WARSAW – Farmers with forages or feeding hay this winter, are encouraged to join the Kosciusko County Purdue Extension on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. to assess the quality of their forages. The Kosciusko County Purdue Extension is located at 202 West Main Street, Warsaw. In 2019, farmers saw less than ideal conditions for …read more.

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Purdue Extension will offer its “Beef 101” class starting Monday, Nov. 4. The first class will serve as an introduction to the beef industry and management principles. During this time, class materials will be distributed and people will begin to develop their network with other class participants, said a news …read more.

One Rochester man is well aware of the problem and is doing his best to help the situation, as well as educate others on the importance of bees. Noble Krugman has lived on the north shore of Lake Manitou for 41 years. His interest in beekeeping began in the large garden he kept with his late wife. They had a large garden and used the bees to help pollinate many of their plants and to keep their garden healthy.

By Amanda McFarland Adult Programming Administrator WARSAW — The following events are set to take place in May at Warsaw Community Public Library. Sally Reuter returns at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, to lead participants in creating a painted flower canvas. Register. Drop in Zone takes place Wednesday, May 2. Teens in grades 6 through …read more.

WARSAW — Combined Community Services and Purdue Extension paired up to provide spring break fun for youth this week, April 4-6. Mindy Wise and Jackie Franks, both Purdue Extension educators, directed a three-day workshop that included hands-on cooking experiences and physical activity. The workshop, titled Spring Into Health, focused on healthy habits for kids, including healthy …read more.

By KELLY HECKAMAN Purdue Extension Educator WARSAW — How can you tell if your bull is still ready for the breeding season? One sure fire way to find out is to bring your bull to the 21st annual Reproductive Soundness Exam clinic on Saturday, April 15, starting at 8 a.m. The Kosciusko County Cattlemen’s Association will …read more.

WARSAW — What It Means to be a Livestock Producer in 2017 is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, at Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Office at 202 W Main St., Warsaw. The program features “CFOs: Research and Resources at Purdue” with Dr. Paul Ebner, Purdue University. In May 2015, Purdue Extension was …read more.

WARSAW — The Purdue School for Back Yard Fruit Growers will take growers through “New Adventures in Backyard Fruit Production” in a series that offers opportunities to learn about modern fruit production practices. The school will take place from 2 – 4 p.m. on March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. The program will be …read more.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — As the leading cause of death for all Americans, heart disease claims 600,000 lives annually.  It is understandably frightening to be at risk for heart disease.  Purdue Extension’s “Be Heart Smart” program can help you fight this disease by gaining the necessary knowledge to make heart-smart choices. Purdue Extension’s “Be Heart Smart” …read more.

WARSAW — The new Poss-ABILITIES showcase encourages the involvement of youth with special needs and their families in the 4-H program and makes an interactive livestock experience “possible” for youth of all “abilities.” The Kosciusko County 4-H Poss-ABILITIES club and showcase serves as a medium for children with special needs to try out the 4-H …read more.

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Purdue Extension had A Girl’s Real Life Becomes a Positive Woman’s Role graduation Tuesday, May 24. GRLPWR is a program designed to help young girls learn various life skills such as: What to wear to a job interview and the difference between business and business casual wear, healthy eating, body …read more.

Jaclyn Franks, MPH Purdue Extension, Kosciusko County HHS Extension Educator KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — What causes you stress? Sometimes this simple question can be difficult to answer. We all have a variety of different factors in our life that may contribute to our stress level; family, money health, work and so on. I’ve never met a …read more.

[weaver_youtube m_9wPwUXC54 rel=0]   WARSAW — The changes in 4-H, new challenges, global involvement and recognition of individuals who have helped in numerous ways were part of the annual Kosciusko County Purdue Extension Dinner held earlier in March. Kip Tom, Leesburg, a national trustee of 4-H and FFA, was the keynote speaker talking about his …read more.

By KELLY HECKAMAN Extension Educator, Purdue Extension, Kosciusko County WARSAW — “How to Create Curb Appeal” kicks off the annual Gardening Away the Winter Blues series on Tuesday, March 8. The Kosciusko County Master Gardeners and Purdue Extension are offering the series from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. at the Extension Office in Warsaw and continues …read more.

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Purdue Extension will host a Livestock Poss-Abilities Spark Club and Showcase. This is open to any youth in grades 3-12 who are interested in learning about livestock with the 4-H program. The capacity for participants is limited by the number of available mentor families. The 4-H Livestock Poss-Abilities Spark Club …read more.

