Indiana online 4-H enrollment for grades 3-12 opens for a new program year annually on October 1 and remains open nearly year around until early the following September.

It is to everyone’s advantage to enroll in 4-H by January 15 so that one has the most opportunity and don’t miss out on any information. While we are a couple weeks past, it is still perfectly fine to enroll. Though enrollment is really open more or less year around, it becomes more challenging to receive communications and be informed of the 4-H program with later enrollment.

The registration is done once again via typing v2.4honline.com in your internet browser and the fee is again $25 for 4-H. This year second graders may also enroll in mini 4-H online using this website as well and the fee is $10. If financial limitations are barriers for either program, please contact the office at 653-8411 to talk with Mark to arrange for payment assistance. Moreover, for those previously enrolled, you will find the info already rolled over to quickly edit and accept personal information from last year’s enrollment. If you were previously enrolled, you will want to enroll using your preexisting account.

4-H is a premier source of enjoyable, educational programs to help youth reach their full potential. There are many pathways to participate in 4-H. Too many limit 4-H to only existing as  the fair or just exhibiting a project at the fair. Putnam County has nearly 75 activities where one may participate. A project simply references a topic that one wants to study or complete associated activities and ultimately show off publicly what was learned through accomplishment. This may be via an exhibit at the county fair or even another venue besides the fair. Every project can be associated with a life skill and/or a career. A common misconception is that one must live on a farm or have animals to be in 4-H. That is certainly not true. One can actually experience 4-H without taking any projects by participating in 4-H career development events, camp, Junior Leaders and workshops.

Indiana 4-H is the state’s largest youth development program for grades 3-12, reaching over 200,000 youth in all 92 counties. 4-H Youth Development Educators in each Purdue Extension county office coordinate local activities.

In Putnam County, approved adult volunteers teach young people specific skills related to a wide variety of subjects through hands-on, experiential learning. Youth also develop leadership and citizenship skills by participating in one or more of Putnam County’s organized 4-H Clubs. Subjects include: science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); agriculture; citizenship; healthy living; art; consumer and family sciences; and more. In 2013, a Tufts University study showed that 4-H members also excel in positive youth development areas compared to peers, including:

• Four times more likely to contribute to their communities (grades 7-12)
• Two times more likely to make healthier choices (grade 7)
• Two times more likely to be civically active (grades 8-12)
• Two times more likely to participate in extracurricular STEM programs (grades 10-12)

If you have questions about the 4-H program, the Purdue Extension Putnam County office located at the street address of 152 East Columbia Street is available to help. Archery, dog and horse & pony projects do close early so leaders may continue to progress through activities due to the building of content in the activities. You can contact the leader or the office to find out if closed. May 15 is FIRM date for all livestock enrollment which is completed using the same online platform after the 4-Her is enrolled.

Extension staff have conducted school visits to all grade three classrooms in the county and plan to visit grade two classrooms soon to conduct school visits with handouts sent home that parents and youth may review. The Purdue Extension homepage has links to enroll in 4-H as well.

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. Office hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm. Evening and lunch appointments are available, upon request. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. All times listed are Eastern Time. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

Upcoming Events

Feb. 6 – Quality Assurance Program 4-H Livestock, 7:00 pm, Fairgrounds

Feb. 6 – Maple Syrup Production Webinar, 7 pm, http://tinyurl.com/PutCoMG24

Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28 – DIY Lawncare Program Webinar Series, 1-3 pm, $10/person, https://cvent.me/92Gmdk

Feb. 10 – 4-H Grows Volunteer and Youth Development Workshop, 10:00 am-1:00 pm, Centerpoint United Methodist Church, contact office to register

Feb. 22 – Ag Women Engage Conference, Fort Wayne, $100, register at https://purdue.link/AWE2024

Last week, the weather was frightful and several livestock producers were caring for newborn animals.

Old man winter has let up some, however the cold, snowy and icy weather can still cause problem for those with livestock. Thus, making it important that we go over some basic information about caring for livestock during winter months.

