February 4 - 5, 2009 Swan Lake Resort Plymouth, Indiana - Purdue ...

Sessions 2 & 3: Topics
2B: Preserving Foods with Safety First (Karen Richey, Purdue Extension
Consumer and Family Sciences Educator)
There are several factors to consider when canning, freezing or drying food at
home. Details of the latest USDA approved methods of preserving and safety
issues of the foods we preserve will be discussed. Recipes will also be shared.
2C: Connecting Kids with Cows (Amy Kelsay, Kelsay Farms, LLC;
Whitestown, IN)
On farm school tours can be a great way to communicate the value of
agriculture to young members of your community. Join this session to gain
insight from Kelsay Farm’s experience organizing elementary through high
school farm tours. Tips on insurance issues, working with schools, what to
charge, marketing your venture and engaging the students will be shared.
2D: New Generation Agriculture - Foraging Profits (Dustin Johnson;
Frankfort, IN & Jeremy Sweeten; Peru, IN)
Join this session to learn how new generation ag producers Dustin and Jeremy
found their niche in custom forage production and carved a spot for their future
in agriculture. They will share their experiences getting started, their trials and
triumphs along the way and their hope for the future of their businesses.
Session 3
3A: Is Professional Farm Management Right for Me? (Howard
Halderman, Halderman Farm Management)
Why should a landowner consider hiring a professional farm manager?
Understanding the services a farm manager provides as well as what the
landowner can expect in return will be shared in this session to help you decide
if a professional farm manager is best for your operation.
3B: Going Native with Rain Gardens and Wildlife Habitats (Nancy
Brown, Master Gardener; Elkhart County, IN)
Learn what a rain garden is and what it can do for your landscape and the
environment. We will walk through the steps to develop a residential rain
garden, including native plant selection. We will also discuss other uses of
native plants, particularly those that provide wildlife habitat. If you love low
maintenance gardening and the environment, this session is for you!
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Sessions 3 & 4: Topics
3C: Basic Steps to a Specialty Foods Start Up (Dr. Maria Marshall,
Purdue Agricultural Economic Specialist)
Value can be added to many of our agriculture and horticulture products by
creating a specialty food product for wholesale and retail sale. But before you
go canning up jam, there are important food quality standards that need to be
met as well as considerations for marketing your product. Join this session and
learn if a specialty food enterprise might be a good choice for you.
3D: New Generation Agriculture - Going “Greene” with Sunflowers
(Sawyer Sparks, BioGreene, LLC; Bloomfield, IN)
In this session new generation ag entrepreneur, Sawyer Sparks, will share his
inspiration to start his own business creating balanced energy solutions using
sunflowers. Learn about the facets of his BioGreene business and what impact
agriculture has on his business today and in the future.
Session 4
4A: Flexible Cash Rent and Farmland Leases (Dr. Craig Dobbins, Purdue
Agricultural Economics Specialist)
With the volatility in commodity markets, landowner and tenants alike are
interested in taking full advantage of changing prices and the use of flexible
lease agreements have gained much interest. But just what is a flexible lease
and how does it work? Join this session to learn the pros and cons of entering
into a flexible lease arrangement, view sample leases and gain a better
understanding of lease wordage.
4B: Farm Safety 4 Just Kids (Tammy Eades, ADM; Logansport, IN)
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, farming has one of the highest rates
of fatality of all occupations. Farm safety is a topic that should be on the minds
of every farm family. This session will focus primarily on keeping children safe
on the farm. As a representative of a chapter of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids,
Tammy will share this non-profit’s mission to promote a safe farm environment
for children, youth and husbands. Topics of discussion will be tractors, ATV’s,
blind spots, grain entrapment, play areas and what to know in case of
emergency.
4C: Wind Energy (Jimmy Bricker, Purdue Extension Economic &
Community Development Educator)
Benton County, the first county in Indiana with an operating commercial scale
wind energy conversion system, is now the location of the largest wind farm in
the world. This session will share the interest in wind development in the north
central part of Indiana and will also highlight the social, logistical and technical
issues of this billion dollar development from the perspective of local
government, landowners, citizens and business owners.