Students are in the process of signing up for classes next year at local high schools while college and post high school education option visits have been in full swing for many high school juniors.

In 2020, a new program called Purdue Fast Start kicked off that provided a means of guaranteed admissions to Purdue University.

A website https://www.admissions.purdue.edu/purduefaststart/ provides full details of the free program, where promising Indiana students have the opportunity to take first steps toward a Purdue degree with Fast Start. Purdue’s partnership with Modern States, a philanthropy and online learning program for earning college credit, provides free courses and textbooks online in addition to vouchers to pay for credit bearing exams. Passing five courses, the corresponding CLEP exams and meeting Purdue’s standard admissions requirements assures admission into Purdue. The partnership creates new opportunities for Indiana students to take giant leaps in their post high school education plans with a new pathway to Purdue University.

To get started earning admission into Purdue, Indiana students can take the Modern States online courses for free. Those who pass a minimum of five corresponding College Board CLEP exams and meet Purdue’s standard admission requirements, become Klinsky Scholars being assured Purdue admission. Links to Modern States and College Board CLEP exams as well as others are found with the Purdue Fast Start URL previously shared.

What is the impact of completing the free Purdue Fast Start program other than earning assured admission to Purdue University? While completing this in high school, the completion of the Modern States five courses and the College Board CLEP exam equates to 15 credit hours, equivalent to one semester, for free; an $11,000 value for in state students. But wait, there’s more, one can complete up to ten Modern State courses and pass the associated CLEP exams to earn $22,000 of value with 30 credit hours, which is typically two semesters or the entire freshman year at Purdue. Youth who will be entering or are currently in grades 9-11 are strongly encouraged to check out the Fast Start program. Visit https://www.admissions.purdue.edu/purduefaststart/ for a list of next steps and FAQ’s with clickable links to take your next giant leap.

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

April 8 – Extension Office closed (all county offices) solar eclipse

April 8 – ServSafe Food Manager course and exam in Montgomery County – register at https://cvent.me/zEnyl3 by April 1st

April 15 – Supermarket Sweep Putnam Pantry Coalition, Greencastle Kroger

Apr. 26 – Artificial Intelligence in Farm Management, 12 Noon, register at https://bit.ly/WIAWebinars2024

Apr. 27 – Plant Auction, Putnam Co. Fairgrounds, 9:15 am preview, 10 am auction start

May 1 – Forest Measurement & Inventory Workshop, 6-8 pm, DePauw University Nature Park, Register at https://tinyurl.com/PutForest24

May 15 – All 4-H Livestock must be enrolled in 4honline. Firm Deadline.

Do you know what an invasive species is? 

It is a plant or organism that is not native to our environment, and one that can cause (or is likely to cause) harm to our environment, economy, and/or human health.  There are several different invasive species currently in Putnam County and the surrounding area including callery (Bradford) pear, garlic mustard, and Asian bush honeysuckle to name a few. Some invasive species are hard to identify, while others are easy to locate.  Likewise, controlling invasive species can be difficult and time consuming. 

Callery (Bradford) pear trees look pretty and have showy white flowers in the spring.  The leaves turn a dark crimson in fall.  The downfall of the showy flowers is that they have an unpleasant odor.  Although many have planted callery pears because of how showy they are; these trees are actually invasive and a nuisance.  They spread easily from an individual’s yard and end up in fields, the sides of the road, and numerous others places.  If you drive down the road, there are numerous examples of where “escaped” callery pears are blooming in places they were not planted. They crowd out native plants.  Another downfall of these trees is that they split fairly easily due to the angle their branches form against the trunk.  Serviceberry and Eastern redbud are great alternatives to planting callery pear trees.

Garlic mustard can be found in parks, backyards, forests, gardens, and along roadsides throughout Indiana. Garlic mustard prefers shady, moist conditions, such as woodland settings, but can also grow in sunny conditions. It is a biennial, which means that vegetative growth is in a “rosette” form close to the ground during the first year. In the second year, it produces an erect stem with small, white 4-petaled flowers that produce seeds, then it dies. Leaves on second-year growth are more triangular, becoming more strongly toothed as the plant matures.

