ANR Program Review

Highlighted Programming

ANR Consultations

ANR Consults involve answering questions such as “what disease is killing my tree?”, sending samples to the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory for analysis, sending off soil samples and helping clients interpret results and assisting commercial and private pesticide applicators. ANR Consultations are free of charge and open to all residents of Jefferson County. Extension Educators rely on Extension Publications, Campus Specialists, and a network of colleagues to track down peer reviewed answers to questions.  This year I logged over 175 consultations with Jefferson County residents.  I sent over 20 samples to the PPPDL for Analysis  I analyzed several soil samples and gave recommendations and helpful publications.  I also maintained a garden calendar in each spring newsletter to help with common problems.

Damage from a Yellow Belly Sap Sucker seen at an ANR Consult.

Master Gardeners construct a wreath with community members.

Master Gardener Wreath Making Workshop

Hosted by Jefferson/Switzerland Master Gardener Association  Over 50 people participated in this years workshop where MGs taught both how to make wreaths and about evergreens themselves.  We are looking forward to continuing this program and adding to our MG volunteer group.

Putting your Garden & Pollinator Habitat to Bed

Presented by Britt Copeland, ANR/Youth Educator, Kristen Carlson, Oak Heritage Conservancy  This home horticulture program was offered in fall of 2021 to set gardeners up for success in the coming growing season.  We also had a guest speaker who discussed how to maintain a pollinator habitat through the winter.  This program reached 16 gardening enthusiasts. Watch the recording on the Purdue Extension-Jefferson County YouTube Channel.

Master Gardeners

Presented by Britt Copeland, ANR/Youth Educator, Jefferson County and Kyle Weaver, ANR/Youth Educator, Switzerland County

MG Volunteer Ed Demo on Soil Blocking available on our YouTube

 The Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program allows participants to study horticultural plants and their pests, improve gardening skills, teach others, and learn from Purdue Specialists and Horticultural Experts.  An in person basic training is due to start this February, contact the extension office if you are interested in joining.  Once Trained, Interns join our local Jefferson/Switzerland Master Gardener Association and complete 40 hours of community service to advance in program rank.  This year Master Gardeners maintained pollinator habitats along with the pollinator action group, gained new volunteers and hosted events such as our Holiday Wreath Making Workshop  Our interns are working on a new project with Hanover Parks tree trail.

Pond Management Workshop

Presented by Dave Osborne, ANR/4-H Educator, Ripley County

Dave Osborne discussing algae control at Johnson Lake in Madison, IN

 Fish management, habitats and pond weed management are important parts of managing your pond. With the help of Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District we brought this program to Johnson Lake during spring of 2021 to help over 20 residents with their pond questions.  Participants were provided with Extension Publications on how to manage their ponds after the workshop.  As a result of the workshop, there was a steady increase in ANR Consults concerning ponds and interest in extension publications. Purdue University Cooperative Extension is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

Junior Master Gardner Program

Presented by Britt Copeland, ANR/Youth Educator, Jefferson County  After getting trained in the Junior Master Gardener Program from Texas AgriLife Extension I delivered programing at Canaan Community Academy.  I had the pleasure of teaching over 100 students in grades 2-5 once weekly for 6 weeks in the spring of 2021.  Participants learned with hands on activities relating to entomology, seed starting, plant parts, and healthy living topics. The curriculum, “Learn Grow Eat Go!”, can be used as a 6 week comprehensive course on how to start a school garden or it can be cherry picked and used to teach topics in any order.  Jess Koons, our HHS/4-H educator and I plan to expand this program to 2 more schools and partner with the Madison Community Grocery Project in spring of 2022.

Student records insects he has identified after a pheromone activity.

Participants were lead on a hike to ID Invasive Species.

Wooded Invasive Species of Southeastern Indiana

Presented by Maddie Westbrook, Indiana DNR District Forester, Britt Copeland, ANR/Youth Educator, Jefferson County, Kyle Weaver, ANR/Youth Educator, Switzerland County  Our Master Gardeners hosted a guided hike and brief program history to identify and discuss invasive species in Southeastern Indiana in spring of 2021.  We were joined by an Indiana DNR forester and 20 participants to explore this topic in depth. Control of invasive species through chemical, cultural and mechanical methods was taught and a tour of the Theibald Historic Homestead was also included.

Plan Commission

 ANR Extension Educators are ex facto members of county plan commissions per Indiana State Law.  As such I attend and participate in monthly plan commission meetings and complete tasks and research topics as they arise.

Southeastern Purdue Agriculture Center Field Day

Presented by Area 1 ANR Educators, SEPAC Staff and Campus Agronomy Specialists  The Southeastern Purdue Agricultural Center is located in Jennings County and is primarily a research farm. This farm plays host to a great amount of extension programming throughout the year.

Yearly, there is a SEPAC Field day that is well attended and provides a chance for local farmers to hear free lectures on current crop management and disease control trends from Purdue Campus

Specialists. Private and Commercial Pesticide Applicators can also earn continuing education credits to maintain their license.  In the fall of 2021 this field day returned to an in person event. Purdue Extension Specialists discussed the latest trends in Soybean, Corn and agronomy to benefit the farmers of Southeastern

Indiana. With over 250 participants, also earning PARP/CCH credits this was a successful program we are looking forward to having in person again on August 30, 2022.

Area Farmers discussing a soybean trial at SEPAC

Animal Science Web Series

Presented by Britt Copeland, ANR/Youth Educator, Jefferson County and Area 1 Educators  In the Fall of 2020 several virtual efforts were made to continue programming in a COVID landscape. Area 1 Educators formed too groups to do a weekly web series on both gardening and animal science.  I joined the Animal Science team and provided technical assistance as well as teaching portions of the series on forage sampling & analysis, pasture mix, and selecting replacement heifers  All of the recordings are available to watch on our channel, Purdue Extension-Jefferson County YouTube Channel.

Southeastern Indiana Ag & Natural Resources Web Series

Presented by Britt Copeland, ANR/Youth Educator, Jefferson County and Area 1 Educators  Fall of 2021 virtual efforts continue with this series. I presented again on Forages and winter landscaping.  This series is still ongoing and the recordings of past events are on the Purdue Extension-Jefferson County YouTube Channel. Purdue University Cooperative Extension is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.