URBANA, Ill. — The online program Resources to Address Deer Impacts to Woodlands will be 2 to 3 p.m. CT Aug. 28.

White-tailed deer are an important part of Midwestern forests, but their browsing has an impact on forest health.

Jarred Brooke, Extension wildlife specialist at Purdue University, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, will discuss tools available from Purdue Extension and The Nature Conservancy of Indiana that are designed to help woodland owners and managers understand, monitor, and manage deer impacts on forest ecosystems.

Pickling Dilly Beans

OGLESBY, Ill. — A make-and-take pickling class will be 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 24 at Illinois Valley Community College, 815 N. Orlando Smith St., Oglesby.

Learn canning basics and how to use a water bath canner. Participants will make and take home jars of dilly beans and a corn relish.

Costs is $15. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3t4rk2xn.

Big Marsh Nature Program

CHICAGO — Cook County master naturalists and the Chicago Park District will present a pop-up nature program, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 24 at Big Marsh Park, 11559 S. Stony Island Ave., Chicago.

Learn about the history of Big Marsh and experience a bird walk. There will be soil art and and water activities for kids.

For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/2p5xs34s.

Yield Survey

HILLSBORO, Ill. — Montgomery County Extension will conduct its yearly yield survey of the area corn crop, 8 a.m. to noon Aug. 26. Volunteers will meet at the Montgomery County Extension office, 1 Industrial Park Drive, Hillsboro, then break into groups and survey crops across the county to estimate yields. They will meet back at the Extension office by noon to share results and enjoy a free lunch provided by Montgomery County Farm Bureau.

Extension will sample fields in each of the 19 townships in Montgomery County and will publish the results after they are compiled.

Container Gardens

PEKIN, Ill. — Fall Container Gardens will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Tazewell County Extension office, 1505 Valle Vista Blvd., Pekin.

Bring your own pot to design a beautiful fall planter.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/v9u38j9v.

Food Security Summit

CARTERVILLE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois Food Security Summit will be 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at the John A. Logan College Conference Center, 700 Logan College Drive, Carterville.

Food pantries, schools, health-care providers, farmers, businesses, religious and community organizations, and community members interested in addressing food security are encouraged to attend.

Cost is $20 and includes lunch. Register by visiting https://tinyurl.com/47det3yh or contact Toni Kay Wright at 618-993-3304 or tkwright@illinois.edu.

Tree ID Walk

MONTICELLO, Ill. — A tree ID walk will be 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 27 at Valentine Park, 968 Township Road, Monticello.

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. There will be light hiking on uneven terrain in the program, which is suitable for all ages and skill levels.

Other tree ID walks will be Sept. 4 at EIU O’Brien Field, Grant Avenue and Fourth Street, Charleston; Sept. 7 at Lincoln Park Pavilion, 1601 N. Fifth St., Springfield; and Sept. 11 at Weldon Springs State Park, 4734 Weldon Springs Road, Clinton.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/52rkzfj2. For more information, contact Sarah Vogel at 217-877-6042 or sarahv@illinois.edu.

Preserving Flowers

HILLSBORO, Ill. — Learn how to dry or press flowers from 5 to 6 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Montgomery County Extension office, 1 Industrial Park Drive, Hillsboro.

A great way to enjoy flowers with family and friends is to harvest and preserve them. The popularity of dried and pressed flowers has turned an old hobby into a renewed interior design and art trend.

Drainage School

INDIANAPOLIS — The Drainage School seminar will be 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET Aug. 28 at the Indiana Farm Bureau headquarters, 225 S. East St., Indianapolis.

The program will feature presentations on wetlands, water supply issues and drainage common law. The seminar is open to farmers, public officials, agency personnel, attorneys, and members of the public.

The program also will be offered oniine. Register by visiting https://www.infarmbureau.org/events. For more information, contact Maria Spellman at 317-692-7840, or mspellman@infb.org.

Learn to Can

CHAMPAIGN — Learn to Can will be 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 28 at the Illinois Nutrition Education Program office, 201 W. Kenyon Road, Champaign.

