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Agriculture and Natural Resources
Purdue Extension-Wabash County
A Word From the ANR Educator
A Word From the ANR Educator
March 2026
Hello All,
February went by in a flash. Lots of programming goes on in this window between the holidays and spring planting. I held my landscape and lawncare series, we started master gardeners, taught 6th graders, met with our Wabash Garden Consortium and much more! Scroll to the bottom to see all we've done so far this year!
Fields are soggy as we have snow melt and rain events moving through the area, so be sure to use caution with your equipment. I've been holding off on starting my own garden seeds, since I usually don't put them in the ground until after Mother's day so it is best to not start unitl mid-March. Save the date for March 31st for our Wabash County PARP at 6:00PM at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, see flier below. .
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**
February Review!
Commercial Pesticide Workshop
Commercial Pesticide Workshop
We had a great turn out with relevant topics and engaging speakers. This is one of my favorite programs to put on for Wabash and surrounding counties. It serves as training and certification for those who hold commercial pesticide licenses.
Ag Outlook
Guest Speaker- Michael Langemeier
Guest Speaker- Michael Langemeier
Breakfast was 10/10
Breakfast was 10/10
Extension Partners
Extension Partners
Indiana Green Expo
Trade Show
Education
Giving Talks
Learning about ticks
Admin Help
Admin Help
Learning about ticks
Early Show Arrival
Early Show Arrival
Tree Pruning at Local Community Gardens
Think Spring!!
Embryology
Embryology
These eggs came from chickens we hatched for our embryology class.
Seed Testing
Seed Testing
We're looking at germniation rate of some old seeds. Not to bad for 3 year old seeds.
Farm Visits
Interviewing for Ag Family
Checking on the Tower Gardens
Cows!
Leadership Class
Leadership Class
Garden Visits
Garden Visits
Seed Testing
Seed Testing
Wabash Garden Consortium
Wabash Garden Consortium
I lead a team to help form a Wabash Garden Consortium. The goal is to have a network where groups can plan, plant, maintain, harvest and prepare produce from existing community gardens to help local charities. We hope this team also is able to increase volunteer involvement in the county.
Professional Leadership Class
Professional Leadership Class
For Feburary's Professional Development class we attended the Wabash State of the Community and heard from guest speakers on time mangement and communication skills. We also had a great tour of the Honewell center! Here we are backstage.
Commercial Pesticide Workshop
Commercial Pesticide Workshop
Fred Whitford
Office of the Indiana State Chemist
Resources and upcomming programs
Brandon Talking Hebicides
STEAM Classes with 6th Graders
Flying Drones
Flying Drones
Making Salsa with the Blender Bike
Obstical Courses for the Drone
2026 Extension Master Gardener Basic Training
Going over the schedule.
Topic: Drift
Topic: The History of Extension
Topic: Pesticides
2026 Home and Garden Show
Topics for the day.
Topics for the day.
Worms!
Worms!
Red Wigglers.
Red Wigglers.
EMG Teaching about Worms.
Worm bedding and worm castings.
Hands on worm lesson.
Baby Worms
Geoff Schortgen
County Extension Director | Agriculture & Natural Resources Educator
Purdue Extension
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
February- The Dandelion
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
Past Newsletters
Past Newsletters
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