Updates and happenings in and around the area

Bingo Thursday, Aug. 3, in the Bell Aircraft Museum, 210 S. Oak St., Mentone. Cost is $15. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., early bird play starts at 5:30 p.m. and regular play begins at 6 p.m.

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End of Summer Bash, beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, at the Potawatomi Wildlife Park, 16998 SR 331, Tippecanoe. Expect popcorn and a movie, followed by a guided flashlight hike at 11:15 p.m. This is a free event, but donations are appreciated.

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Fulton’s Fun Day Festival at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. The theme of the noon parade is “Our Library-Our Town-Our Community.”

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Caregiver And Me Yoga At The Farm noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, at Zellers Beautiful Blooms, 878 N. 200 W., Rochester. Zellers Beautiful Blooms picked or youpick flower field is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday. For more information or events, visit zellersbeautifulblooms.com.

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Spay/neuter clinic for cats

Monday, Aug. 7, Rochester. Includes a physical exam, pain medications, tattoo and service needed. To register and for more information, visit www.pub.vet.

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Purple Tent of Hope: Prayer, Praise and Testimony 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, at the Manitou Beach Shelter, Rochester.

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Free support program for moms who have lost a child, “Grieving Moms Finding Hope” or any individual dealing with grief, meets at 6 p.m. Mondays, in the Recovery Cafe, 715 Main St., Rochester.

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The Fulton County Commissioners will meet in regular session at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7, in the Fulton County Office Building, 125 E. Ninth St., Rochester.

If you are unable to attend, it is available live on RTC Channel 4.

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Country Lanes Fall Association Meeting 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7, Old US 31 N., Rochester.

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The Republican Party is hosting a “Meet and Greet” for the governor candidates 5-7 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 8, in the Fulton County Historical Museum.

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Scheduled programs at the Kewanna Union Township Public Library:

Wednesday, Aug. 2

• What is Artificial Intelligence, 11 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 3

• Kids Craft Night, 4-5 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 7

• Zak’s Tech Time, 10 a.m. to noon

Tuesday, Aug. 8

• Teens and Tweens Cuisine, 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 9

• Protecting Your Identity by Lake City Bank, 11 a.m.

• Adult Book Club, 2 p.m.

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The Fulton County Board of Public Defender Administration meets in open session at 4 p.m. Aug. 9, 810 Main St., Rochester. —o—

Fourth annual “Families Helping Families” benefit concert Saturday, Aug. 12, in the Solid Rock Church, 913 Main St., Rochester, featuring John the Revelator, Jeremy Golden, The Fred and Ginger Band, and Todd Wolford. Doors open at noon, show starts at 2 p.m. Bring one package of diapers, any size or one can of formula, any kind. The Red Barn Elephant Ear truck will also be available. —o—

Events and activities in the Fulton County Public Library

Rochester

Wednesday, Aug. 2

• In Stitches: Adult knitting/ crocheting group, 4-5:30 p.m. in the Indiana Room.

• Kids’ Movie, 3:30 p.m. in the children’s department.

Thursday, Aug. 3

• Tech Time with Zak (adults), noon, in the PC Office.

• Rather Be Reading, 4 p.m. in the Indiana Room.

• Bingo, all ages welcome, 4:30 p.m. in meeting room A & B.

Friday, Aug. 4

Makerspace Sketchin’ Sessions, 3:30 p.m. in the Teen Oasis.

Monday, Aug. 7

• Teen Movie, 1 p.m. in the Teen Oasis.

Tuesday, Aug. 8

• Tech Time with Zak (adults), noon, in the PC Office.

• Debbie’s Dandies: Woven Tapestry (adults), 10 a.m. in the media commons.

• Makerspace: Celebrity Portrait (adults), 3:30-5:30 in meeting Room B.

• Storytime with Craft, 10:30 a.m. in meeting Room A. Aubbee

Friday, Aug. 4

• Tech Time with Zak, 3-5 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 8

• Adult Craft: Mod Podge Light Switch, 3 p.m.

Fulton

Thursday, Aug. 3

• Walking Class, 9:30 a.m.

Friday, Aug. 4 to 1 p.m.

• Tech Time with Zak, 10 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 5

• Book Sale, 9 a.m. to noon. The book sale is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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This year’s 31st annual Chili Cook-Off and Red Hot Car Show is set for Oct. 14, in Rochester. For more information or to register, visit www.fultoncountychamber.com/ChiliCookOff.

—o— United We Stand Ministries’ Food Pantry of Akron, located behind the Viking Food grocery store, is open 2-4 p.m. every Thursday. Parking is available in front of Akron United Methodist Church or in the AUMC parking lot. The food pantry is free when you qualify and live in Henry and Newcastle townships, with a once-a-month visit limit. Diapers, toothpaste, eggs, meat, cereal, spices, and toilet paper are among some of the items available at the walk through pantry. The best time to stop with little waiting is 3:15 p.m. For more information, call (574) 505-0392.

New conservation records set by Hoosier farmers

According to a recent conservation survey, Indiana farmers have set a conservation record this year by planting an estimated 1.6 million acres of overwinter living covers.

“Protecting our most vital natural resources is top of mind for our Indiana farmers and this year’s record breaking cover crop acreage is a testament to that,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Through the implementation of cover crops and other conservation efforts, farmers are ensuring our land and water resources remain healthy and productive.”

Overwintering living covers — cover crops and small grains, like winter wheat — are known for their environmental benefits. Cover crops and small grains, planted in the fall after harvest, help increase organic matter in the soil and improve overall soil health by adding living roots to the soil for additional months of the year. Cover crops also improve water infiltration into the soil, while other covers, like legumes, serve as natural fertilizers.

Although the conservation transect does not differentiate between cover crops and small grains, Indiana farmers typically plant fewer than 200,000 acres of small grains annually, so cover crops vastly dominate the 1.6 million estimated acres. Apart from corn and soybeans, cover crops are planted on more acres than any other commodity crop in Indiana.

“Hoosier farmers have held strong at 1.5 million acres of cover crops planted since 2021, so we

Authorized Dealer

Authorized Dealer are excited our farmers were once again able to move the needle forward,” said Don Lamb, Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director. “Soil conservation successes would not be possible without the dedicated farmers and the Indiana Conservation Partnership to help them along the way.”

As a result of the cover crops planted, it is estimated that 1.7 million tons of sediment was prevented from entering Indiana’s waterways, which is enough sediment to fill more than 480 Olympic-size swimming pools. Overwintering covers also prevented 4.3 million pounds of nitrogen and over 2.2 million pounds of phosphorus from entering Indiana’s waterways.

The conservation survey also showed that about 68% of farmed acres were not tilled and 17% had employed reduced tillage after the 2022 harvest. This early spring survey is not intended to quantify preplanting tillage.

“Conserving our natural resources is not a one-agency job. Indiana conservation succeeds through its partnerships, working closely with individual farmers and landowners, local, state and federal government agencies, private industries, nonprofits, and many other people and groups,” said Curtis Knueven, Acting State Conservationist for Indiana’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. “These partnerships share their unique areas of expertise and allow us to expand the reach and depth of conservation in Indiana.”

The Indiana Conservation Partnership conducts many programs that help encourage private landowners to adopt cover crops as part of their agricultural strategy. One such initiative that helped contribute to the successful year for cover crops in 2022 was the Cover Crop Premium Discount Program. It is a program that provides a discount on crop insurance for planting cover crops. CCPDP assisted landowners in planting about 30 thousand acres of cover crops in 2022.