Develop a winning Big Bowl "food game plan" by thinking like a football player on the playing field. Only, instead of the opposing team, your field is filled with food and refreshments. Here are eight winning strategies:

Have a Game Plan

Plan a successful defense against food that is excessive in fat and calories:

• Equip yourself — include some lower-calorie drinks and munchies.
• Position yourself away from heaping platters.
• Go in knowing what you will eat. For example, choose to have the three choices you will enjoy the most. You don't have to eat some of everything just because it's there.
• Bring a healthier dip or appetizer to the football party.

Size up the Opponent

• Look at the stats on different foods. Check for a Nutrition Label that tells how many calories per serving.
• Eat food from a plate versus directly from a bag or box so you're not blindsided by the amount you're consuming.

Get in Condition

• Exercise at least twice a week and take walks. The sooner you start, the greater the benefits. Physical activity and added muscle boost your metabolism and burn calories.

Watch What You Eat Before the Game

• Resist overloading on calories before the game. Keep a few calories in reserve so you can enjoy goodies later without guilt.

Avoid Penalties

• Avoid later weight penalties from too many calories by choosing smaller portions.
• Don’t let anyone get a penalty for drinking and driving. Remind your guests to have a designated driver and offer alcohol-free beverages.

Keep Yourself in the Game

Don't get taken out of the game because of food poisoning:

• Follow the "two-hour rule." Leaving perishable food at room temperature more than two hours is a big mistake. When food sits out for more than two hours, bacteria can easily multiply and cause foodborne illness. Set out small amounts of perishable foods and replace those with clean plates of food within two hours.
• Or, keep hot foods hot (140°F or hotter) with chafing dishes, slow cookers, and warming trays. Cold foods should be held at 40°F or colder. Keep foods cold by nesting dishes in bowls of ice or using party trays filled with ice.

Keep Advancing Toward the Goal Line

• Pace yourself by alternating between higher and lower calorie foods.
• Make a successful passing play by bypassing seconds at the buffet table or take half as much the second time around.
• Take an occasional time-out to put a halt in your eating.

Touchdown!

• Plan an effective running (or walking) conditioning strategy. Bypass excessive food intakes and avoid penalties which keep you from moving toward the goal line, and you will score a successful Big Bowl "Game Plan for Healthy Eating."

Source: Nebraska Extension Food Calendar

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. 3, 10, 17, 24 – Winter Walking, 9-10am, Fairgrounds

Feb. 3 – Strategic Marketing for Your Farm’s Future series, virtual program, 7-8pm, $30, register at https://cvent.me/dK00gR

Feb. 7 – ServSafe 1-Day Class & Exam, Fairgrounds, register at www.purdue.edu/servsafe/workshops

Feb. 12 – 4-H Grows Knowledge, Cloverdale High School, register at https://bit.ly/4HGrowsReg

Feb. 21 – Farmland for the Next Generation, virtual, 5-sessions, 6:30-8:30pm, $50, register at https://tinyurl.com/FarmNext22 by Feb. 14

Join Boy Scout Troop 99 on Monday, January 31, for their Pancake Supper Fundraiser.

From 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm, at Sherwood Christian Church, you can enjoy an all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, applesauce / fruit, and maple syrup served up by the friendly, helpful, and trustworthy scouts.

Cost is a freewill donation.

Having a sense of a return to normalness, the 4-H Grows Knowledge event that has been at Cloverdale High School for several years is returning to in person format and will occur on Saturday, February 12 from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. One can register at https://bit.ly/4HGrowsReg and sign up for sessions. The cost is $20 and 4-H volunteers from Putnam County will have their cost covered by the Diana Thomas Memorial Endowment held via the Putnam County Community Foundation.

This event is designed for 4-H volunteers, Junior Leaders, club officers, judges and anyone interested in educational activity. There are three sessions that will offer multiple concurrent 45-minute topics at 9:00, 10:00 and 11:00 am. Lunch will be provided with registration with a sandwich, soup and salad theme for Super Bowl weekend. For health safety, the lunch will be individual served so there will be no buffet line.