Asian bush honeysuckle standout in a forest as the first shrubs to leaf out in the spring and the last to lose their leaves in the fall.  Stands of Asian bush honeysuckle grow so densely that they shade out everything on the forest floor. This greatly reduces the food and cover available for birds and other animals.  They can also prevent tree regeneration.

If you would like to learn more about invasive plants and help remove invasive plants in Putnam County, consider attending a Putnam County Remove Invasive Plants (PC RIP) group meeting or a monthly Weed Wrangle hosted by the group.  PC RIP meets monthly on the third Monday of the month at Putnam Co. SWCD Office (to confirm the date/location call 765-653-5716 ext. 3).  They host monthly Weed Wrangles around Putnam County, where the group actually removes invasive plants from a public location.  The next Weed Wrangle is April 27from 9-11 am.  Please check out the Putnam County Remove Invasive Plant Facebook page (or call the number listed above) to find out more about the monthly meetings and the location of the Weed Wrangle.  The group would love to grow and have more individuals join who want to help prevent the spread of invasive plants.

Visitour 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:

Mar. 29 – Extension Office closed (all county offices) in observance of Good Friday

April 8 – Extension Office closed (all county offices) solar eclipse

April 8 – ServSafe Food Manager course and exam in Montgomery County – register at https://cvent.me/zEnyl3 by April 1st

Apr. 26 – Artificial Intelligence in Farm Management, 12 Noon, register at https://bit.ly/WIAWebinars2024

Apr. 27 – Plant Auction, Putnam Co. Fairgrounds, 9:15 am preview, 10 am auction start

Refrigerators and freezers are two of the most important pieces of equipment in the kitchen for keeping food safe.

We are instantly reminded of their importance when the power goes off, flooding occurs, or the unit fails, causing food to become unsafe and spoil. The odors that develop when food spoils can be difficult to remove. Use this information to learn how to remove odors from units or how to safely discard an affected unit.

If food has spoiled in a refrigerator or freezer and odors from the food remain, they may be difficult to remove. The following procedures may help but may have to be repeated several times.

• Dispose of any spoiled or questionable food.
• Remove shelves, crispers, and ice trays. Wash them thoroughly with hot water and detergent. Then rinse with a sanitizing solution (1 tablespoon unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water).
• Wash the interior of the refrigerator and freezer, including the door and gasket, with hot water and baking soda. Rinse with sanitizing solution as above.
• Leave the door open for about 15 minutes to allow free air circulation.

If odors remain, try any or all of the following:

• Wipe inside of unit with equal parts vinegar and water. Vinegar provides acid which destroys mildew.
• Leave the door open and allow to air out for several days.
• Stuff both the refrigerator and freezer with rolled newspapers. Close the door and leave for several days. Remove paper and clean with vinegar and water.
• Sprinkle fresh coffee grounds or baking soda loosely in a large, shallow container in the bottom of the refrigerator and freezer.
• Place a cotton swab soaked with vanilla inside the refrigerator and freezer. Close door for 24 hours. Check for odors.
• Use a commercial product available at hardware and housewares stores. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

If Odors Cannot Be Removed

If odors cannot be removed, then the refrigerator or freezer may need to be discarded. If you need to discard the refrigerator or freezer, discard it in a safe manner:

• "Childproof" old refrigerators or freezers so children do not get trapped inside. The surest way is to take the door off.
• If the door will not come off, chain and padlock the door permanently and close tightly, or remove or disable the latch completely so the door will no longer lock when closed.

It is unlawful in many jurisdictions to discard old refrigerators or freezers without first removing the door.

