COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. — Interested in starting a farm but unsure of how to get started or where you can find help? Are you already a farmer but eager to enhance and refine your goals and objectives and identify resources for assistance? Purdue Extension’s Beginning Farmer Program can help put you on a path to success.

The program includes eight live virtual program sessions you access from your home computer, plus additional optional sessions of supplemental materials, with individual work to complete between sessions.

The program is offered to beginning farmers with farms of any size, but the typical audience tends to be those with smaller farms, those with urban farms, and people wanting to launch a farm that includes direct-to-consumer sales.

The program begins at 7 p.m. ET Jan. 9 and continues on Thursdays through Feb. 27.

Cost is $85. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ywx2e3vr.

For questions, contact Beginning Farmer Coordinator Amy Thompson at afthompson@purdue.edu; or John Woodmansee, Extension educator in Whitley County, at jwoodman@purdue.edu.

Mistake to Masterpiece

ALBION, Ill. — The Mistake to Masterpiece Tag-along Workshop will be 9 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 23 at the Edwards County Farm Bureau, 15 S. Fifth St., Albion.

Did you know that some of the greatest inventions were created by mistake? The workshop will show students how mistakes can be part of creating something new and great. Students ages 5 to 7 will make bent paper bookmarks and read the book “Beautiful Oops” by Barney Saltzberg.

Bounce Bash

QUINCY, Ill. — The 4-H Family Bounce Bash will be 9 to 11 a.m. Jan. 3 at Krazy Town Trampoline Park, 301 Spring St., Quincy.

4-H members and their families are invited to this private event at the indoor trampoline park.

Cost is $10. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3hkmvrs6.

Try It Day

WHEATON, Ill. — The 4-H Project Try It Day will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 4 at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton.

Youths ages 5 to 14 will explore 4-H project areas at hands-on learning stations, and create fun projects. Topics will include animal/vet science, creative arts, environmental science and STEM.

The program is designed for anyone new to 4-H who wants to explore different project areas, current 4-H families who want to try new things, and families looking for a fun activity during winter break.

Cost is $25, and includes a pizza lunch. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ydnaehhv. For more information, contact 4-H Program Coordinator Nancy Reppe at nslep2@illinois.edu or 630-955-1123.

Healthy Habits

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — Healthy Habits and Fresh Herbs will be 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 6 at Taylorville Memorial Hospital, 201 E. Pleasant St., Taylorville.

Learn the pros and cons of different diet trends and how to build healthy habits. There also will be hands-on practice using kitchen herbs grown indoors in recipes.

Blanket Project

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — 4-H members will make blankets to be distributed in the community from 2 to 3 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Christian County Extension office, 1120 N. Webster St., Taylorville.

This workshop is free and open to 4-H members ages 8 to 18. Members may donate new fleece material at least one yard in length for the workshop.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/37jbtete.

Master Naturalist Training

DECATUR, Ill. — DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt County Master Naturalist Training will be 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 7-March 25 at the Macon County Extension office, 3351 N. President Howard Brown Blvd., Decatur.

This program trains adult volunteers to effectively share natural resource information and support environmental conservation and restoration efforts in their communities. As part of the hands-on learning process, participants go on field trips throughout Illinois.

Once interns have graduated from the 12-week course they are given two years to accumulate 60 volunteer hours to become a certified Master Naturalist. Once certified, 30 volunteer hours and 10 continuing education hours are required annually to maintain certification. No previous experience is necessary to be a part of this program.

Tai Chi for Arthritis

PONTIAC, Ill. — Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention will be offered 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jan. 7 to Feb. 27, at the Livingston County Extension office, 1412 S. Locust St., Pontiac.

Many studies have shown tai chi as being one of the most effective approaches for preventing falls. Family Life Educator Sara Attig will lead exercises that can improve muscular strength, flexibility and fitness.

Better Bites

MAROA, Ill. — Building Better Bites will be 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Maroa Public Library, 305 Garfield St., Maroa.

What do you grab for an in-between-meal bite? Learn ways to add nutrition to those snacks and ways to identify hunger and fullness to enjoy food without being too stuffed or too hungry.

Serve It Safely

MARSHALL, Ill. — The Serve It Safely Class will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Clark County Extension office, 15493 IL-1, Marshall.

Selling and serving food remains a popular fundraising activity for community groups. Any time your group sells food, certain procedures need to be followed to ensure that the food is wholesome, safe, and at low risk for causing food-borne illness. Serve It Safely addresses these issues in a fun and interactive workshop.

Cost is $5. Register at https://tinyurl.com/47pvrfy5.

Get Growing

VINCENNES, Ind. — The Get Growing Program will meet 6 to 8 p.m. ET Thursdays, Jan. 9-Feb. 20, the Knox County Extension office, 4259 N. Purdue Road, Vincennes.

The schedule includes: How Plants Grow, Jan. 9; What’s Pestering Your Garden, Jan. 16; Woody Plant Care, Jan.23; Growing Fantastic Flower Gardens, Jan. 30; Growing Lush Lawns, Feb. 6; and Fruit in the Backyard, Feb. 20.

Cost is $40. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yyw9bmy8.

Driftless Region Beef Conference

DUBUQUE, Iowa — The 2025 Driftless Region Beef Conference will be noon to 9 p.m. Jan. 23-24 at the Grand River Convention Center, 500 Bell St., Dubuque, Iowa.

With the national beef cow herd at record low numbers and fed cattle numbers still decreasing, marketing and the future of the cow herd expansion is the timely focus of the 13th annual Driftless Region Beef Conference. This conference brings together beef producers and Extension specialists for an educational program that focuses on production needs and timely topics.

Attendees will select from eight different workshop topics to develop a customized program. The popular Bull Pen discussion will be held Thursday evening. Visit with conference sponsors in the display area and learn about the products and services they offer along with many fellow beef producers from the region.

Cost is $120. Register by visiting https://tinyurl.com/mrxxhs97.

The Driftless Region Beef Conference is sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, University of Illinois Extension, and University of Wisconsin Extension. For more information or to receive a brochure, contact Denise Schwab, beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, at 319-472-4739.

Junior Livestock Conference

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — “Wild West” is the theme of the 2025 Junior Livestock Conference, set for Jan. 25-26 at the Crowne Plaza Springfield, 3000 S. Dirksen Pkwy., Springfield.

The conference, held every other year, provides hands-on programs built around the science and disciplines of livestock production and exhibition. The event is open to 4-H members in seventh through ninth grades. Participants do not have to own livestock to attend.

Saturday’s schedule begins at 10 a.m. with registration, ice breakers, photos and T-shirt distribution, followed by lunch at 11 a.m., and hands-on workshops and sessions from noon to 4:30 p.m. After-dinner events will include the lariat roping station and team-building exercises.

Sunday’s schedule includes breakfast at 8 a.m., followed by team events and activities at 9 a.m., and the closing keynote at 10:30 a.m.

Cost is $170, and includes lodging, T-shirt, meals, conference supplies and activities. Register by Jan. 2 by visiting https://tinyurl.com/2w8ytdm5.

The Illinois 4-H State Livestock Ambassador Team plans and leads this conference. The conference is supported with funds from the Illinois 4-H Foundation, Farm Credit and Illinois Pork Producers Association.

For questions, contact Dan Jennings, State 4-H livestock specialist and conference director, at djjennin@illinois.edu.

Calendar: Purdue Extension offers Beginning Farmer Program