Session one will include topics of STEM activities, Youth Voice in Community Leadership, Fun in 4-H! “Do I hafta go to a meeting? They are so boring!” Session two will include 4-H Grows Investors, Teaching youth the life skills of saving and investing; TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More; 4-Hers on the Move: Circuit, Dance & Coming up for Air. Session three topics include Leadership Is … “Empowering Junior Leaders and 4-Hers;” Opportunities Beyond County Lines: Trips, Scholarships, Career Development Events, Camps and More; Consumer Decision Making Skills and Life Smarts Contests: The facts about consumer education and literacy.

Following lunch there will be round table and panel discussions for 4-H volunteers to share information. The program will close and be wrapped up no later than 2 pm. If you are interested in checking out what it would mean or learn of opportunities to volunteer within the 4-H program, this workshop would be a great experience for you.

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

January 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 – Winter Walking group, 9-10am, Putnam Co. Fairgrounds, register at 765-653-8411

January 27 – “So You’ve Inherited a Farm, Now What?”, virtual program, 6:30-8:30pm, $25, register at https://cvent.me/a8NVYZ

February 3 – Strategic Marketing for Your Farm’s Future series, virtual program, 7-8pm, $30, register at https://cvent.me/dK00gR

February 12 – 4-H Grows Knowledge, Cloverdale High School register at https://bit.ly/4HGrowsReg

The Greencastle Park and Recreation Department would like to uplift the spirits of the many wonderful men and women living in the nursing homes and assisted living facilities around Greencastle.

For Valentine’s Day this year, the GPRD is looking for anyone that would like to a make a Valentine and drop it off at either the Robe-Ann Park office or Greencastle City Hall. They ask that you drop them off by February 5, so that there is time to count and sort them before Assistant Director Chrysta Snellenberger delivers them on February 11.

Mail it in or drop it off at:
 

Indiana Conservation Officer Max Winchell has been selected the 2021 District 5 Officer of the Year.

District 5 includes Clay, Greene, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo counties in west-central Indiana. 

Winchell is assigned to Vigo County and has been a conservation officer since 1995.

In addition to his normal duties as a field officer, he also serves as a dive master, sonar operator, background investigator, field training officer, and division spokesperson.

The district award puts Winchell in the running for the Pitzer Award, which is given to the top overall conservation officer in the state and selected from the 10 district award winners.

The Pitzer Award is named after Indiana Conservation Officer James D. Pitzer, who was fatally shot while investigating illegal hunting activity on Jan. 2, 1961, in Jay County. 

West Central Indiana Quail Forever will be hosting a free workshop at the Masonic Lodge in Greencastle on February 5, at 9:00 AM.

Wildlife biologist, Jack Basiger, will be discussing habitat areas, cover types, management plans (including techniques for any budget), wildlife planting, supplements, and assistance programs for property owners.

The workshop will answer questions about the best way to manager hunting and viewing properties for wildlife and larger bucks. There will also be a question and answer period at the end of the presentation.

Seating is limited to 30 people. If you are interested in attending, you can contact Bob Fisher, President, at 765-721-0094 or bfisher@ccrtc.com. Or you can contact Bill Fielding, Habitat Coordinator, at 317-213-0660 or fildeing@iendeavor.com.

Agricultural producers looking to develop their marketing skills are encouraged to join Purdue Extension this winter for the “Strategic Marketing for Your Farm’s Future” program series.  This five-session series will be delivered virtually on Thursday evenings from 7:00-8:00 p.m. EST / 6:00-7:00 p.m. CST beginning February 3^rd and ending March 3^rd.

Strategic Marketing for Your Farm’s Future will empower producers to make commodity marketing decisions for their farming operation and communicate those decisions to the farm management team, key financial advisors, and family. Throughout this program series participants will hear from Purdue Extension Educators, Specialists, and industry representatives. This multi-session marketing course will cover:

- Crop marketing strategies;

- Tools available to assist with marketing;

- Technical analysis of grain markets;

- Diversification into niche markets;

- How to communicate decisions; and

- Tools to address stress associated with marketing highs and lows.

The registration fee is $30 and can be accomplished at https://cvent.me/dK00gR The registration deadline is February 1^st. 

For more information or reasonable accommodations, please call Purdue Extension Putnam County at 765-653-8411 or smith535@purdue.edu  Registration questions can be directed to the Purdue Education Store at edustore@purdue.edu.  This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2018-70027-28586.