By KELLY HECKAMAN Extension Educator, Purdue Extension, Kosciusko County WARSAW — A crops management clinic is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at Creighton’s Crazy Egg Café, Warsaw. The clinic starts off with Dr. Bob Nielsen, Purdue Extension corn specialist, sharing information on corn profitability and resilience. Dr. Nielsen will discuss …read more.

WARSAW — Taking over the position recently vacated by Stephanie Faroh, Jackie Franks is the new Health and Human Sciences Educator at Kosciusko County Purdue Extension. She received her undergraduate degree in health science and master’s in public health from Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill. Franks is also a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist certified by …read more.

By KELLY HECKAMAN Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County WARSAW — If you’ve got forages, then you will want to join Purdue Extension at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, at 202 West Main St., Warsaw, to find out exactly how good your forages are. 2015 certainly provided less-than-ideal conditions for growing …read more.

BY BRANDY CAVANAGH, Purdue Extension ELKHART — Our home may be a place to relax, to retreat from stresses in our environment, to join in activities or to work. Planning our surroundings to meet needs begins with trying to understand how color affects us. Color may affect what we appear to see, our emotions, and …read more.

By MARY ANN LIENHART CROSS Elkhart County Extension Educator, Health and Human Sciences Bacon is such a flavorful food – probably more flavorful than most foods. One piece of bacon can go a long way. Since more people are further removed from the farm, the question of what bacon is, or where it comes from, …read more.

BY ROBERT KELLY, Elkhart County Purdue Extension Educator ELKHART COUNTY — Many sheep and goat producers have challenges with keeping worms and parasite under control in their herds. FAMANCHA is a diagnostic tool to help sheep and goat producers identify parasite infections in their herds. The tool is a chart that matches eyelid color to …read more.

It is not often you can fight a pest with a calendar, but in the case of Hessian fly, that is exactly what wheat growers do in our area.

WARSAW — Looking for something interesting and exciting to do this fall on Tuesday evenings? Do you enjoying working in the garden? Helping others beautify the community? Do you want to help teach others about horticulture by volunteering your time? If so, then the Master Gardener program is for you. During this program you can learn all about horticulture: plant science, plant nutrition, soils, pesticides, insect pests, vegetables, flowers, fruits, lawns and much more.

By Jeff Burbrink Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Elkhart County September was always one of my favorite times as a kid. It was exciting because I loved helping make silage. The hustle and bustle of the tractors and wagons and chopper, the smell of fresh chopped corn stalks; all of it signaled the start of harvest …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener Intern Whether a new or old garden, you will need to decide which of the existing features you want to keep, such as an old swing, an old tree or a garden shed. Other items like a fuel tank, an unattractive view or an overgrown area you may need to …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener A flower is born, lives out its life and dies. It makes seeds or dust for the next generation of flowers. Some flowers bear fruit or leaves that we may eat holding nutrients that feed or heal our bodies. The reason to remove the “deadhead:” it is the proper …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern If you are enjoying an abundance of fresh produce from your garden right now, you’re probably dreading winter and a return to canned and frozen varieties. That doesn’t have to be your fate this winter. If you’re a die-hard gardener, winter gardening is possible, even this far north. Mid-August …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener Intern At this time, my own yard needs a lot of work as a new septic system was just installed. You need to be careful what you plant around septic systems, as some long term plants can cause damage. The biggest problem I’ve heard of is tree roots getting into …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener The hot days of July and August can take a toll on perennials that need to survive not only cold spring weather but the warmer months without rain. This is the ultimate challenge for the seasoned gardener. It is important to have rotating crops of flowers to have your …read more.

By MARY ANN LIENHART CROSS Elkhart County Extension Director, Extension Educator – Health and Human Sciences, Purdue Extension I often write about the challenges of the weather for those farmers who grow any kind of crop but especially for those growing produce. Mother Nature has provided too much rain and not enough warmth and sunshine. …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern WARSAW — Potted plants and patio gardening, for me, has required a little more care and attention than my vegetable garden and landscaping. Plants growing in pots, baskets or buckets require more attention because of the limited resources of their pot. They need more water quickly, and more water …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener Intern When I drive around our wonderful county and notice newly constructed homes, many of them have what amounts to a blank slate behind them: a grassed rectangle. This gives you an opportunity to create a great outdoor living space. It is my hope this info gives someone inspiration to …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener Your garden and surroundings can be a great resource for you. Plants, like people, have habits and characteristics essential to their survival. Some take more of a lot than a little water. Watering should be early, between 4 and 8 a.m. as a recommendation. If watering in the afternoon, …read more.

