Calendar: Discover daylily cross-pollination

EUREKA, Ill. — Daylilies: History, Care, and Hybridizing will be 6 to 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at Eureka Public Library, 202 S. Main St., Eureka.

This workshop will explore the history of daylilies, basic care and maintenance, and the fundamentals of hybridizing. Discover how to grow healthy plants, encourage abundant blooms, and the science behind creating your own unique daylily varieties through cross-pollination.

Herb Gardening

OREGON, Ill. — Herb Gardening will be 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 10 at Rock River Center, 810 S. 10th St., Oregon.

During this hands-on session, participants will create their own herb butter and no-salt seasoning blend to take home!

Cost is $10. Register by calling 815-732-3252. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/46n536jf.

What’s in My Food?

URBANA, Ill. — The online program What’s in My Food? Decoding Chemicals and Safety will be 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 11.

Learn how to identify natural and artificial food chemicals, understand their impact on food safety, and weigh the pros and cons of their use. From naturally occurring compounds to additives in processed food, participants will gain the knowledge to make informed choices about what they eat.

Fresh from the Garden

DECATUR, Ill. — Fresh from the Garden will be the focus of the Crossing Garden Education Series, 10 to 11 a.m. Aug. 11 at Crossing Healthcare Garden, 320 Central Ave., Decatur.

Participants will share their favorite recipes made from fresh produce and taste test some samples.

Cover Crops

LENA, Ill. — Taking the Next Steps in Cover Crop Management will be 8 to 11:15 a.m. Aug. 11 at Lena Community Center, 497 Lions Drive, Lena.

This event is designed for producers who are ready to deepen their understanding of cover crop systems and explore more management‑intensive practices.

Attendees will hear firsthand experiences, lessons learned, and practical advice from producers who have successfully integrated cover crops into their operations.

Cost is $10. Register online at https://tinyurl.com/4ubvsvtm or call 815-235-4125.

Attracting Bees

FAIRFIELD, Ill. — Attracting Native Bees to Your Own Backyard Pollinator Garden will be 5 to 6 p.m. Aug. 11 at Wayne County Extension, 2B Frontier Drive, Fairfield.

The program will examine Illinois’ native bee species and how you can support native pollinators through pollinator gardens.

Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app on their devices prior to the program to practice identifying native plants in the pollinator garden. Attendees are also encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and to dress for the weather.

Livestock Skillathon

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The 4-H Superior Young Livestock Producer Contest Skillathon will be 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Cattle Barn, 801 E. Sangamon Ave., Springfield.

4-H members ages 14 to 18 are invited to compete for one of nine $1,000 scholarships.

The skillathon will test knowledge on breeds of cattle, swine, sheep and goats; marketing; equipment identification; and quality assurance.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/3e4d7f5s.

Selling Timber

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Selling Timber: What the Landowner Needs to Know will be 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 12.

Hank Stelzer, University of Missouri Extension forestry specialist, will discuss the process of selling timber from start to finish and the need to hire a professional forester.

Naural Lawn Care

GRAYSLAKE, Ill. — The online program Natural Lawn Care Practices for a Healthy Environment will be 6 to 7 p.m. Aug. 12.

Traditional lawn care relies heavily on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to keep grass green and lush, but more lawn caretakers are becoming aware of how these practices can be detrimental to the wider ecosystem. Natural lawn care principles like those promoted in the Lawn to Lake Midwest program can help lawn caretakers develop a low-maintenance care plan that keeps excess chemicals away from people and pets, and out of local waterways — and may even save you money.

Sarah Zack, Great Lakes contaminants specialist. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, will discuss the principles of natural lawn care and provide information and tools to help you sustainably care for your lawn.

Fantastic Fungi

LEWISTOWN, Ill. — Fantastic Fungi: Movie and Literature Review will be 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 14 at Fulton County Extension, 15411 N IL 100 Highway, Lewistown.

Attend a free screening of the award-winning documentary “Fantastic Fungi.” After the movie, participants will gather for a casual discussion about mushroom books, field guides, and other resources to help continue exploring the fascinating world of fungi.

Goat Presentation

ROUND LAKE PARK, Ill. — The 4-H Goat Presentation will be noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 15 at Avon Township Center, 433 E. Washington St., Round Lake Park.

Participants will learn the basics of goats including: breed types, keeping goats, feeding goats, milking goats, grooming, health, cost, benefits, and exhibiting goats in 4-H. Please bring your own lawn chair as this program will be outside with live animals.

Gardening Through Time

PONTIAC, Ill. — Gardening Through Time: Heirloom Vegetables and Flowers at the Historic Yost House will be 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 15 at Catherine V. Yost House, 298 W. Water St., Pontiac.

Step back in time and discover the beauty, history, and charm of heirloom flowers and vegetables. The program will introduce visitors to a variety of colorful flowers and traditional vegetables commonly found in classic cottage gardens. Take home practical tips and inspiration for bringing heirloom treasures into your own garden.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/2hd2syb8.

