Calendar: Practical solutions to climate change

URBANA, Ill. — The online program What Illinois Residents Should Know About Climate Change will be 1 to 2 p.m. Aug. 8.

Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford will discuss what climate change means for Illinois now and in the future, and explore practical solutions. Learn how you can play a vital role in helping your community be healthier and more resilient to the effects of climate change.

Prairie Wonders

HUDSON, Ill. — Discover the Wonders of the Prairie with Illinois Extension master naturalists, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Aug. 3 at COMLARA Park Prairie, in Hudson.

The walking tour of the restored prairie will last about an hour. Bring sunscreen, bug spray, water and good walking shoes.

Participants should park in the grassy lot at the intersection of East 2300 North Road and North 1300 East Road.

For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/4pxr2zwv.

Livestock Auction

YORKVILLE, Ill. — The Kendall County 4-H Livestock Auction will be 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Kendall County Fairgrounds Livestock Pavilion, 10826 IL-71, Yorkville.

The in-person auction will feature the 4-H show grand and reserve grand champions in beef, swine, sheep, poultry, rabbits, goats and dairy production, as well as more 4-H projects in beef, swine and sheep.

“We have hard-working 4-H kids in Kendall County, and this is our chance to show our support for them and pay it forward,” said Randy Rehberg of the volunteer-run Kendall County Livestock Auction committee. “We hope to see you all in the stands the night of the auction supporting the youth of Kendall County.”

For questions or more information on the auction, contact Jodi Brummel at 815-735-0834.

Caregiver Self-Care

DIXON, Ill. — Caregiver Self-Care will be 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at Lee County Council on Aging, 100 W. 2nd St., Dixon.

Providing care for someone else is a rewarding experience for most, but caregivers experience many difficult emotions and losses along their journey. This workshop will focus on coping with the challenges of caregiving and how to lessen caregiver stress and burnout with self-care techniques.

Registration is not required but recommended by calling 815-288-9236.

Farm in the Park

GALVA, Ill. — Farm in the Park will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 6 at Veterans Park, 358 Front St., Galva.

Explore agriculture, horticulture, and healthy living with Illinois Extension and 4-H. The free event will have a petting zoo, and a variety of interactive games and crafts.

A hot dog lunch with, chips, applesauce, cookie and drink will be available for for $5.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/2c9ef4ws.

Tree ID Walks

NORMAL, Ill. — The Tree ID Walk will be 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 7 at the Illinois State University Horticulture Center Corn Crib, 1000 W. Raab Road, Normal.

Learn to identify tree species by their leaves, bark and shape, explore native and introduced tree species, and discuss best practices for maintaining urban tree health.

Other Tree ID Walks will include:

• Aug. 14 — Beaver Dam State Park, 14548 Beaver Dam Lane, Royal Lakes.

• Aug. 17 — Scovill Gardens, South Country Club Road, Decatur.

• Aug. 27 — Valentine Park, 968 Township Road, Monticello.

• Sept. 4 — Eastern Illinois University O’Brien Field, Grant Avenue and 4th Street, Charleston.

• Sept. 7 — Lincoln Park Pavilion, 1601 N. 5th St., Springfield.

• Sept. 11 — Weldon Springs State Park, 4734 Weldon Springs Road, Clinton.

Chemical Trespass

URBANA, Ill. — The online program The Consequences of Agricultural Chemical Trespass into Illinois Ecosystems will be 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 7.

The landscape of Illinois has been devoted primarily to agriculture for more than 100 years. Agricultural intensification has led to an increased use of synthetic pesticides to manage field crop weeds, which can move into natural ecosystems and negatively impact non-target plants.

In 2023, the Illinois Natural History Survey sampled nearly 200 naturally vegetated areas across the state to understand how much chemical pesticide plants are exposed to and how often. At least one pesticide was found at 97% of the sites, along with visual evidence of herbicide damage. The results of this study indicate that pesticides are regularly crossing into unintended areas that are near row crops.

