Calendar: Midwest Hair Sheep Sale in Salem

SALEM, Ind. — The 18th annual Midwest Hair Sheep Sale will be 1 p.m. ET Oct. 5 at the Washington County Fairgrounds, 118 Fair St., Salem.

Sheep will be available for viewing at 11 a.m.

Sale catalogs with animal and consignor information are available at https://tinyurl.com/mrhkt7np.

For more information, contact Jason Webster, Washington County Sheep Association president, at 812-725-5700 or jason@greenpastures.farm.

Garlic in the Garden

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Garlic in the Garden will be 10 to 11 a.m. Sept. 28 at the University of Illinois Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 E. Sangamon Ave., Springfield.

Get your taste buds going and learn how to plant garlic for a 2025 summer bounty. It’s surprisingly simple — and so delicious.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/4e8sz8su.

Walk for Hunger

DIXON, Ill. — The Partnership for a Healthy Lee County Walk for Hunger will be 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 28 at Lowell Park, 2114 Lowell Park Road, Dixon.

To participate, bring a nonperishable, healthy food item that will be donated to the Dixon Community Food Pantry.

Activities during the event will include face painting, blood pressure screenings, and a demonstration by the Dixon Police K-9 patrol unit team.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/42d73cd8.

Farm Stroll

HARVARD, Ill. — The McHenry County Farm Stroll will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 29.

Explore 10 family-owned farms and one student farm across the county. This free, self-guided tour offers a unique opportunity to learn about local agriculture and connect with the farming community.

Farms on the tour will be:

• Jorge’s Farm, 6710 S. Oak Grove Road, Harvard

• Piscasaw Gardens, 9306 Lawrence Road, Harvard

• Wanda Farm, 17419 Hebron Road, Harvard

• Middlebury Farms, 10107 Alden Road, Harvard

• Hephzibah Farms Inc, 13202 Hebron Road, Hebron

• Soulful Prairies, 4706 Alden Road, Woodstock

• Sun Berry Orchard, 2318 Greenwood Road, Woodstock

• Bull Valley Farm Country Store and Cow Valley Creamery, 8815 IL Route 120, Bull Valley

• Hitch’N Post Alpaca and Llama Farm, 1406 Park Lane Drive, Woodstock

• Lazy K Ranch, 18209 Collins Road, Woodstock

• McHenry County College Student Farm, 8900 US Hwy 14, Crystal Lake

Many farms will offer food, produce, and other farm-related products. The Farm Stroll is organized by the McHenry County Farm Bureau, University of Illinois Extension, and the Center for Agrarian Learning. McHenry County Extension master gardeners and 4-H volunteers will be on-site to assist farm families in accommodating guests and conducting demonstrations and tours.

For more information, visit mchenrycfb.org/farmstroll or call 815-338-3737.

Declutter Your Home

HEYWORTH, Ill. — Declutter Your Home and Finances will be 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Heyworth Public Library, 119 E Main St,, Heyworth.

Extension Educator Sara Attig will discuss how to get your home and finances organized:

• Explore reasons for clutter and how it makes you feel.

• Identify what financial documents needs to be kept and when to discard documents.

• Explore secure options to discard sensitive financial documents.

• Learn the benefits of decluttering and minimizing.

• Identify strategies and create a plan to clear your clutter.

To register, call the Heyworth Public Library at 309-473-2313.

The program also will be offered 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Chenoa Public Library, 230 Green St., Chenoa. Call 815-945-4253.

Haunted House and Hayride

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. —The Halloween Carnival Haunted House and Hayride will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. ET Oct. 1 at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2003 Pleasant St., Noblesville.

The event will be hosted by the Hamilton County 4-H junior leaders. Free for children 10 and under.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/4m66wkcx.

Hunter Safety

OLNEY, Ill. — Richland County Extension is hosting the Hunter Safety Course from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 30, Oct. 2 and Oct. 3 at St. Joseph Catholic Church of Stringtown Parish Center, 6342 Co Rd 1700 E, Olney.

Prescribed Burn

NASHVILLE, Ill. — The Prescribed Burn Workshop will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Washington County Extension office, 9623 Wall St., Nashville.

Jeff Harris, Southern Illinois prescribed fire coordinator with Pheasants Forever, will discuss the importance of a prescribed burn to benefit the ecosystem and the ins and outs of starting one.

Soup for the Heart

STAUNTON, Ill. — Cooking Soup for the Heart will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Community Hospital of Staunton, 400 Caldwell St., Staunton.

Soup is nutritious and generally inexpensive to prepare. Learn the many varieties of soups, how to layer different flavors, and develop delicious flavors without the added salt. The class invites participants to practice techniques in making flavorful soups, taste-test hearty soup recipes, and make informed decisions for lowering blood pressure.

Healthy Recovery

DIXMOOR, Ill. — Healthy Recovery and Nutrition will be 10 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 1 at the LifeHouse Group, 14127 Leavitt Ave., Dixmoor.

Many individuals dealing with substance use also face food insecurity and multiple nutritional deficiencies. This program will illustrate how proper nutritional support can reduce relapse and support the recovery process. To arrange a Healthy Recovery and Nutrition Program for your group, contact Rebecca Griffith at rjg29@illinois.edu. Facilitated by Community Health Extension Educators Leilah Siegel, Sonia Lopez, Michele Crawford and Sophia Ottomanelli.

Blooms and Paper

DIXON, Ill. — Creativity blossoms with Blooms and Paper, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 2 at Sauk Valley Community College, 173 IL-2, Dixon.