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:

January 20, 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 – Winter Walking group, 9-10am, Putnam Co. Fairgrounds, register at 765-653-8411

January 20 & 27 – “So You’ve Inherited a Farm, Now What?”, virtual program, 6:30-8:30pm, $25, register at https://cvent.me/a8NVYZ

January 21 – Grow Your Farm Fridays, 9-11:30am, Extension Office, $100, register by Jan. 17th at https://cvent.me/l7RdwB 

January 25 – Garden Conference, 6pm, The Beef House, $50, register by Jan. 18th at https://cvent.me/Wr5GyE 

January 27 – Putnam County Extension & SWCD Annual Dinner, $5, 6pm, Putnam Co. Fairgrounds, register by Jan. 20th

February 1 – Indiana 4-H Day, Indiana Statehouse, contact office for registration info

February 3 – Strategic Marketing for Your Farm’s Future series, virtual program, 7-8pm, $30, register at https://cvent.me/dK00gR

February 12 – 4-H Grows Knowledge, Cloverdale High School

The Putnam County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) and Purdue Extension in Putnam County would like to invite everyone to a fun, entertaining program about the history of agriculture in Putnam County during their upcoming joint annual dinner.

On Thursday, January 27^th, Fred Whitford, Professor of Clinical Engagement, Purdue University, will share an entertaining and informative program on the early history of agriculture in Putnam County. Fred has authored many books including Enriching the Hoosier Farm Family. Please join us in recognizing the contributions of thousands of individuals who have contributed their talents to the betterment of agriculture in rural Indiana.

Doors for the event will open at 5:30 pm with the dinner starting at 6:00 pm.  The event will take place in the York Auto Family Community Building at the Putnam County Fairgrounds.  Tickets for the event are available for $5 until January 20^th at the Putnam County SWCD Office or the Purdue Extension Office.

Please consider joining us on January 27^th for this fun-filled evening recognizing the accomplishments of both organizations.  For questions, concerns, or tickets, please contact Purdue Extension at 765-653-8411.  Purdue University and the Putnam County SWCD are equal access/equal opportunity institutions.

Americans' busy lifestyles often show up in their cooking and eating habits. More than 54% of food dollars are spent on food away from home, which is typically higher in calories and fat and lower in calcium, fiber, and iron. When families eat together, meals are likely to be more nutritious. Family meals also provide a great time for children and parents to reconnect. One way to increase meals at home is to use a slow cooker. Check out the following information on slow cooker benefits, food safety, and recipe ideas.

Slow cooker benefits. They use less electricity than an oven and can be used year-round. Because of the long, low-temperature cooking, slow cookers help tenderize less-expensive cuts of meat. They usually allow for one-step preparation; putting all the ingredients in the slow cooker saves time and reduces cleanup. A variety of foods can be cooked in a slow cooker, including soups, stews, side dishes, main dishes, meats, poultry, and desserts.

Know your slow cooker. Most slow cookers have 2-3 settings. Food typically cooks in 6-10 hours on the low setting and 4-6 hours on the high setting. If possible, turn the slow cooker on the high setting for the first hour of cooking time and then use the setting that fits your needs. Read your slow cooker instruction manual and follow manufacturers' directions. Slow cookers are available in different sizes, so instructions will vary.

Slow cookers and food safety. Begin with a clean cooker, utensils and work area. Keep perishable foods refrigerated until preparation time. Store cut-up meat and vegetables separately in the fridge. Always thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Vegetables cook slower than meat and poultry, so if using them, put vegetables in first. Then add meat and liquid suggested in the recipe, such as broth, water or sauce. Keep the lid in place, removing only to stir the food or check for doneness.

Safely handle leftovers. Do not store leftovers in a deep container, such as the slow cooker. Store leftovers in shallow covered containers and refrigerate within 2 hours after cooking is completed. Reheating leftovers in a slow cooker is not recommended. Cooked food should be reheated on the stove, in a microwave, or in a conventional oven until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (F).

Recipe conversions. Most recipes can be converted. Because liquids do not boil away in a slow cooker, you can usually reduce liquids by one-third to one-half. This reduction in liquid does not apply to soups. Pasta may become mushy if added too early, so it could be added at the end of the cooking process or cooked separately and added just before serving. Milk, cheese and cream may be added one hour before serving. For more information: UNL Food Calendar.