Depending on where you live, your appliance will be picked up by your solid waste provider, a recycler, a retailer (if you buy a new unit), or program sponsored by local or regional utilities.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture – Food Safety and Inspection Service

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:

Mar. 22 – Weather & Climate Tools to Mitigate, 12 Noon, register at https://bit.ly/WIAWebinars2024

Mar. 29 – Extension Office closed (all county offices) in observance of Good Friday

April 8 – Extension Office closed (all county offices) solar eclipse

April 8 – ServSafe Food Manager course and exam in Montgomery County – register at https://cvent.me/zEnyl3 by April 1st

Apr. 26 – Artificial Intelligence in Farm Management, 12 Noon, register at https://bit.ly/WIAWebinars2024

Apr. 27 – Plant Auction, Putnam Co. Fairgrounds, 9:15 am preview, 10 am auction start

One program that many may not be aware of is that 4-Hers who want to experience an animal project in sheep, goat, swine, or dairy steer may try out these projects by receiving a scramble (donated) animal for that particular species.

This is typically a youth who is in grade 3, 4 or 5 who wants to try the particular species animal project. Certain criteria apply like having the necessary facility to care for the animal and one may only have one scramble animal in any given year. The intent is to help build interest in youth to show a particular species and learn from the project experience. Part of this experience is that that scramble animal must go through the Putnam County 4-H Fair livestock auction. Contact the Extension office (info below) if you would like to know more or sign up and we will let the respective species superintendent know of your interest.

This year by July 8, any 4-Her showing beef, dairy, goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep, or swine must have completed one of two quality assurance program options to exhibit at the county or state fair. This is a FIRM deadline that has been state implemented where each county sets a date one to three weeks ahead of their first judging date for all FairEntry and quality assurance completions. Putnam County staff selected a date that was a week ahead of the first judging day.

The first option (which most will likely select) is the Indiana 4-H Quality Assurance Program which one can go to their 4honline account and go to "Events" on the left menu to find a class to sign enroll by then selecting “Register for a New Event” at top right. We have our local ones identified as “Putnam” though other counties may have opened theirs up as well. Make sure you are selecting the correct location. You may complete this program in any county. Our Putnam event sign up is very easy. These are only in person and cost $3 payable at the door. We will add more options, including one at North Putnam as in the past. Use your 4honline account to sign up for one of the events at the Putnam County Fairgrounds or other location. Upcoming dates the fairgrounds are March 13, June 17 and July 8.

Those showing at national shows may want to complete the second option which is the Youth Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) program which can be completed online and was solely previously used for livestock quality assurance education for 4-H. If you choose to do YQCA please email or mail a copy of your certification card to the office by July 8. Also, if you took the class late last year and wish to do YQCA again, don’t wait until the last minute. There may be issues in signing up for the next level class when the previous has not expired.

One can still sign up for 4-H using https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in to enroll. Except at this point, horse & pony, archery and dog are closed. If you have questions about Putnam County 4-H, contact Mark Evans, 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator, Kim Beadles, Education Program Coordinator or Kristy Straziscar, Office Manager for help. Our 4-H info on our county Extension home page has been updated recently 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

Mar. 13 – Putnam 4-H Quality Livestock Care program, 6 pm, Fairgrounds, register at  https://PutnamIQA03-13-24.4honline.com

Mar. 15 – The Legal Side of Agriculture, 10 am – 12 pm, Ivy Tech-Greencastle, $20,
                 register at https://purdue.link/AgLaw24
Mar. 16 – Garden Fair, Fairgrounds

Mar. 22 – Weather & Climate Tools to Mitigate, 12 Noon, register at https://bit.ly/WIAWebinars2024

Mar. 29 – Extension Office closed (all county offices) in observance of Good Friday

April 8 – Extension Office closed (all county offices) solar eclipse

April 8 – ServSafe Food Manager course and exam in Montgomery County – register at https://cvent.me/zEnyl3 by April 1st

Apr. 26 – Artificial Intelligence in Farm Management, 12 Noon, register at https://bit.ly/WIAWebinars2024