By MARY ANN LIENHART CROSS County Extension Director, Extension Educator-Health & Human Sciences, Purdue Extension Elkhart County May was National Osteoporosis Month followed by June as National Dairy Month and they could really be celebrated together. I am sure your mother told you to do many good things like, eat your vegetables and fruits, drink …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern Gardening can be an expensive hobby. Quality plants are expensive, as are soil amendments and tools. But gardening isn’t just for those with extra income – anyone can have a lovely garden or landscape with some sweat equity and the willingness to get a little creative. I’ve purchased some …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener Intern When it comes to watering, there are some tips you should know about. If you live in a city/town with a water treatment plant, you should know what is being added to the water. You can have your water tested if you like. Call your local extension office to …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener Annual labeling may be a thing of the past if you can develop a backup map and nomenclature descriptions for your flowers and the beds where they rest. The landscape here at the lake, 46 years ago, was pretty bleak except for the abundance of mature trees that outnumbered any …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern Often times when we move into a new home, we inherit the landscape of the previous owner. Those of us who are new to the gardening world can be at a bit of a loss as to what we’ve inherited and how to care for it. By the third …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener Intern Any time you move a plant, it will need time to adjust to its surroundings, even in the house. If you buy houseplants at the greenhouse, the plant may go through changes, drop leaves or droop its branches. Greenhouses are usually more humid and receive more daylight than your …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener Can you remember how you became acquainted with a flower with which you fell in love? My first impression of Caladiums, native to Brazil, was their use in a department store as a summer accent. Later, I saw a collection of Caladiums mixed with hosta and ferns at a …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern Vegetable gardens have been a source of much angst on my shady lot. I thought tomatoes and zucchini were easy to grow, and didn’t think twice about plopping them in my little 4’ x 8’ raised bed. The first year, my tomatoes did really well. That was the year …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener More on houseplants as promised in my last column. Once you realize you need to repot a plant and have chosen the correct type of pot and soil, remember the next size larger pot is all you need to put your plant in. If you put your plant in too …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener (EDITOR’S NOTE: Corson is a graduate of Adams Central High School, Manchester University and Ball State University. She and her husband, Ron, were married and enjoyed many years of traveling before they settled at Lake Papakeechie to raise their family. Soon after moving to the Syracuse area, Corson joined …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener (EDITOR’S NOTE: Amanda Zambrano is the director of advancement at Grace Village Retirement Community. She is a master gardener intern, just learning the ins and outs of successful gardening. Along with her master gardener volunteering, Amanda serves on the board of directors for the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, …read more.

By KELLY L. HECKAMAN Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Purdue Extension’s Women in Agriculture committee is now accepting nominations for the organization’s top awards through Friday, May 1. Awards each for leadership and achievement will be given during the 2015 Indiana State Fair in August to women who are leaders and innovators in the …read more.

A Purdue University faculty member has created Indiana 4-H’s first online curricula program involving environmental science topics including weather, climate, soil and water. “Soil and Water Science” and “Weather and Climate Science” will help students in grades 3-12 learn about topics of increasing interest among the public, according to Natalie Carroll, a Purdue Extension specialist …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener (EDITOR’S NOTE: Amy Muncy was born in Wabash County and lived in Northern Wabash County for close to 40 years. Muncy grew up in the country, has always enjoyed gardening and mowing the lawn. She has been gardening since a small girl. She moved to Kosciusko County in 2000. She …read more.

By JEFF BURBRINK Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Elkhart County Every year, there are fewer acres of wheat planted in the county, it seems. That may be why I am getting more questions about wheat recently, because people are forgetting how to grow it. Many people raise wheat simply for the straw. In fact, there have …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County A friend of mine who lives alone, recently asked me about healthy cooking for herself. She said, “It hardly seems worth it when it’s just me.” The Mayo Clinic offers many ideas for healthy cooking for one or two. Instead of settling for leftovers or frozen …read more.

By KELLY L. HECKAMAN Purdue Extension, Kosciusko County Extension Director, Agricultural & Natural Resources Educator The Kosciusko County Master Gardeners and Purdue Extension are excited to offer Garden “U” – a day filled with everything related to the garden. Join us from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at the Extension Office in …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Don’t forget to wear your green for St. Patrick’s Day next week. With all the green clothes and decorations, remember to eat your greens too. Try planning green foods on your menu for the whole week. Green fruits and vegetables contain many health-promoting phytochemicals. They can …read more.

By NICK ROGERS Purdue University Purdue Extension will host 20 statewide community forums in January and February to aid the Purdue University College of Agriculture in its strategic planning. Free and open to the public, the forums are intended to gather feedback to consider as the College of Agriculture creates its five-year strategic plan later …read more.