Recipe – Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup (Source-Eating on a Dime)

Ingredients: 2 pounds ground beef (browned and drained), ½ medium onion (diced), 3 potatoes (peeled and diced into 1” pieces), 16 oz frozen mixed vegetables, 3 cans diced tomatoes (14.5 oz cans), 4 cups beef broth, 2 tsp Italian Seasoning, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper

Directions: Place all ingredients in a 6-quart crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Serve hot and enjoy!

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

January 13, 20, 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 – Winter Walking group, 9-10am, Putnam Co. Fairgrounds, register at 765-653-8411

January 20 & 27 – “So You’ve Inherited a Farm, Now What?”, virtual program, 6:30-8:30pm, $25, register at https://cvent.me/a8NVYZ

January 21 – Grow Your Farm Fridays, 9-11:30am, Extension Office, $100, register by Jan. 17th at https://cvent.me/l7RdwB 

January 25 – Garden Conference, 6pm, The Beef House, $50, register by Jan. 18th at https://cvent.me/Wr5GyE 

January 27 – Putnam County Extension & SWCD Annual Dinner, $5, 6pm, Putnam Co. Fairgrounds, register by Jan. 20th

February 1 – Indiana 4-H Day, Indiana Statehouse, contact office for registration info

February 12 – 4-H Grows Knowledge, Cloverdale High School

Purdue University Extension and University of Illinois Extension are collaborating to offer the annual Bi-State Garden Conference, being held at The Beef House Restaurant at 16501 Indiana State Road 63, Covington, Indiana, on Tuesday, January 25^th. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET with the conference starting at 6:00 p.m. ET.

The conference program includes:

• “Invasive Insects on the Horizon in 2022: What to Watch For and How to Handle Them” by Elizabeth Barnes, Purdue University, discussing what invasive insects might be impacting our environment in the near future.
• “Introduction to Rainscaping Education” by Kara Salazar, Purdue University, will discuss what it is, why you might want to incorporate it into your property, and other basic facts about rainscaping.

The conference includes a Beef House dinner and concludes at approximately 9:00 p.m. ET. The registration fee is $50 (includes dinner) and is payable online. Educational credits for Indiana/Illinois Agriculture Teachers have been approved for no additional fee.

Pre-registration is required online at  https://cvent.me/Wr5GyE by January 18^th. Social distancing will be encouraged. If you have questions or need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Adam Tyler, Fountain County Extension, at (765) 793 – 6240 or tylerat@purdue.edu ; or Jenna Nees, Putnam County Extension, at (765) 653-8411 or smith535@purdue.edu. Purdue University and the University of Illinois are equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institutions.

Indiana online 4-H enrollment 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 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.

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 being 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 thirty plus 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 will close on or shortly after January 15 so leaders may continue to progress through activities due to the building of content in the activities.

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

January 10 & 24 – “Where Does Your Money Go?”, 2-3pm, Putnam County Public Library,
                    register at 765-653-8411

January 11 – Last day to apply for the virtual Master Gardener course starting February 1^st

January 11 – Local Leadership: Running for Office, Fairgrounds, 6-8 pm, register at
             https://tinyurl.com/run4officePutCo22

January 13, 20, 27 – Winter Walking group, 9-10am, Putnam County Fairgrounds, register
                         at 765-653-8411

January 20 & 27 – So You’ve Inherited a Farm, Now What?, virtual program, 6:30-8:30 pm,
                    $25, register at https://cvent.me/a8NVYZ

January 21 – Grow Your Farm Fridays, 9-11:30 am, Extension Office, $100, register by
            Jan. 17^th at https://cvent.me/l7RdwB

January 25 – Garden Conference, 6 pm, The Beef House, $50, register by Jan. 18^th at
           https://cvent.me/Wr5GyE

January 27 – Putnam County Extension & SWCD Annual Dinner, $5, 6:00 pm, Putnam Co.
           Fairgrounds, register by 1/20/22

February 1 – Indiana 4-H Day, Indiana Statehouse, contact office for registration info

February 12 – 4-H Grows Knowledge, Cloverdale High School