Family Nature Fest

NIOTA, Ill. — Nature Fest: A Family Environmental Day will be 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 15 at Stony Hills Nature Preserve, 1325-1421 IL-96, Niota.

Discover the wonders of Illinois’ native plants and wildlife through hands-on activities designed for curious explorers of all ages. Search the preserve for life-sized prairie wildlife silhouettes — including bison, bees, and other prairie residents — and learn more about the incredible species that call Illinois home.

Nature Fest is an open house-style event, so come anytime between 10 a.m. and noon. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/9f6aw94x.

Growing Mums

EDDYVILLE, Ill. — Growing Mums and Pumpkins will be 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 17 at Friendly Farms, 7 Friendly Lane, Eddyville.

Get ready for fall with mums and pumpkins. This final program of the Summer Twilight Series will include a tour Friendly Farms, a southern Illinois family-owned farm specializing in growing mums and pumpkins. Known for its Yoder and Belgium chrysanthemums in a range of colors and pot sizes, the farm will offer over 20 single-color and 10 multi-color mum varieties during its highly anticipated one-day sale in September.

The program will highlight the farm’s growth from a half‑acre pumpkin patch in 2018 to producing thousands of mums annually. Attendees will learn about their production process, including sourcing, maintenance, marketing, sales, challenges faced, and future expansion plans.

To register, email baly@illinois.edu, call 618-695-2441, or visit https://tinyurl.com/mtyja3zn.

Migratory Birds

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The migratory bird program Warblers, Sparrows, and Thrushes will be 7 to 8 p.m. Aug. 17 at Champaign County Extension Auditorium, 801 N. Country Fair Drive, Champaign.

Bird species are declining all over the world, and understanding their needs is crucial for conservation management. Given more than 50% of North American birds migrate, there are many knowledge gaps that exist especially when it comes to understanding stopover habitat selection and migratory routes.

Speaker Tara Beveroth, an avian ecologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey, will discuss how long-term bird banding can help address these gaps while also assessing population trends and responses to environmental change.

Tech Tuesdays

VALPARAISO, Ind. — Tech Tuesdays for 50+: Build Your Digital Confidence will meet 10 to 11:30 a.m. CT Tuesdays, Aug. 18-Sept. 15, at Porter County Government Center, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso.

This free, five-week digital education series is designed fo help older adults feel more confident using technology through hands-on learning in a relaxed, welcoming environment..

Laptops will be provided through Purdue Extension’s Mobile Computer Lab.

To register visit https://tinyurl.com/3t2yycak or call 219-465-3555.

Ag Center Field Day

BUTLERVILLE, Ind. — The annual Field Day will be 4 to 8 p.m. ET Aug. 25 at Southeastern Purdue Agricultural Center, 4425 E County Road 350 N, Butlerville.

Topics will include: Residue Reservations and Updates on Purdue Soybean Research; Keeping Nitrogen Where Corn Needs It; What’s in Our Tool Box for Managing Weeds; and Disease Management Research and Decision-Making Tools.

Dinner will be at 7:15 p.m. Register at https://tinyurl.com/5bw2ed3e.

Finance Class

ANGOLA, Ind. — The Finance Class will be 5 to 5:45 p.m. ET Aug. 26 at Steuben County Community Center, 317 S. Wayne St., Angola.

Unlock the mysteries of personal finance and empower yourself with essential money management skills. Classes are $3 per session and will be held monthly on the last Wednesday of the month.

For more information, contact Dana Stanley at dlstanle@purdue.edu, 260-668-1000, ext. 1400; or visit https://tinyurl.com/43exu9bc.

Renewable Energy

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Indiana Land-Use Summit: Agrivoltaics and Renewable Energy will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Aug. 27 at Beck Agricultural Center, 4550 US 52 West, West Lafayette.

The summit will highlight Purdue University’s applied research and Extension efforts in advancing data-driven, community-engaged approaches to land-use planning across Indiana, with emphasis on renewable energy and agrivoltaics. Through sessions featuring the Indiana Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning program, participants will explore new tools, resources, and research findings supporting utility-scale renewable energy planning. The Midwest Agrivoltaics for Resilient Communities initiative will share insights from agrivoltaics design, focus group findings, and resilience modeling that examine how solar infrastructure can coexist with agricultural productivity and microgrid development.

Through research updates, breakout discussions, and tours of the Agrivoltaics Research Platform at Purdue University’s Agronomy Center for Research & Education, attendees will gain practical strategies, technical tools, and evidence-based approaches to address emerging land-use challenges and support informed decision-making in their communities.

Cost is $50 and includes lunch. For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/4344vkva.

Land Leases

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The online program Securing the Future: Land Leases and Tenant Relationships will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. ET Aug. 31.

Join the Purdue Extension Succession Planning Team for a free, live, virtual program series built to support farm families as they prepare for legal aspects of transition planning and create a smoother, more successful transition for the next generation.