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Agriculture

4-H members earn high rankings National Shooting Sports Quiz Bowl

UNIVERSITY PARK — Pennsylvania 4-H members recently earned high rankings in the National 4-H Shooting Sports Quiz Bowl. This virtual competition included nearly 400 participants. The competition focused on the mechanics and safety of firearms, as well as specific trivia related to each of the disciplines taught in the 4-H shooting sports program — archery, rifle, pistol, shotgun, muzzle loading, hunting skills and western heritage. Participants also drew from general 4-H and science, technology, engineering and mathematics knowledge. Members competed as individuals and in teams ...

Penn State Extension offers to host equine first-aid workshop April 20

UNIVERSITY PARK — Regular monitoring of a horse's vital signs and body weight can prevent health problems from turning into emergencies. The Penn State Extension equine team will host a workshop designed for horse owners and horse caretakers to practice these skills. For eastern Pennsylvania residents, a workshop will take place April 20 from 1-5 p.m. at Equi-librium Inc., 524 Fehr Road, Nazareth. In addition to hands-on practice with real horses, the workshop will cover leg wrapping using model demonstration horse legs. A veterinarian will speak about common equine emergencies and ...

Big Valley FFA attends Rep. David Rowe’s Community Ag Breakfast

MIDDLEBURG — Eight Big Valley FFA members attended the Community Ag Breakfast hosted by Rep. David Rowe in Middleburg on Friday, March 22. This year's theme focused on empowering youth to be involved in agriculture and other related industries. Guest speakers included state FFA officers and members of the state 4-H council, who shared stories of how their respective organizations impacted them. They encouraged attendees to "open their own doors" of opportunity around them through their involvement in their schools and communities. Also in attendance were FFA chapters from Juniata, ...

Extension offers ‘Rain to Drain’ facilitator training

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State Extension will provide free curriculum activity kits and training for sixth to 12th grade educators who teach youth about water or would like to add water education to their lessons. “Rain to Drain: Slow the Flow and Watershed Decisions Facilitator Training” will take place at the following location: • Cumberland County: 1-3:30 p.m. and 5:30-8 p.m. April 23, Penn State Extension office, 310 Allen Rd., Suite 601, Carlisle. This workshop is designed for formal and informal educators in subjects such as science, the environment, ecology, social ...

Master Gardeners of Juniata Valley hold annual plant sale

REEDSVILLE — The Master Gardeners of Juniata Valley annual plant sale will be Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Mifflin County Airport, 547 Airport Rd., Reedsville. There will be a large selection of native and pollinator plants for sale along with perennials, herbs, succulents, vegetables and compost.

Farmer fatality report brings attention to agricultural hazards

UNIVERSITY PARK — In 2023, 33 people died of injuries suffered in farm-related incidents in Pennsylvania, according to farm-safety specialists in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, who emphasized the need for education and policies to reduce risk for workers and farm-family members. To help identify hazards and risks associated with production, Penn State Extension's Agricultural Safety and Health team produces annual summaries of Pennsylvania's farm fatalities. The team, which includes experts from the college's Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, ...