Putting Small Acreage to Work for You . . .

February 18, 2006

8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Joliet Jr. College, Bld. A

1215 Houbolt Road

Joliet, IL 60431

Do you own 5 - 20 acres or are thinking of purchasing a small tract of land? Are you interested in learning how to manage that acreage? This program will provide you with information on:

• Soils
• Water Quality (wells/creeks/ponds)
• Knowing Your Neighbors
• Healthy Pastures
• Barns
• Horse Health - Starting a Business
• Financing Your Business
• Country Living
• Native Plants/Lawns/Trees
• Vegetable & Fruit Production
• Small Animals

During the morning workshop, attendees will have an opportunity to hear how local agencies can be of assistance to landowners. The afternoon will bring specific topic areas of interest for breakout sessions on: horses, small animals, vegetable & fruit production or enviromental conservation practices.

To pre-register, please contact the Will County Extension Unit office at (815) 727-9296 by February 10.

The Kankakee County Ag Expo Show will be moving from Northfield Square Mall to the Kankakee Farmers' Market in downtown Kankakee. Mark your calendar!

February 6, 2006 ~ 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Livestock owners are invited to attend an informational meeting presented by Jim Kunkle, Illinois Department of Agriculture, that will give information on livestock identification and premises registration. You will have the opportunity to learn about the NAIS program in great detail and have all your questions addressed.

This workshop is free. For more information or to pre-register, please call 815/933-8337. Pre-registration is encouarged, but not required.

Pesticide Safety Education Program

(formerly P.A.T.)

Kankakee Community College Workforce Development Center Conference Hall
February 23, 12:30 - 5 p.m.

$10 Pre-Registration Fee

The Kankakee County Soil and Water Conservation District's Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2006 at the Quality Inn at 800 North Kinzie Avenue in Bradley. The meeting will begin with breakfast at 7:15 a.m., followed by a short business meeting when three directors will be elected. During the meeting, the District will honor its Teacher of the Year, Conservationist of the Year and The Friend of the District Award and announce its six teacher grants.

This year's speaker is John Church of the U of I Extension who will be speaking on income opportunities from fee hunting programs. The breakfast is free, but reservations by the close of business on January 30, 2006 are required, to enable us to give an accurate count for the meal. Reservations can be made by calling the District office at 937-8940, extension 3.

The Kankakee Soil and Water Conservation District in cooperation with the Illinois Association of Drainage Districts is holding an educational meeting for Drainage District Commissioners on Thursday, February 16, 2006 at the Quality Inn on Kinzie Avenue/Route 50 in Bradley from nine a.m. to noon. Topics will include alternative ways to maintain ditches and water flow, changes in laws with potential to impact drainage districts, how Drainage Districts interact with local Assessors and the Kankakee SWCD's GIS project with Drainage Districts. The meeting is open to anyone who is interested in how rural drainage is regulated.