WARSAW — For Esther Johnson, the 61st time was the charm. Johnson entered the Kosciusko County Community Fair’s open class competition as she had been doing for more than a half century. Unlike previous years, she was shocked to see a purple ribbon attached to the children’s outfit she had sewn. “One of the ladies …read more.

KOSCIUSKO — Do you dream of having a beautiful lush, green, weed and disease free lawn? If you do, then attending Lawn Care 101 from 6 to 9 p.m. April 15 and 22 at the Purdue Extension Office in Warsaw at 202 W Main St., Warsaw, will help turn your dream into reality. This series …read more.

  LEESBURG — A look at the Kosciusko Work Ethic program and INwork were among the highlights of the annual Kosciusko County Purdue Extension annual meeting Monday, March 4. The work ethic program, offered by Warsaw Area Career Center and INwork, offered through Purdue Extension, work in conjunction with each other. There are currently 44 students …read more.

WARSAW — Although spring is officially upon us, the weather is still not cooperative for outdoor planting and gardening. While greenhouses are a common way to get an early start on the planting season, the Purdue Extension Kosciusko County office provides other options for adults and children.

WARSAW — Local artists of any age and any medium were recently asked to create a piece of art representing their perception of agriculture for the new Art of Agriculture contest. Participants, ranging from ages 4 to 92, submitted 30 diverse pieces of art. The traveling gallery is now on display at Creighton’s Crazy Egg …read more.

WARSAW — Firefighters are in a profession to help others. They are trained to fight fires, conduct rescues, provide medical assistance and save lives when necessary. But they often forget about their own health. The latest statistics show 47 percent of the deaths of firefighters in the line of duty are cardiac related. Warsaw-Wayne Township …read more.

WARSAW — Artists of any age and any medium now have the chance to showcase their talent through Purdue Extension Kosciusko County’s new Art of Agriculture contest. The contest allows artists to submit a piece of art, whether it be painted, drawn, knitted, sewn or sculpted, to the Kosciusko County Extension Office by 4:30 p.m. …read more.

WARSAW — Artists of any age and any medium will have a chance to showcase their talent through Purdue Extension Kosciusko County’s new Art of Agriculture contest. The contest allows artists to submit a piece of art, whether it be painted, drawn, knitted, sewn or sculpted, to the Kosciusko County Extension Office by 4:30 p.m. …read more.

KOSCIUSKO — Purdue Extension will take growers through Home Vegetable Gardens: For the Pleasure of Growing Your Own Produce in a series that offers opportunities to learn about vegetable production practices. The series will take place from 6:30 pm to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 19 and 26 and March 5, 12 and 19. The program will …read more.

WARSAW — The 18th annual “A Taste of Agriculture in Kosciusko County: A Family Affair” was at the Kosciusko Fairgrounds from 5-7:30 p.m. last evening, Tuesday, April 12, with plenty of agriculture booths, food samples and prizes. As people entered the fairgrounds, their first stop was at the Beaver Dam Stand Welcome Center to receive …read more.

By KELLY HECKAMAN Extension Educator ANR & CED, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County WARSAW — You and your family can celebrate the diversity of Kosciusko County agriculture on April 12 at “A Taste of Agriculture in Kosciusko County: A Family Affair.” The event will be 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds. All attendees receive …read more.

By KELLY HECKAMAN Extension Educator ANR & CED, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County WARSAW — You and your family can celebrate the diversity of Kosciusko County agriculture on April 12 at “A Taste of Agriculture in Kosciusko County: A Family Affair.” The event will be 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds. All attendees receive …read more.

By JACLYN “JACKIE” FRANKS, MPH HHS Extension Educator, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, Kosciusko County WARSAW — It’s probably not a news flash that we eat too much. Anyone that eats at restaurants has probably noticed that food portions have gotten larger and restaurants offer some super-size portions that are enough for at least two people. …read more.

By JACLYN FRANKS, MPH Purdue Extension — Kosciusko County, HHS Extension Educator WARSAW — Gone are the days of dial-up internet. Many of us are constantly connected to technology by means of our computers, phones, tablets, smart watches, and smart TV’s. The connectivity keeps us updated on news, current events, the Bachelor finale and even …read more.

By JEFF BURBRINK Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Elkhart County GOSHEN — Our Elkhart County SWCD held an interesting meeting this week.  Cameron Mills, a farmer from Cass County, was one of the speakers. Mills has being using cover crops on his farm for a number of years now and he shared some interesting ideas and experiences …read more.

By JACLYN FRANKS, MPH Purdue Extension — Kosciusko County, HHS Extension Educator Personally I find this time of year quite dreary. The brutal cold and snowy weather makes it nearly impossible to be outside for an extended length of time, and there is nothing like going home and curling up under the electric blanket after …read more.

