Events And Activities

The University of Illinois Extension invites you to the annual Illinois Cattle Feeders Meeting taking place March 5, 2014, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at Sauk Valley Community College, Dixon, IL The seminar will highlight recent policy changes that may be of interest to cattle feeders, manure management strategies, the value of manure to the diversified farmer, new cattle feeding research, dealing with changing feedstuff prices, and market opportunities in 2014.

NASHUA – Chad Hart and John Lawrence to speak at the annual meeting of the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association (NEIAEA) at the ISU Northeast Research Farm near Nashua on March 19. The program starts at 9:30 a.m. with a Call to Order for the board meeting. From 10:00 a.m. to Noon will be key presentations from John Lawrence, Associate Dean and Director for ISU Extension and Outreach; Chad Hart, ISU Extension Economist; Wendy Wintersteen, Dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Stations.

Join ISU Extension Dairy Specialists, Larry Tranel and Jenn Bentley, for a morning session addressing two topics improving efficiencies on the dairy farm.  Larry Tranel will discuss how to implement a low cost parlor system and Jenn Bentley will discuss calf management and how pasteurizers can improve health on the dairy operation.  This workshop will be jointly held with Organic Valley sponsoring lunch.

Please mark your calendars for noon webinars on March 13, 20, and 27 and join the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Team as they discuss issues surrounding calf management and feeding systems.  Topics will include early life management factors, facilities and ventilation, and automatic calf feeder management.  Presenters will include Howard Tyler, ISU Professor of Animal Science, Lee Kilmer and Leo Timms, ISU Professors of Animal Science and Extension Dairy Specialists, Jenn Bentley, Extension Dairy Specialist, Dan Huyser, Extension Ag Engineer, and Rebecca Brotzman, Outreach Specialist at the Dairyland Initiative.

JUNEAU, WIS. – The most significant time in a dairy cow’s milk production cycle is the weeks leading up to, and following, the birth of a calf. Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW) will offer two, one-day workshops on helping cows in this important transitional period. “Challenges and Solutions for the Transition Cow” will be held in two locations: *  Tuesday, March 25, at the Iowa Dairy Center, 1527 Hwy.

The Vinton Parks & Recreation Department is once again excited about hosting another 9 Pin Adult Bowling Tournament at the great Berry’s Lanes. This Saturday, February 15th will be the annual event that not only is a lot of fun, but also helps raise some funds for capital improvements to our community parks. The bowling will start at 2:00 p.

Laugh it up for a good cause! Back by popular demand, the 2014 Post Prom committee is pleased to partner with Penguin’s Comedy Club in Cedar Rapids to offer tickets for an evening of adult comedy. Purchase your tickets now for the Saturday, March 8 show featuring “The Midnight Swinger.” His website describes him as “putting the show back in showman.

The Better Tomorrows Board will be meeting on February 12th at the Kirkwood Vinton Center at 12:00 p.m.  Topics of discussion will be Financials, Co-Director Reports, Site Visit Form Review; Approval of Fiscal Agent; RFP Application Approval; Program Reports, By-Laws and Transition Plan. If you are interested in becoming involved in Better Tomorrows Early Childhood Iowa, please contact Heidi Schminke at 319-472-4543, e-mail: director@bettertomorrowseci.

The Old Creamery Nature Trail volunteers will be meeting on Tuesday February 11 at 6:00 pm at the Benton County Nature Center, 5718 20th Avenue Drive, Vinton (near Rogers Park). The main topic of discussion will be our recently awarded Federal Recreational Trail's Grant of nearly $180,000 to re-surface the entire trail. Everyone is invited t

Kirkwood Community College, the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Linn County Master Gardeners have teamed up to offer a daylong, gardening education event. The Winter Gardening Fair is scheduled for Saturday, February 15, covering topics from common landscaping mistakes and managing wildlife to raised beds and ornamental grasses.