Participants will take home a jar of marmalade.

Cost is $10. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4bzjuajk.

Homegrown Harvest

DECATUR, Ill. — The Homegrown Harvest Workshop will be 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 28 at the Johns Hill Association Community Garden, East Lawrence Street and South Maffit Street, Decatur.

Homegrown Harvest is a series of family-friendly workshops designed to support vegetable gardeners. Topics include safely harvesting food, pests and diseases, seed-saving, managing weeds, growing pumpkins, and fall crops. Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Sarah Vogel encourages participants to bring questions and items for discussion. Beginners and seasoned gardeners of all ages are welcome — bring your own tools and gloves

Other workshops will be Sept. 25 and Oct. 25.

Canner Class

GALVA, Ill. — The Digital Pressure and Steam Canner Class will be 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Illinois Extension office, 358 Front St., Galva.

A digital pressure canner and steam canner will be used to process two different vegetables. Participants will learn about the different features of approved canners on the market; get hands-on experience using an electric pressure canner and steam canner; and take home a canned vegetable, and canning information resources to use at home.

Cost is $10. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3vzzsfa8.

Pollinator Gardens

MONTICELLO, Ill. — Learn how to choose native plants and design a pollinator pocket garden, 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Allerton Public Library, 4000 Green Apple Lane, Monticello.

You will also learn about the design and plants in the Allerton Library Pollinator Garden.

To register, call the library at 217-762-4676.

Deer Impacts

URBANA, Ill. — The online Illinois Extension program Resources to Address Deer Impacts to Woodlands will be 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 28.

White-tailed deer are an important part of Midwestern forests, but their browsing has an impact on forest health.

Frog Study

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — Frog Population Study with Stephanie Bishir, wildlife biologist, will be 6 p.m. Aug. 28.

Can with Confidence

WATERLOO, Ill. — The program Can with Confidence will be 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Monroe County Annex, 901 Illinois Ave., Waterloo.

Illinois Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educator Kris Juelfs will guide you through the essentials of water bath and pressure canning. You’ll receive the latest, most up-to-date home food safety guidelines and learn the most recent scientific methods for preserving food safely.

Where Does Your Money Go?

MOROCCO, Ind. — Where Does Your Money Go? will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. CT Aug. 28 and Sept. 25 at the Morocco Community Library, 205 S. West St., Morocco.

Participants will engage in hands-on activities and complete money-management worksheets, learning to recognize where their money goes and develop a spending-savings plan.

Cover Crops

HENRY, Ill. — The Cover Crop Roundtable will be 7 to 8 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Marshall-Putnam Extension office, 509 Front St. #4, Henry.

Participants will network with fellow growers, discussing the previous season’s successes and failures, and plans for the coming season. This event will bring together both experienced growers and those who may be new to cover crops or looking to refine their practices.

Preventing Soil Loss

EFFINGHAM, Ill. — Preventing Soil Loss on Your Farm will be 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 29 at the Effingham County Extension office, 1209 N. Wenthe Drive, Effingham.

Local farmers will tell the story of soil loss on their farms and share insights through their years of experience before answering questions about keeping soil on the field. Network with other producers, learn how practices work, and explore cost-share opportunities. This event will also include a discussion about the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. A light breakfast will be provided.

Here’s to Our Health

SALEM, Ind. — The free program Here’s to Our Health is being held 2 to 4 p.m. ET Thursdays, Aug. 29 through Oct. 22, at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, 211 N. Shelby St., Salem.

The Here’s To Our Health initiative is a comprehensive nutrition education and wellness program crafted to equip individuals with the understanding and resources necessary for making healthier lifestyle choices. Its primary focus is on promoting the preparation and enjoyment of nutritious meals. Each participant receives complimentary meal kits tailored to feed a family of four at each class, along with various kitchen essentials such as knife sets, crockpots, and utensil sets, distributed at random intervals throughout the program to further bolster participants’ efforts toward better nutrition.