By JACLYN FRANKS, MPH Purdue Extension — Kosciusko County, HHS Extension Educator WARSAW — January not only ushers in the New Year, but it is also observed as Thyroid Awareness Month. The thyroid is a small, butterfly shaped gland located at the base of the neck below the Adam’s apple. Although it is small, it …read more.

All youth in grades K-12 who participate in 4-H are required to complete the Elkhart County 4-H enrollment form annually. Students in grades 3-12 wishing to enroll in Kosciusko County will need to pay a $20 fee for 4-H. For students in kindergarten through grade 2 interested in Mini 4-H, the fee is $5. The …read more.

SILVER LAKE — This year’s beef twilight tour offers fun and fellowship for all area beef producers at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. The 18th addition heads to the Silver Lake area. All who attend will get to see great cattle, learn about the Limousin breed and enjoy a delicious meal sponsored by the Kosciusko County Cattlemen’s Association.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Happy National Women’s Health Week. Ladies, when is the last time you took a moment to reflect on your personal health? Many women are concerned about the health of their friends and families and think of their own health only in times of illness. Mother’s Day …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County It’s beginning to look a lot like spring. The beautiful color change and the blooming of new life help us remember Earth Day, which we celebrate on Wednesday, April 22. This year, Earth Day turns 45 years old. Earth Day is celebrated in more than 192 …read more.

Last night the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds came alive with the sights, sounds and smells of local agriculture. Celebrating its 17th year, A Taste of Agriculture in Kosciusko County brought droves of families out for samplings of local food, family fun and some education. The local agricultural community hosted a free dinner consisting of cheese, pork, …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.

April 16 is the Day of the Mushroom. Often grouped with vegetables, mushrooms are a fungi. Don’t let the word, fungi, scare you away from enjoying this delicious and nutritious food. For thousands of years, Eastern cultures have revered mushrooms’ health benefits and they have long been celebrated as a source of powerful nutrients. Mushrooms …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Have you ever wondered about the difference between “reduced fat” and “low fat?” Or does “calorie free” on a label really mean no calories? The Food and Drug Administration has strict guidelines on how these food label terms can be used. Here are explanations of the …read more.

By KELLY L. HECKAMAN Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County You and your family can celebrate the diversity of Kosciusko County agriculture at “A Taste of Agriculture in Kosciusko County: A Family Affair” from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds. Diversity truly describes the experience you will have …read more.

By KELLY L. HECKAMAN Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Do you have the best chili recipe around? If you do, then you need to enter it in the third annual chili cook-off contest. The cook-off is a part of the “A Taste of Agriculture in Kosciusko County: A Family Affair,” being held from 5 …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County National Pecan Day is Wednesday, March 25. My favorite ways to eat pecans are in a pie or in a chocolate turtle dessert, but I appreciate pecans with just about any dish. You could add pecans to oatmeal or yogurt, substitute pecans for croutons in salads …read more.

By KELLY L. HECKAMAN Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Purdue Extension is sponsoring five workshops throughout the state today through Wednesday, April 8, for fruit and vegetable producers to learn how to reduce the risk of contamination by foodborne pathogens in produce. All of the “Good Agricultural Practices A to Z” programs are free …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County March is one of my favorite times of the year. Spring is right around the corner, the fun of March Madness is here, and most of all, March is National Nutrition Month. This year, the theme is “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle.” National Nutrition Month focuses …read more.

By KELLY L. HECKAMAN Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Garden away your winter blues with these upcoming classes and events at the Kosciusko county Purdue Extension. Beekeeping and Honey, How Sweet It Is 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, Travis Trump, Kosciusko County Beekeeper, will share some of the basics of beekeeping …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County We celebrate National Chili Day on the last Thursday in February each year. This year, the celebration falls on Thursday, Feb. 26. Chili is most commonly made up of tomatoes, beans, chili peppers, meat, garlic, onions and cumin, however, there are many variations to the basic …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County I always enjoy a good ham and cheese sandwich, but I know if I’m sharing my lunch with my grandmother, my nephew, or my pregnant sister, that I need to make it a hot ham and cheese. Do you heat your deli meat before enjoying it? …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Purdue Extension Kosciusko County is hosting two upcoming financial workshops. The first, titled ‘Planning for the What-If’s of Life’ will be held from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10. This workshop will cover wills, trusts, guardianships of children, living wills, power of attorney, basic …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Some of my favorite childhood memories are of baking with my mom and grandmothers. Do you bake with your kids and grandkids? I realized how lucky I was to have these baking “lessons” when I was in college. Many of my friends didn’t know the difference …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County We see hearts everywhere we look when February rolls around. February is American Heart Month and the hearts we see out to celebrate Valentine’s Day also serve as excellent reminders to do a quick check on our own heart health. Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular …read more.

