces.

Cost is $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2s2zh92d.

For more information, call 217-732-8289.

Gardening Workshop

DIXON, Ill. — The Ready, Set, Grow Gardening Workshop will be 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 18 at the Loveland Community Building, 513 W. 2nd St., Dixon.

Join the Master Gardeners of Carroll, Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside counties for this event offering participants information about various aspects of home gardening.

Keynote presentation will be Literary Gardens with author and teacher Cindy Crosby.

Workshop topics will include: Growing Great Grapes, Grant McCarty, Extension local foods and small farms educator; Natural Fairy Gardens, Nancy Gitmo, master gardener; Tree Management: Before and After a Storm, Emily Swihart, Extension horticulture educator; Make Mine a Hummingbird Garden, Peggy Doty, Extension natural resources, environment & energy educator; Contained Compositions, Jim Brown, Woodlawn Landscapes and Design; The Backyard Orchard, McCarty; Growing Vegetables through the Seasons, Bruce Black, Extension horticulture educator; and Nature Journaling, Jim Duis, Ruth Edwards Nature Center, Dixon Park District.

Cost is $25. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2rc3y65x.

Calendar: Save the Eagles