It is important that steps are taken to prevent newborn livestock from getting frost bite or freezing to death. The biggest factor that can contribute to frost bite is wind. Thus, it is important that newborn animals are protected from the wind. While protecting them, try to prevent them from lying on snow, ice, or even the cold, frozen ground. That is because while they are lying there, they will be losing much more body heat than if they are resting on dry bedding. 

If you do find yourself having to deal with a cold newborn with frost bite or hyperthermia approaching, take note of the following suggestions. Try to thaw the tissue as quickly as possible since most of the damage from frost bite occurs during thawing. One approach to quickly warm a newborn is by placing it on the floor board of a pickup truck with the heater on high. Another approach is to use a hair dryer. By using the hair dryer, you are both warming the animal and drying it off which is important. If the animal is not wet, but is cold, you can try using a heat lamp. Once you have the animal thawed and in good condition, take special precautions to prevent it from being impacted by the cold again.

Besides worrying about whether or not your new addition is protected from the weather, you should also be worried about whether or not it is receiving colostrum. Colostrum is considered “the first milk” that the newborn should consume after birth. However, it is actually more similar to blood than milk. It helps the newborn maintain and generate the heat it needs. It provides them with immunoglobulin which helps prevent infection. It is important to make sure that your newborn is nursing from its mother within two hours after it is born. If you don’t see it nurse, try to get the animal up and assist it with the nursing process to ensure that it receives colostrum.

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. All times listed are Eastern Time.

Upcoming Events:

Jan. 25 – Extension/SWCD Annual Dinner, Fairgrounds

Jan. 26 – Managing Your Cyber Ecosystem webinar, 12 Noon, register at https://bit.ly/WIAWebinars2024

Feb. 1, 8, & 15 – Keeping The Business In The Family: A Roadmap to Successful Succession, 9-11 AM, Russellville Community Center, $50 per person, Call
765-653-8411 to register

Feb. 6 – Maple Syrup Production Webinar, 7 pm, http://tinyurl.com/PutCoMG24

Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28 – DIY Lawncare Program Webinar Series, 1-3 pm, $10/person,
https://cvent.me/92Gmdk

Feb. 22 – Ag Women Engage Conference, Fort Wayne, $100, register at https://purdue.link/AWE2024

Attorney General Todd Rokita is asking Hoosiers to stay alert for signs of human trafficking in communities across Indiana and to report any suspicious activities to authorities.  

“Human trafficking may seem like an issue that doesn’t affect your specific community, but it’s sometimes brushed under the rug because victims are either scared to admit the truth or are groomed at a young age,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Online recruitment has played a major role in this crime. Our kids are extremely vulnerable to sex trafficking and exploitation due to their excessive online presence. I encourage all parents to monitor their child’s online interactions to keep them safe.” 

Human trafficking is a billion-dollar criminal enterprise. It occurs anytime someone uses force, fraud, or coercion to make another individual provide labor, services, or commercial sex acts. 

People in certain job roles — such as medical professionals, restaurant workers, teachers, and truck drivers — are particularly likely to encounter trafficking victims. 

With January being National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, it is a fitting time to remind Hoosiers to stay watchful and look out for signs of a potential trafficking victim. 

“Human trafficking is a rapidly growing crime in Indiana and across our country,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Increasing awareness and education on the topic is the first step in helping these victims. Hoosiers value justice, and these callous enslavers should pay for their despicable crimes.”  

According to the U.S. State Department, signs of human trafficking include observations that someone: 

·         lives with their employer. 

·         lives with multiple people in a cramped space. 

·         otherwise experiences poor living conditions. 

·         is prohibited from speaking alone to strangers. 

·         gives answers that appear to be scripted and rehearsed. 

·         has an employer holding their identity documents. 

·         shows signs of physical abuse. 

·         is submissive or fearful. 

·         is unpaid or paid very little. 

·         is under 18 and working in the commercial sex industry. 

If you have suspicions that someone is being trafficked, you should immediately call local law enforcement. You may also call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

The Office of the Attorney General operates the Address Confidentiality Program, which helps protect victims of certain crimes — including those who have been trafficked — by concealing their residential address from the public and thereby their victimizers.