By KELLY L. HECKAMAN Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Purdue Extension will be holding an all-day conference focusing on precision agriculture from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Newton Center, on the north side of Lakeville. We have some outstanding speakers on this program, including Dr. John Fulton from Ohio State …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Though this winter has been relatively mild, it’s a good idea to brush up on our winter safety each season. One of the primary concerns is the winter weather’s ability to knock out heat and power to your home. It’s important to be prepared for severe …read more.

By KELLY L. HECKAMAN Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Starting Wednesday, Feb. 11, Purdue Extension in Kosciusko County will offer a series of traditional winter farm meetings with a digital-age twist – participants and presenters from throughout the state will be linked via the Internet. “Winter has traditionally been the time for farmers across …read more.

By KELLY HECKAMAN Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Interested in trying some new seeds for 2015? Have seeds that you saved from last year’s garden or flowers? Do you want to learn how to save seeds? Then, you will want to plan on attending the first Northern Indiana Seed Swap on Saturday, Jan. 31, …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County A common New Year’s Resolution is to get physically fit, but many also have a goal to get fiscally fit this year. Have you reviewed your finances for 2015 yet? A new year is a great time to set financial goals that can pay off years …read more.

By ROBERT KELLY Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development and Agriculture-Natural Resources-Livestock Purdue Extension in Kosciusko and Elkhart Counties will be working together to host the 2015 Ohio Beef Cattle School. The programs will address some of the most important issues currently facing the beef industry. Rapidly changing forces are constantly shaping the beef industry’s landscape …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Do you wish you could hibernate like bears through the blistery cold winter? It’s the perfect time of year to grab a blanket and a good book and enjoy the winter beauty from the comfort of home. Before you get too comfortable, though, let’s remember how …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County January is Slow-Cooking Month, so let’s get our crock pots fired up for a nice, warm meal. There are many benefits to using a slow cooker; they use less electricity than an oven, they can be used throughout the year, providing the warm meals we crave …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Did you make your New Year’s Resolution yet? A new year presents a wonderful opportunity for you to reflect on your health and to set up a healthy living plan for the new year. If you’ve made and then broken the same old weight or health-oriented …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Eating healthy during the holidays can be challenging, especially when there are so many wonderful dishes to choose from. However, you do not need to give up your favorite dishes to maintain your health. By following these tips, you can enjoy both the food and your …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Every year at Christmastime, my dad received a box of pears as a gift from a co-worker. As a child I appreciated this box of goodies, but I didn’t think about how this kind act encouraged healthy eating too. Eating a raw pear is one of …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County It is a season for holiday cheer, joy and celebration, but for many, the holidays bring about feelings of sadness and grief. Studies show that feeling grief during the holiday season is very common. Whether it be related to the loss of a loved one, poor …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Health and Human Sciences, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County An anonymous donor contributed fabric and hand-made rugs to the Kosciusko County Extension Homemakers. The homemakers made tote bags from the fabric then sold the bags and rugs to raise money for the new Fellowship Missions Homeless Shelter. After selling the bags …read more.

By JEFF BURBRINK Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Elkhart County Private applicators that hold a license for either pesticide or fertilizer use have an opportunity to attend two classes in Elkhart County, which will give one credit each towards the renewal of their Private Applicator Recertification Program license. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Happy December! Did you enjoy some leftover turkey, do some holiday shopping, or begin to decorate your home for the season over the past week? It’s an exciting and busy time of the year, but let’s take a few minutes to be sure we are being …read more.

By STEPHANIE FAROH MA, RD CD Purdue Extension Educator, Kosciusko County, Health and Human Sciences When is the last time you cleaned your refrigerator? If it’s been a while, we conveniently have a designated day to help you remember. “Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day” is Saturday, Nov. 15. Many of us have found items at …read more.

The 17th annual Beef Twilight Tour, hosted by Black Walnut Farm, CR 1300N, Syracuse, was cut short by the severe thunderstorm that passed through Saturday evening in Kosciusko County. As clouds cleared and the rain subsided, the meeting opened with Michael Shafer’s welcoming remarks; “We braved the rain. Welcome cattlemen to Black Walnut Farm. Thank …read more.

This year’s Kosciusko County Cattleman’s Association beef twilight tour offers fun and fellowship for all area beef producers starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20. The 17th addition heads to the Syracuse area. All who attend will get to see great cattle, a feedlot operation and enjoy a delicious meal sponsored by the Kosciusko County …read more.