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Agriculture and Natural Resources
Purdue Extension-Wabash County
A Word From the ANR Educator
A Word From the ANR Educator
February 2026
Greetings,
We all made it through the chilly January and it looks like we will also have a chilly February. This time of year I am usually chugging away to get programming scheduled so that when warmer weather comes we can hit the ground running. Save the date for March 31st for our Wabash County PARP at 6:00PM at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, see flier below. We've also got our master gardener programs starting in February as well as a Pesticide Workshop at the end of the month.
If you have any questions about upcoming programming or Ag questions in general, please reach out to the Extension Office. Phone: 260-563-0661 (Ext 1408) or emailing me directly at gschortg@purdue.edu
Best Wishes,
Geoff Schortgen
County Extension Director
Ag and Natural Resources Educator Wabash County
Upcoming Programs & Events!
**Past years of Extension Hot Topics are at the bottom of this newsletter**
January Review!
Starting Seeds Indoors
Starting Seeds Indoors
At the Troyer Memorial Library I had the privilege to teach community members on how to start seeds indoors for gardening. We discussed light sources, soils, watering, selecting seeds, success stories and failures. It was a fun lesson where we got to think spring and begin garden planning. I made sure to let everyone know it was way to early to be starting seeds indoors! In the past I have made the mistake of starting too early and lost a bunch of vegetables.
Great crew to be teaching!
Garden Planning
Soils and transplanting
Sharing stories and photos
Animal Sciences Training Day
Safety first before butchering chickens.
Looking at the different parts of and egg
Fun with co-workers and learning new things!!
Lais was not fond of the egg discection protion of the training.
2026 Farm Show
2026 Farm Show
Working the booth at the Fort Wayen Farm Show.
Bird Watching
Bird Watching
A community member sent a picture of a leusistic robin. A genetic defect that changes its color.
Greenhouse Research
Greenhouse Research
I had to swing by the turfgrass sciences greenhouse when I was on campus this month.
Can you spot the flower and vegetable seeds?
Collected dandelion seeds.
Garden Planning.
Germination test for old corn seeds.
Hot Topics
Hot Topics
We had a great Extenion Hot Topics in January. Bill Horan from Wells County shared informaiton on Charles Deam, who was the first Indiana Forester. The history and stories that Bill shared were interesting and colorful for sure!
Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5WNXWDGGsM
Green Team Prep
Green Team Prep
OJ Neighbors Elementary school will be putting grow tower in some of the classrooms for hands on learning for the students. However, these have been out of commission for a few year. Thankfully a local greenhouse has the material and means to clean and buff them up so that when it gets wwarmer we can start growing different plants in them!
Past Newsletters
Past Newsletters
Geoff Schortgen
County Extension Director | Agriculture & Natural Resources Educator
Purdue Extension | Wabash County
ANR Website: https://extension.purdue.edu/county/wabash/anr/sub-page-open.html
1 W. Hill Street
Wabash, IN 46992
Email: gschortg@purdue.edu
Office Phone: 260-563-0661 (ext 1408)
Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.
List of Past 2026 Hot Topics with YouTube Link
List of Past 2026 Hot Topics with YouTube Link
January- Charles Deam: Our First
List of Past 2025 Hot Topics with YouTube Link
List of Past 2025 Hot Topics with YouTube Link
January- Seed Savings & Preservation
February- Tree Pruning
March- Indiana Birds
April- Conifer ID "Which Pine is Mine"
May- Proper Poultry Practices
June (Extra)- Adaptive Gardening
June- Strawberry Research
July- Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory: Overview
August- Toxic Forages
September- Ticks
October-The History of Extension
November-Turf ID and Fertilization with Dr. Cale Bigelow
December- Farmers Markets and all Things Local Food Systems with Sarah Hanson
List of Past 2024 Hot Topics with YouTube Link
List of Past 2024 Hot Topics with YouTube Link
January- Ants of Indiana
January *Bonus-Backyard Gardening and Landscaping for Birds
February- Climate and Weather Updates in Indiana
March- Purdue on the Farm
April-Eat Midwest Fish
May- Purdue Institute for Family Business
June- Turf Problems and Insects
July- Indiana Trees
August-Drones and UAV Technology
September- Pork Industry Updates
October-Vermicomposting
November-Poultry Update
December- Prescribed Burns
List of Past 2023 Hot Topics with YouTube Link
List of Past 2023 Hot Topics with YouTube Link
January- Organics and Composting
February-Garden Planning
March-Plant Pest and Diagnostic Lab
April- Turfgrass and Weed Control
May- Soils
June-Farm Outlook
July- Hemp Production
August-Tomato Disease
September- Poison Hemlock and Other Invasives
October-Landscape Pests
November- Grapes
December- Spotted Lantern Fly
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