Master Gardener Training

SCOTTSBURG, Ind. — Purdue Extension Master Gardener Training for Scott and Washington counties will be 6 to 9 p.m. ET Thursdays, Aug. 29 to Dec. 5, at the Train Depot, 90 N. Main St., Scottsburg.

Cost is $190, which includes the print version of the Purdue EMG Manual; for an additional $25, participants can receive the digital version of the manual.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/44y7bkay.

Cooking for One or Two

CLINTON, Ill. — Cooking for One or Two will be 10 to 11 a.m. Aug. 30 at Warner Hospital, 418 W. South St., Clinton.

Planning shopping and cooking for yourself or another person has its challenges. Learn skills to reduce food costs, limit food waste, and plan nutritious meals with a small household.

Regiser at https://tinyurl.com/284xs6m6.

Sunset Photography

HUDSON, Ill. — The Sunset Photography Workshop will be 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Aug. 30 at COMLARA Park, 13001 Recreation Area Drive, Hudson.

Nancy Beaty, master gardener and photographer, will discuss basic photography in nature using a smart phone.

For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/ynrx9wud.

Alumni Tailgate

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Indiana Farm Bureau hopes to connect with football fans, alumni and students on Saturday, Aug. 31, as a sponsor of the Purdue Ag Alumni Tailgate for the Indiana State-Purdue football game.

The tailgate will be 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. ET and kickoff is at noon at Ross–Ade Stadium, John R. Wooden Drive, West Lafayette.

In addition to free food, giveaways also will be offered.

INFB members have an opportunity to purchase tickets for the game at the discounted price of $20 each. The ticket block will close one week prior to the game. If you don’t need or want tickets to the game, you are still welcome to visit the tailgate.

The tailgate is free, but registration is required. For more information, visit https://www.infarmbureau.org/events.

Pollinators in the Park

CLINTON, Ill. — Pollinators in the Park will be 10 to 11 a.m. Aug. 31 in the Schoolhouse at Weldon Springs State Park, 4734 Weldon Springs Road, Clinton.

DeWitt and Piatt County master gardeners will discus the monarch butterfly life cycle, habitat and supportive garden plants.

Invention Convention

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Indiana 4-H Invention Convention Workshop will be 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET Sept. 4 at the Tippecanoe County Extension office, 1950 S. 18th St., Lafayette.

This professional development training will equip educators and volunteers to facilitate the Indiana 4-H Invention Convention program in their 4-H clubs, schools, and other youth-serving organizations. Participants will:

• Work through the Invention Convention Worldwide curriculum and resources.

• Develop plans to implement invention education in their classrooms, clubs or organizations.

• Learn about student competition opportunities.

The $50 registration fee covers lunch and teaching materials. Contact hours gained during a workshop are eligible for teachers to apply toward their Professional Growth Points.

Upcoming County Fairs

Aug. 28-Sept. 2 — Pana Tri-County Fair, 605 N. 2500 East Road, Pana, Ill.; www.panatricountyfair.com; panatricofair@consolidated.net; 217-562-2514.

Aug. 29-Sept. 2 — Tri-County Fair, 405 First St., Mendota, Ill.; www.facebook.com/mendotatricountyfair; mendotatricountyfair@yahoo.com; 815-539-7974.

Sept. 4-8 — Sandwich Fair, 15730 Pratt Road, Sandwich, Ill.; www.sandwichfair.com; info@sandwichfair.com; 815-786-2159.

Sept. 5-8 — Calhoun County Fair, Poor Hollow Farm Road, Hardin, Ill.; www.calhounfair.net; 618-576-2215.

Sept. 6-15— Gallatin County Fair, Ridgway, Ill.; pittmans@shawneelink.com; 618-272-8971.

Sept. 13-15 — Okawville Ag Products Fair and Wheat Festival, Community Park, Okawville, Ill.; frederking@frontier.com, 618-243-5398 or 618-698-3254.

Calendar: Managing deer impacts on forest health