Learn more about the program at the Attorney General’s website.

The statewide annual count of individuals experiencing homelessness will take place on Wednesday.

Service providers and volunteers in local communities across Indiana will be conducting the 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count for the Indiana Balance of State (BOS) Continuum of Care (CoC) in 91 of the 92 counties in the state. Marion County (Indianapolis) conducts its own PIT Count.

The purpose of this annual count of people experiencing unsheltered or sheltered homelessness is to provide an easy-to understand data point that helps state and local leaders measure progress toward ending homelessness and helps plan services and programs to appropriately address local needs. The sheltered count is conducted at emergency shelters, transitional housing and safe haven projects across 16 regions that make up the Indiana BOS.

"It is essential to have an accurate Point-in-Time Count so that Indiana policymakers understand what needs to be done and what progress is being made," said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. "It also ensures Indiana receives the resources we need to address the critical issue of homelessness and help some of the most vulnerable Hoosiers around the state."

It is critical that every county is engaged in the PIT Count so that IN BoS CoC can get the most accurate count possible. To make this PIT Count happen, hundreds of service providers and volunteers throughout the state work together to canvass their communities to find individuals experiencing homelessness. They are trained in the use of the PIT survey, best practices for approaching and interviewing those experiencing homelessness, exercising trauma-informed approaches and other necessary information that prepares participants for a successful experience. 

"Understanding the homeless population within our state is an essential step toward building a community where no one is left behind," said Jake Sipe, Executive Director of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA). "Recognizing the faces and stories of those experiencing homelessness allows us to confront the systemic issues that perpetuate this crisis."

More information about the PIT Count can be found here. Those interested in volunteering can reach out to their regional PIT Coordinators prior to participating in the count.

For past PIT Count results, please visit our website here. 

The Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) will start accepting filings for the 2024 Individual income tax season on Monday, Jan. 29, along with the Internal Revenue Service.

DOR encourages customers to use electronic filing, online payment and direct deposit to significantly improve the accuracy and speed of the return and refund processes. Customers must file both their state and federal tax returns and pay any taxes owed for 2023 by Monday, April 15.

DOR reminds Hoosiers they should wait to file their tax returns until they receive all their official tax documents and statements. Employers have until Jan. 31, 2024, to deliver Form W-2s to employees. Attempting to file without all required information can postpone a customer’s refund if one is due.

Please take note of these tax-related updates to Indiana Code:

• The dependent exemption has increased from $1,500 to $3,000 for the first taxable year in which a particular exemption is allowed under Section 151(c)(1)(B) Internal Revenue Code (as effective January 1, 2004). IC 6-3-1-3.5
• All military pay for reserve members of the United States armed forces and National Guard is exempt from income tax for taxable years 2023 forward. IC 6-3-1-34
• Investors can provide qualified investment capital to veteran-owned businesses and women-owned enterprises and qualify for the higher maximum amount of venture capital investment credit. IC 6-3.1-24-8
• The College Choice 529 Plan Credit has increased from a maximum of $1,000 to $1,500 for a married couple filing jointly or an unmarried individual, and it increased from $500 to $750 for those married filing separately. IC 6-3-2-2.6
• The Indiana Earned Income Tax Credit is now 10% of the federal credit, with a prorated credit available for nonresident individuals. IC 6-3.1-21-6
• The Career Scholarship Account program has a new income tax deduction for grants received and used towards qualified expenses under IC 20-51.4. IC 6-3-1-3.5

More credits and exemptions and answers to most questions for Indiana Individual tax returns can be found on DOR’s website.

Customers who wish to contact DOR directly can use INTIME’s secure messaging for the most efficient service.

Hoosier poets everywhere are being invited to submit an original poem inspired by this unique event.

The poet who submits a poem that best reflects the significance of the eclipse will receive a cash prize of $500, the opportunity to read the poem during an eclipse watch party in Indianapolis, and have their work featured on Indiana Humanities’ website and social media. A second-place prize of $200 and third-place prize of $100 will be awarded, also with the opportunity to read at the April 8 event. 

