U of I Extension releases winter calendar

University of Illinois Extension can provide the tools to identify mental health issues in agricultural communities and the communication skills to support and save lives, says Josie Rudolphi, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the U of I.

STERLING — The University of Illinois Extension for Carroll, Lee and Whiteside counties released its seasonal calendar, which includes two programs designed to directly help farming.

Both programs are designed to be viewed online.

“Mental Health First Aid for the Agriculture Community” is a webinar that will be from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 19.

The webinar will provide resources farm families can use to address strains on mental health, which the extension says includes unpredictable weather, variable costs, long hours and the unpredictability of commodity prices.

Participants should register at: go.illinois.edu/mentalhealth2022

“Small Farm Winter Webinar Series” are a series of hour-long online presentations that will be shown starting at noon on Jan. 20. The series continue every Thursday through March 24.

The online presentations will give small farm producers a look at best practices in production, management and marketing. The emphasis is on profitability and sustainability.

Register online for Practical Agroforestry for Illinois Small Farms at: go.illinois.edu/SmFarmsWebinarSeries

Here is a list of other events on the winter calendar. More information can be gained from the Sterling office at 815-632-3611, Mount Carroll office 815-244-9444 or the Amboy office 815-857-3525 or the website go.illinois.edu/clw.


4-H activities

Creative writing, starts Jan. 10, 6 p.m. online.

Create Your Own Fairy Garden, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at Carroll Extension office.

Youth Leadership Forum, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan 15 at Whiteside Extension Office, Sterling.

Photography, 3:30 p.m., starts Jan. 31, Ruth Edwards Nature Center, Dixon.

Kids and K-9s, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 5, Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center, Dixon.


Wits Fitness workshops

Jan. 10 at Whiteside Extension, 10 a.m.

Jan. 20 at York Township Public Library, Thomson, 10:30 a.m.

Jan. 20 at Mt. Carroll Public Library, 1:30 p.m.

Jan. 24, online, 10 a.m.


Online seminars

Everyday Environment Series, 1 p.m. Jan. 13.

Get Savvy, Grow Your Green Stuff, noon, Jan. 26.

Lessons for Living, 10 a.m. Feb. 17.


Master Gardener

Training begins Feb. 15 9 a.m. to noon at Carroll, Whiteside and Lee extension offices. For more information or registration contact 815-632-3611 or online at go.illinois.edu/clwmgtraining.

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