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On January 04, 2020

To Attend The Penn State Extension Annual Meeting In Lancaster County

The Penn State Extension Lancaster County Annual Meeting and Social Event will be held Thursday, January 30, 2020, at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, PA 17601.

The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour and sampling a variety of delicious food in the “Farm Show style” food court provided by various local commodity groups and vendors.

 

Appreciating insects’ role in agriculture and the environment will be the keynote focus of the 2020 Penn State Extension Lancaster County Annual Meeting. Dr. Brent Hales, the new Director of Extension, will provide an update as we learn about the many wonderful things involving Lancaster County Extension including the 4-H youth development and Master Gardener programs. In addition, an update on Spotted Lanternfly Research will be given, along with a brief overview of Hemp: Lancaster County’s Heritage Crop.

 

If asked whether they would be happy in a world without insects, some people might answer in the affirmative. However, such a scenario would be disastrous for Earth and its inhabitants, according to entomologists.

 

The keynote presentation “A World of Insects: The Good, the Bad, and the Changes” by Brooke Lawrence and Ginamaria Roman Echevarria, PSU Department of Entomology Graduate Students, will offer perspective on the widely publicized worldwide decline of insects. Michael Skvarla, Director of Penn State’s Insect Identification Laboratory states, “Insects are integral to the health of the planet and people. They pollinate our crops and feed on pests, help decompose dead animals, form the base of food webs, and stabilize natural environments.” Lawrence and Echevarria will highlight how important insects are to all of these systems.

 

In keeping with the family-friendly style of the evening, the all-ages appropriate presentation will have an interactive component and offer an opportunity to see exhibits featuring stream macroinvertebrates and native plants for insects.

These dynamic presentations and interactive question and answer session are sure to educate and entertain.

This will be followed with an update from Brent Hales who began his role as Director of Penn State Extension on September 1. He received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Brigham Young University, a master’s degree in sociology from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Ph.D. in rural sociology from Iowa State University. Dr. Hales previously served as the Senior Associate Dean and Chief Financial Officer of the University of Minnesota Extension, Associate Dean for the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality and the Director of the University of Minnesota Crookston, Economic Development Authority University Center.

 

His primary area of research is holistic community and economic development and entrepreneurship. He is the founder of the Southern Entrepreneurship Program, which teaches entrepreneurship skills to high school and community college students, and to displaced workers throughout the U.S. and across the globe. He is also a past president of the Community Development Society.

 

He is the father of 6 children and has been married to his best friend Candy for 27 years.

 

There is no cost to attend the event. 

 

To register, visit extension.psu.edu/Lancaster-county-extension-annual-meeting or call 1-877-345-0691. 

The deadline to register is Monday, January 27, 2020.  Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities.  If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the Lancaster County Extension office at 717-394-6851 in advance of your participation or visit.

 

To Take Your Whole Family To Attend The Pennsylvania Farm Show

Pennsylvania is proud to host the largest indoor agricultural exposition under one roof in the nation, with nearly 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 300 commercial exhibits every year. The event showcases the quality and breadth of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry and the people who make it thrive. The show offers visitors a tiny slice of the industry that employs nearly half a million people and contributes $185 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy every year. The Pennsylvania Farm Show offers something for everyone, young and old, farmers and non-farmers, foodies and just people who like to have fun. Aside from food and entertainment, the annual event offers the public an opportunity to get an up-close view of how our food goes from farm to fork and learn about the diversity of Pennsylvania agriculture and the ingenuity of its people. Farmers have the opportunity to show off what they do best, meet old friends and new, and check out cutting edge farm equipment, supplies and farming practices. The Farm Show Complex is located at 2300 N Cameron St, Harrisburg, PA 17110. For more information go to https://www.farmshow.pa.gov

To Learn About Becoming A Master Watershed Steward

You are invited to attend an information meeting on the Master Watershed Steward program on January 21, 2020 from 7:00-8:30 PM. This will be held at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster PA 17601. You will learn how to become a Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward volunteer! Volunteers help improve the health of the waterways throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Watershed stewards organize educational events, workshops, and community walks, plant trees, restore streams and sample water quality, host stream and trash clean-ups, design demonstration rain gardens, advocate for clean waters and environmental justice, and work with municipal officials to plant native meadows

This free public information meeting will introduce the training program and volunteer requirements for the registrant’s respective county. To register call 1-877-345-0691. The registration deadline is January 20.

Quote Of The Week: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader” John Quincy Adams