By KELLY L. HECKAMAN Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Purdue Extension is offering two-day workshops at the Noble County Extension office on Tuesday, Jan. 27, and Wednesday, Jan. 28, for farm families wanting to know more about business succession planning. The Noble County extension office is located at 2090 N. SR 9, Albion. Registration for …read more.

By KELLY L. KECHAMAN Extension Educator Purdue Extension, Kosciusko County The Master Gardener program is one way that the Purdue Extension puts knowledge to work and helps people grow throughout Indiana. The program helps gardeners grow by providing them with intensive training in horticultural principles. Participants, in turn, share their knowledge by providing volunteer leadership …read more.

By KELLY HECKAMAN Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County There are two free meetings scheduled in north central Indiana on Monday, Dec. 15 where you can learn how the new farm program works and also have a chance to work through some examples. In Warsaw, the meeting will be offered at 6:30 p.m. in the …read more.

By JEFF BURBRINK Extension Educator, Purdue Extension-Elkhart County This fall, there is a great deal of interest in the 2014 farm bill. There have been some major adjustments to the program. The Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs are replacing the direct payment program of previous years. There are two plans available through …read more.

By TERESA EVANS Fourth Secretary, Purdue Extension Elkhart County Elkhart County 4-H Junior Leaders worked with the Soup of Success program, in Elkhart, on the evening of November 20th. They assembled 76 Dill Dips, 78 Brownies, 343 Potato Soup Spice Packets, packed 260 bags of product and folded and punched 500 recipe cards. Soup of …read more.

By ROBERT KELLY Purdue Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development & Ag and Natural Resources-Livestock It’s never too early to be thinking about college scholarships! Purdue Extension Elkhart County is inviting all our 4-H members who are in 10th-grade through 12th-grade to a scholarship workshop. The workshops will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8 and …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator-Health and Human Sciences As Halloween nears, let’s remember to have safe and healthy fun. According to the National Confectioners’ Association, the amount of Halloween candy that kids are expected to eat this year contains about 3 cups of added sugar. That’s over 2,300 calories. Kids would have to walk about …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator-Health and Human Sciences Happy pumpkin season! I have had the pleasure of seeing beautiful fall displays with pumpkins, mums, and gourds, and have seen some impressive jack-o-lanterns already. Seeing these decorations always makes me wonder what everyone does with the insides of their pumpkins. What do you do with yours? …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator-Health and Human Sciences Have you ever been on a diet? Maybe you were diligent and stuck to your plan, or maybe you’ve tried several that don’t seem to work for you. Whatever your experience with dieting has been, you’re not alone. According to Marketdata Enterprises, Inc., the average American makes …read more.

Stephanie Faroh, MA, RD, CD is the Purdue Extension Educator-Health and Human Services for Kosciusko County As I write this week’s column I am enjoying the beautiful city of Lexington, Ky. I am here with several other Extension Educators from Indiana for our annual National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences conference. This conference …read more.

Katie Ingerson, the Purdue Marshall County Extension Agent, joined the third grade classrooms at Triton Elementary School to teach about many things. Katie did a great job of sharing how cows give us many more products besides milk. Students learned that cows help the environment by giving us fertilizer to grow crops and creating electricity …read more.

By Stephanie Faroh, MA, RD, CD Health and Human Sciences Extension Education, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County September is National Potato Month! Potatoes come in many varieties, are available year round, and are inexpensive relative to other foods with the same nutrient content. Potatoes give you great nutritional bang for your buck. The potato is versatile and …read more.

Have you heard about the latest diet trend called cleansing? I have been getting many questions and hearing a lot of “buzz” related to cleansing, which is also known as a detox diet. Are they safe? Which is the best? How do I get started? Let’s look at what it means to go on a …read more.

The 11th Annual Gateway to Gardening Symposium is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Warsaw Community Church at 2300 Ranch Road in Warsaw. Registration and visiting with the vendors starts at 8:45 a.m. The symposium is being hosted by the Kosciusko County Master Gardeners and Purdue Extension – Kosciusko County. …read more.

Looking for something interesting and exciting to do this fall on Tuesday evenings? Do you enjoying working in the garden? Enjoy volunteering? Do you want to help teach others about horticulture and grow beautiful gardens and plants? If so, then the Master Gardener program is for you. During this program you can learn all about horticulture: …read more.

A new face has come to the Kosciusko County Purdue Extension. Taking over the position recently vacated by Joan Younce, Stephanie Faroh is the new health and human sciences educator at the extension. She received her undergraduate degree from Indiana University Bloomington in dietetics, and her graduate degree from Ball State University in nutrition. Faroh …read more.