Submissions are due Feb. 9. A panel of judges will choose the winner and runners-up. Winners will be notified by March 1, so that the poem and poet can be incorporated into the many special festivities surrounding the eclipse programming. 

Guidelines 

• Any Indiana resident may submit a poem. Please limit one submission per person. 
• Poems must not exceed 35 lines or 350 words. 
• If selected, the poet retains all copyright in the work and shall receive authorship credit in connection with the work. Although the poet retains all copyrights, Indiana Humanities shall be given temporary, limited-use rights for the poem to promote and connect audiences to the 2024 eclipse. 

How to Submit 

Send an email with your poem as a PDF attachment to Megan Telligman, director of programs, at mtelligman@indianahumanities.org. Please include “Eclipse Poetry Contest” in the subject line of the email. 

The PDF of your poem should include the title but no identifying information (e.g., your name). 

In the body of the email, include your name, address, phone number, email address, age and a short (one to three sentences) explanation of why you were inspired to write your poem. (This will not be included in the judging process — it’s simply for promotional purposes.) 

The deadline is Feb. 9, 2024, at midnight. Winners will be notified by March 1, 2024. 

Much has been abuzz about the upcoming April 8 solar eclipse.

With timing being during the late afternoon, schools have changed schedules and planners are working to consider everything from traffic flow and emergency services. More exciting is seeing video of past eclipses at other locations by those like Julie Gray, Extension Area Director,  who traveled to Kentucky in 2018 to be in the totality area of that particular solar eclipse who are now super jazzed that such an event is coming here to our area.

Want to learn more and be ready for this seldom in a lifetime event? The Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Purdue Extension Putnam County office has scheduled their joint annual meeting/dinner on Thursday, January 25 at the York Automotive Building located on the Putnam County Fairgrounds. Registration and doors open at 5:45 pm. Myers Market will cater the smoked chop/chicken dinner that begins at 6 pm with sides and pies, which by itself is a night of success. But wait there is more…

WTWO weather personality Mallory Jenkins will share a bit of science and unique facts about solar eclipses. She has authored papers on the subject and also has fun facts regarding these special events of nature. Julie Gray, Purdue Extension Area Director, has photos and her personal experience of traveling to the totality area of Kentucky back in August 2018 to open the presentation for Mallory Jenkins. Will the birds stop singing and go to bed? What will your pets think? Will the peepers in the spring ponds start singings as if it is night? Concluding the presentation, there will be a panel discussion opportunity for the audience to engage with our presenters and David Costin of the Putnam County Emergency Management will be on the panel to answer questions about how the county plans to handle the sudden influx of people.

Photo:  Mallory Jenkins, WTWO TV Weather Personality, will highlight the Putnam SWCD and Purdue Extension Putnam County joint annual meeting discussing the upcoming April total solar eclipse.

Besides dinner, every person attending the event will be leaving with a set of solar eclipse glasses so each person will be prepared to view the eclipse event. This will be a spectacular event you will not want to miss. RSVP by calling the Purdue Extension Putnam County office at 653-8411 or the Putnam SWCD at 653-5716 extension 3. The cost is $5 payable at the door the evening of the event.

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. Office hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm. Evening and lunch appointments are available, upon request. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. All times listed are Eastern Time. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

Upcoming Events

Jan. 9 – Running for Office, 6-8pm, Fairgrounds, register by Jan. 4 at   
   https://tinyurl.com/PutGov24

Jan. 15 – Extension Office closed MLK Holiday

Jan. 15 – Enrollment for 4-H Due https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in

Jan. 25 – Extension/SWCD Annual Dinner, 6 pm, Fairgrounds

Jan. 26 – Managing Your Cyber Ecosystem webinar, 12 Noon, register at https://bit.ly/WIAWebinars2024

Feb. 1, 8, & 15 – Keeping The Business In The Family: A Roadmap to Successful Succession, 9-11 AM, Russellville Community Center, $50 per person, Call
765-653-8411 to register

Feb. 22 – Ag Women Engage Conference, Fort Wayne, $100, register at https://purdue.link/AWE2024

Mallory Jenkins photo caption suggestion:

Wednesday is the first day of candidate filing for Indiana 2024 Primary Election in May.

