By Blake Jackson
The 102nd Jefferson County Ag Conference will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Hillsboro High School in Hillsboro, Missouri.
Hosted by University of Missouri Extension in Jefferson County in partnership with the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District, the long-running event formerly known as the Soils and Crops Conference will feature educational sessions, vendor exhibits, and hands-on demonstrations.
According to Mistti Ritter, MU Extension community development specialist, attendees can choose from a wide range of 50-minute sessions led by Extension experts and partner organizations.
Topics include beekeeping; livestock management strategies such as heifer selection and winter forage feeding; starting backyard chickens and raising meat for market; pest identification and control methods, both organic and conventional; gardening practices that support native pollinators; and forest management, including chainsaw safety.
MU Extension agronomist Kate McDonald will present pasture restoration, a subject of growing interest among local horse owners, and discuss the value of soil testing for farmers and homeowners alike.
At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., participants can attend sessions on alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-related condition linked to bites from the lone star tick that can trigger allergic reactions to red meat.
Emily Poncher, MU Extension field specialist in community health and member of the Extension’s AGS Task Force, will provide insight on the topic.
The Soil and Water Conservation District will hold its annual meeting at 2 p.m. and recognize winners of the county soil health poster contest.
Registration costs $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-11, and is free for younger children. Food will be available for purchase throughout the event. For registration, visit https://pears.io/events/mu/2886/.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-kotenko-a
Categories: Missouri, Education, General