CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — 2020 Franklin County Conservation District Tree & Plant Sale – Now through March 20, 2020 –Various tree species, fruit tree species, ground cover species are available at low costs. All orders must be prepaid. Please visit the Franklin County Conservation District office at 185 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg or call 717-264-5499 for an order form. You may also visit https://www.franklinccd.org for an order form and more information.
2020 Beginner Beekeeping Basics series –Thursdays, March 5, 12, 19, 26 and April 2 – 6:30-9:00 pm – Ag Heritage Building, 185 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg (lower level facing the stream). An apiary field day will be held on Saturday, April 11. Cost is $60 per family by February 20. Registration is required and is limited to the first 50. Registration includes a beekeeping manual, membership in the Franklin County Beekeepers’ Association and various resources and ongoing support. To request a registration form, please call 717-263-9226, email franklincountybeekeeperspa@gmail.com or visit www.fcbapa.com.
Dairy Focus: Spend Less, Make More – Friday, March 6, 2020 – 9:30 AM – 2:15 PM – Ag Heritage Building, 185 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA. Sessions include: Understanding your Finances, Heifer Dynamics, Earning Milk Quality Premiums, Opportunities in your Cropping System. Registration fee is $10 and includes lunch. To register, please visit https://extension.psu.edu/dairy-focus-spend-less-make-more or call 877-345-0691.
Annual Franklin County 4-H Strawberry Plant Sale – Orders due by Friday, March 13. Several varieties are available for $7 per bundle of 25 plants each. Proceeds from the annual Strawberry Plant Sale will assist Franklin County 4-H youth. Please contact the Penn State Extension Office in Franklin County at 717-263-9226 for order forms or with any questions.
Small Grain Production Workshop – Friday, March 13 – 9:00 am – 2:30 pm – Ag Heritage Building, 185 Franklin Farm lane, Chambersburg (lower level facing stream). Join us for a day-long event offering information on cultural and integrated crop management practices. Registration fee is $15 and includes lunch. To register, please visit extension.psu.edu/small-grain-production-workshop or call 877-345-0691.
“Know Your Numbers” Dairy Workshops – March 17 or 18 – 9:30 am-2:30 pm – Penn State Extension Office, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg (lower level). Choose the day that works best for you and work one-on-one with a dairy business management team member to calculate your cost of production and more. No charge, and lunch is provided. To register, please contact Cassie Yost, Penn State Extension Dairy Educator, at 717-263-9226.
“LIFT”- Lifelong Improvements through Fitness Together – Classes begin Tuesday, March 17 – 11:00 am – 12:00 pm – Ag Heritage Building, 185 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA. Participation may result in improvements in functional fitness or the ability to perform activities of daily living with ease. “LIFT” sessions are held twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) for one hour over the course of eight weeks and include an active warmup, eight core strength-training exercises and a cool-down period. Cost of the program is $60. To register, visit https://extension.psu.edu/lift (and choose the appropriate location) or call 877-345-0691. Any questions about the location of the classes can be directed to the Penn State Extension office in Franklin County at 717-263-9226.
2+2 Agronomic Pesticide Update – Wednesday, Mar. 25 (7:00 pm) – Ag Heritage Building, 185 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA (lower level facing the stream). PA certified pesticide applicators can obtain 2 Core and 2 Category (PC, 01, 18) credits at these meetings. Fee is $10. To register, please 877-345-0691 or visit: https://extension.psu.edu/agronomic-pesticide-update and choose appropriate location and date. Questions can be directed to the Penn State Extension office in Franklin County at 717-263-9226.
4-H Regional Winter Retreat Held
By John Taylor, Penn State Extension 4-H Educator
On February 21 – 23, over 100 4-H participants gathered for a weekend of fun educational activities at the Southeastern 4-H Regional Winter Retreat. Every year, 4-H members ages 10-18 from Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry & York Counties come together at the Doubling Gap Center in Newville and enjoy activities including crafts, games, learning new activities, hiking trails at Colonel Denning State Park, and more.
This year’s theme was “Food Frenzy”, and there were two tracts in which members could participate. Junior 4-Hers, ages 10-13, rotated through five educational seminars learning MyPlate, safe food handling, presentation, and kitchen skills. Teens ages 13-18 experimented with food science and toured a farm that makes various cheeses. Both groups than came together to compete in a food challenge, much like one would see on the Food Network.
The farm tour included a tour of Keswick Creamery in Newburg where Cumberland County 4-H’er Madelyn Dietrich-Cochran introduced the group to her mother, Melanie Dietrich-Cochran who has been making handcrafted farmstead cheese from their herd of grass-fed Jersey cows for 20 years. The group gathered in the cheese room on the farm where they learned about the history of cheese and cheese production. 4-H’ers toured the aging room and tasted a variety of cheeses including Vermeer, a cheese that is creamy like gouda. The group also tasted Keswick’s own cheddar, bleu cheese, brie and feta.
A weekend learning about food wouldn’t have been complete without taste testing. Penn State Extension Food Safety and Quality Educator, Andy Hirneisen of Berks County, took members on an epic adventure through the wonderful world of chocolate their taste buds will not soon forget.
The goal of the retreat is for participants to return to their local 4-H clubs and communities with a renewed passion for food that they will share with others. If the spark was ignited, the option for members to compete in the Pennsylvania 4-H Food Challenge is available for anyone looking to test their culinary skills.
Penn State Extension educators based in Franklin County who attended the retreat were John Taylor and Michael Martin. For more information regarding winter retreat or other 4-H programs, please contact 4-H Educators Jess Howe or John Taylor at 717-263-9226.
—Penn State Extension, Franklin County