Candidates wishing to be on the Democrat or Republican primary ballot can begin filing declaration of candidacy paperwork on Wednesday, January 10. Minor Party, Independent, and Write-In candidates will file declarations of candidacy for the November General Election later in the year, after the May Primary Election is held.

“We know 2024 is going to be a big election year and today is the official start of filing.  As Indiana’s Chief Election Officer, I’m excited to welcome candidates into the Secretary of State’s Office so they can officially file their candidacy,” said Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales. 

Candidates for federal, statewide, state legislative, and judicial offices including county prosecuting attorneys, file declaration of candidacy with the Indiana Secretary of State or the Indiana Election Division. The Secretary of State’s Office and the Indiana Election Division will be accepting filings 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays starting January 10 through February 9 at noon.

As a reminder, candidates for non-judicial county offices, township offices, town offices, school board offices, precinct committeeman or state convention delegate, file their declaration of candidacy at the office of the County Clerk in which they reside.

The deadline to file a declaration of candidacy is Friday, February 9, at noon. Under Indiana law, election officials are prohibited from accepting filings after the deadline. 

Registration is open for the 2024 Indiana Small Farm Conference — Indiana’s premier annual event for the state’s farming community.

The 12th annual conference and trade show will take place Feb. 29-March 1 at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds in Danville, Indiana.

Join this year’s keynote speaker, Michael Kilpatrick, founder of Growing Farmers and host of the top-rated “Thriving Farmer Podcast,” to network and learn about thriving in challenging times and adding help to your farm.

Since 2013, the Indiana Small Farm Conference has brought together novice and experienced small-scale farmers to benefit from comprehensive, instructive and enjoyable programming about diversified farming and local food systems. This year’s conference will offer eight tracks from which attendees can choose sessions that interest them:

• Urban agriculture
• Vegetable production
• Business
• Livestock
• Resilient agriculture
• Niche opportunities
• Equity and food security
• Flowers

“A new and exciting session called fiber farming will include a presentation about sheep, alpaca and rabbit farming for fiber,” said Amy Thompson, Purdue Extension’s beginning farmers coordinator and a conference organizer. “There will also be a fruit grafting demonstration during the social hour on Thursday evening and several farmer panels and opportunities for networking.”

For more information or to sign up, visit the Indiana Small Farm Conference website at purdue.ag/sfc.

Follow the conference on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @SmallFarmPurdue, on Instagram at @purduedffs or on Facebook at @PurdueExtensionSmallFarms, with the hashtag #PurdueSmallFarms.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb will deliver his 2024 State of the State address on Tuesday to a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly in the House of Representatives chamber.

The address will begin at 7 p.m. ET and is expected to fit in a 30-minute window.

The State of the State address will be live-streamed HERE.

The American Red Cross is experiencingan emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years.

The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country, and blood donors are urged tomake a donation appointmentto help alleviate the shortageand help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not put on hold.

Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by about 40%.When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations – such as the nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations the Red Cross experienced between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone – can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion. Blood products are currently going to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in, and in recent weeks, the Red Cross has had to limit distributions of type O blood products – among the most transfused blood types – to hospitals.

“One of the most distressing situations for a doctor is to have a hospital full of patients and an empty blood bank without any blood on the shelves. Doctors often can’t operate without blood available to make surgeries, medical procedures and treatments possible,” said Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross. “More challenges lie ahead as the potential for severe winter weather and seasonal illness may compound the dire blood supply situation. Donors of all types – especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets – are urged to give now.”

Don’t wait – to make an appointment,download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Area upcoming donation sites include:

Tuesday, January 9, Coatesville: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Heritage Lake Clubhouse, 1000 Clubhouse Road

The Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets and help tackle the emergency blood shortage. Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Super Bowl.