Participants will explore techniques utilizing canvas, scrapbook paper, and pen to create floral compositions. Whether you are a seasoned artist or a beginner, this course will explore the world of mixed media art, where every stroke of the pen and piece of paper brings your imagination to bloom.

Cognitive Health

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Sharpen your mind and boost your brainpower with this double feature on cognitive health, 1 to 3 p.m. Oct.2 at the Stevick Senior Citizen Center, 2102 Windsor Place, Champaign.

Head Strong with Family Life Educator Emily Harmon will include information what you can do to keep your brain healthy and engaged. Then, after a short break featuring a brain health food demo, Nutrition and Wellness Educator Rachel Mannen will present Eating Right for Cognitive Health.

Tree ID Walk

CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Tree Identification Walk will begin at 5 p.m. Oct. 2 at the north end of the visitor parking lot, east of the Student Center at SIU, 1255 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale.

Take a stroll through Southern Illinois University’s campus and learn how to identify trees using dichotomous keys. Also discussed will be the benefits of landscape trees as well as some common problems that can occur.

The walk will be led by Kevin Rohling, Extension specialist in forest management and ecology, and Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Kimberly Rohling. The walk can count towards Mastering Urban Tree Health and Identification Training for master gardeners.

Compassion Fatigue

GRIDLEY, Ill. — Compassion Fatigue: The Cost of Caring for Others will be 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Gridley Public Library, 320 N. Center St., Gridley.

We often prioritize others’ needs at our own expense, forgetting that our needs are important, too. This session addresses compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious trauma, highlighting risk factors and symptoms. Emphasized will be the significance of self-care and discuss ways to prioritize it.

Air Frying 101

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Air Frying 101 will be 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Winnebago-Boone County Farm Bureau, 1925 S. Meridian Road, Rockford.

Air frying can be a creative way to stretch your food dollars and help you save money on energy costs. Learn the health benefits of limiting certain types of dietary fat, and healthy options when using your air fryer. Participants will leave with a few healthy and tasty recipes to try at home.

Celebrating Autumn

GLEN ELLYN, Ill. — Celebrating Autumn, a luncheon and silent auction fundraiser hosted by DuPage Friends of Extension, will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 3 at WaterLeaf Restaurant, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.

Participants will enjoy a four-course gourmet meal. Silent auction items from community businesses will include garden tools, home and garden décor, restaurant gift certificates, and spa items. Also, learn about gardening with native plants from guest speaker Jamie Viebach, University of Illinois Extension educator.

Tickets are $40. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3pshufcz. Proceeds will benefit 4-H youth development, master gardener and master naturalist programs, and nutrition and wellness programs.

Deer Management

FAIRBURY, Ill. — White-tailed Deer Management in Illinois will be 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 3 at Dominy Memorial Library, 201 S. 3rd St., Fairbury.

Dr. Peter Schlichting will share deer harvest data, including how country-wide harvest quotas are determined. He will also explain how the Illinois Department of Natural Resources monitors and manages disease in the white-tailed deer population, specifically chronic wasting disease, and he’ll answer questions about deer ecology, and rutting behavior.

Medicare 101 for Seniors

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The online program Medicare 101 for Seniors will be 9 a.m. ET Oct. 4.

The workshop will provide unbiased answers on Medicare options, enrollment, and benefits.

Whether you’re new to Medicare or need a refresher, the program will help you make informed decisions. Open enrollment for Medicare is from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.

Sourdough Secrets

WELDON, Ill. — Unlock the Secrets of Sourdough, 10 to 11 a.m. Oct. 4 at the Weldon Public Library, 505 Maple St., Weldon.

Participants will gain a better understanding of the entire sourdough bread-making process and leave with a list of resources to use at home.

Heart-Healthy Cooking

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Heart-Healthy Cooking will be 11 a.m. to noon Oct. 4 at the Illinois Nutrition Education Program office, 201 W. Kenyon Road, Suite 3, Champaign.

Learn about delicious, nutritious recipes that support cardiovascular health, cooking techniques that maximize flavor without sacrificing health, and tips for creating balanced meals. Discover how to make heart-healthy eating an enjoyable and sustainable part of your lifestyle. Participants will prepare a recipe and then enjoy it for lunch.

Cost is $10. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2456cf7u.

Home Security

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The program Home Security and Personal Safety will be 1 to 2 p.m. ET Oct. 4 at the Allen County Extension office, 4001 Crescent Ave., Fort Wayne.

The Instructor will be Rick Wiegmann, a 15-year veteran police officer who heads the training of officers in his department and is the instructor for active shooter scenarios in civilian defensive training.

To register, call the Extension office at 260-481-6826.

Fall Tree Crawl

MONTICELLO, Ill. — Fall Tree Crawl will be 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 5 at the Monticello Forest Preserve Park, 1411 N. Market St., Monticello.

Participants will explore the park and learn about the 21 different species of native trees. Highlighted will be the tree-identification project that master gardener and master naturalist volunteers created. Volunteers will be on hand to explain how to use the QR codes set up on the tree signs in the park.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/2tth27k9. For more information, contact Stephanie Hale at smhale@illinois.edu or 217-877-6042.

Ag Discovery Day

NASHVILLE, Ill. — Ag Discovery Day will be 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 5 at the Washington County Fairgrounds, 810 E. Holzhauer Drive, Nashville.

Children ages 8-13 will participate in a day filled with all things agriculture. There will be stations and activities showcasing the newest technologies and scientific discoveries in agriculture. A drone presentation will include information on land mapping and spraying.