Benton County Purdue Extension at February 18th Rotary

Rotarian Darrell Fredrickson (L.) hosted guest speaker Kyle Cessna (R.), Benton County Purdue Extension Associate Educator, who spoke at the Monday noon luncheon meeting.  Cessna, who graduated from Purdue University last May, oversees the Agriculture & Natural Resources program that concentrates on educational opportunities to assist local agribusiness managers in the production, management, and marketing of their agriculture enterprises.  He also serves as a 4- H Youth Educator.  

 The Purdue cooperative Extension Service provides informal educational Opportunities for all people in Indiana... Financial support is provided jointly by County, State and Federal governments.  Extension Educators serve  as the link between research and practical application of ideas that help people solve their problems.  Educational opportunities are available in each Indiana county in areas of agriculture/ natural resources, community development, health and human sciences and 4- H youth development.  Cessna recommended the first Purdue Extension Small Farm Conference to be held March 1 & 2, 2013 at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds, Danville, Indiana.  Small farms are farms with $250,000 or less in annual agriculture commodity sales.  91% of the nations farms fall into this category. Check it out at www.ag.purdue.edu/smallfarms.

 The Kentland Rotary Club would like to thank everyone who ventured out and helped make our inaugural Pancake Breakfast a huge success.  We had a net profit of $1095 plus $81 in donations that will go directly to the local food pantry at the Covenant Federated Church in Kentland.  Contributions from Murphy's Food King and the Good Table Family Restaurant in Kentland and also Devon's Restaurant in Rensselaer and Starbucks in West Lafayette assured the club of a handsome profit.  This is money that will go to support local Rotary projects which include:  College scholarships to South Newton graduates, Adult scholarships for college, Christmas food baskets, Kentland Food Pantry, Mobile Food Truck, and Rotary Youth Leadership awards.  We are especially thankful for the use of the Friendship Commons at the Trinity United Methodist Church --- it was the perfect venue for our event.  Based on the success of our inaugural Pancake Breakfast, you can expect an encore.  Hope to see you there next year!

 Brandt Stum 

Kentland Rotary Club