Illinois Natural History Survey researcher T.J. Benson will share the results of this study, including the negative impact on trees such as oaks, redbuds, and box elders.

The program is part of the 2024 Forestry Stewardship Series. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yf44w45j.

Farmland Leases

DECATUR, Ill. — Navigating Farmland Leases will be 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 8 at the Macon County Extension office, 3351 N. President Howard Brown Blvd., Decatur.

Extension Farm Business Management and Marketing Educator Kevin Brooks will explain the basics of setting up a farmland lease agreement between a landowner and tenant farmer. There will be a discussion of the trends in land values, cash rents and land ownership. Other farmland leasing topics to be covered will include how to determine a farm’s productivity, the importance of landowner-tenant communications, and legal aspects of a lease.

Cost is $5. Register at https://tinyurl.com/9a897exb.

Preserving Produce

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Preserving Your Garden Produce will be 1 to 2 p.m. ET Aug. 8 at the Allen County Extension office, 4001 Crescent Ave., Fort Wayne.

Abigail Creigh, Noble County Extension educator, will present the basics of preserving your garden produce for your family to enjoy during the winter months.

For more information and to register, call 260-481-6826.

Summer Salsa

BRIGHTON, Ill. — The program Let’s Make Summer Salsa will be 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Brighton Memorial Library, 110 N. Main St., Brighton.

Learn how to make the most out of your summer produce by making fresh salsa. This class will involve hands-on practice making a variety of different salsas.

Canning Peach Jam

JERSEYVILLE, Ill. — Canning Peach Jam will be 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Jersey County Farm Bureau, 402 S. Jefferson St., Jerseyville.

Need to brush up on your canning skills or trying to use up all those delicious peaches before they go bad? Join Illinois Extension and Jersey County Farm Bureau experts to learn about the basics of water bath canning jam and get hands-on practice making peach jam.

Cos is $10. Register by calling the Farm Bureau at 618-498-9576.

Chestnut Blight

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Impact of Chestnut Blight Webinar will be 6 to 8 p.m. ET Aug. 8.

The blight is a fungal disease affecting American chestnut trees. Learn from experts on how blight has affected trees, forests, and even economies.

The program is part of the 2024 ReportINvasive Webinar series hosted by the Purdue College of Agriculture, Department of Entomology.

For more information, call 765-494-0822 or email rfbruner@purdue.edu.

County Fairs

Aug. 2-11 — Lake County Fair, 889 S. Court St., Crown Point, Ind.; www.lake-county-fair.com; lcfsecretary@lake-county-fair.com; 219-663-3617.

Aug. 2-18 — Indiana State Fair, 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis, Ind.; www.indianastatefair.com; marketing@indianastatefair.com; 317-927-7500.

Aug. 3-10 — Williamson County Fair, 101 N. Fair St., Marion, Ill.; www.williamsoncountyillinoisfair.com; williamsoncountyfair@yahoo.com; 618-751-9318.

Aug. 5-10 — Clark County Fair, 602 N. Second St., Marshall, Ill.; www.clarkcountyfairmarshall.com; Clarkcountyfairil@gmail.com; 217-826-8005.

Aug. 6-10 — Carroll County Fair, 28374 Milledgeville Road, Milledgeville, Ill.; www.carrollcountyfair.info; ccfairmville@yahoo.com; 815-225-7444.

Aug. 6-11 — Boone County Fair, 8791 IL-76, Belvidere, Ill.; www.boonecountyfair.com; 815-544-2900.

Aug. 7-10 — Cullom Junior Fair, Hack Street, Cullom, Ill.; www.cullomjuniorfair.com; 815-689-2146.

Aug. 8-18 — Illinois State Fair, 801 Sangamon Ave., Springfield, Ill; https://statefair.illinois.gov; 217-782-6661.

Aug. 9-17 — White County Fair, 201 Fairground Road, Carmi, Ill.; www.whitecountyfair.com; 618-384-6274 or 618-926-3560.