ILLINOIS
Sept. 9: The University of Illinois’s Energy Biosciences Institute is hosting a tour of a 320-acre Energy farm from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 4301 South Philo Road, Urbana, Ill. To learn more, visit energyfarm@igb.illinois.edu or contact Debra Levey Larson at 217-244-2880

Sept. 15: Agritourism will be the focus of a farm tour at the Country Corner in Henry County, Ill. Cost is $20 per person, including lunch. Visit http://web. extension.illinois.edu/smallfarm/ag_tours.cfm for details or call 217-968-5512.

Sept. 16: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to discuss the proposal of regulating coal ash from coal-fired power plants. A public hearing is taking place at Hilton Chicago, 720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill. from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pre-register at least three business days before the event if a guaranteed time-slot to speak is desired; although walk-ins and written responses are welcomed. To register, call 703-308-8429 or visit online at www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/indus trial/special/fossil/ccr-rule/ccr-form.htm

INDIANA
Sept. 8-11: The All American Horse Classic is taking place in the Pepsi Coliseum on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Ind. with free admission. To learn more, visit www.allamericanhorseclassic.net

Sept. 10-12: The Country Lifestyle Experience will take place at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Ind. This event targeting the rural person with 100 or less acres looking to farm for pleasure to profit. For details, call 765- 655-2107 or info@equinepromotions.net or visit www.equinepromotions.net/cle

Sept. 11: The USDA Risk Management Agency, Indiana Soybean Alliance and Purdue Extension will host the last Advancing Indiana Aquaculture Indoor System workshop at Aquamanna Inc., 7442 S. 750 East, Ladoga, Ind. from 8:30 a.m. – 3p.m. Cost is $50 to attend, which includes lunch, the on-farm workshop and Sept. 30 follow-up classroom workshop with a limit of 15 participants. To learn more or to register, visit www.indianafishfarming.com

Sept. 13: Purdue Extension is sponsoring a Wind Generator Information Meeting at the The Grass Creek Fire Station in Grass Creek, Ind. at 7 p.m. Call 574-223-3397 to learn more.

Sept. 16: The public is invited to tour J&T Honey Farm at 9600 W. 300 N. in Shirley, Ind. at 5 p.m. This event will happen rain or shine and is sponsored by Purdue University Extension and Madison County Growers Council. Participants will be given bee veils but should also wear gloves, pants, shoes and long sleeve sweatshirts. To learn more, e-mail orick@purdue.edu or call 765-641-9514.

Sept. 16: Purdue extension will offer a risk management course to farm women in Franklin, Kosciusko, Wayne/Union and Perry counties. Franklin, Kosciusko and Wayne/Union counties will offer their courses from 1-4 p.m., and Perry County from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Project locations are decided by each county Extension office. For more information, visit the Purdue University Women in Agriculture website www.extension.  purdue.edu/wia/anniesproject.htm

Sept. 18: A Beef Pasture Walk is taking place at the Bob Troike Farm, 1460 S. St. Rt. 39, North Judson, Ind. starting at 10 a.m. For details, call Mark Kepler at 574-223-3397.

OHIO
Sept. 16: Ribes 101 Workshop will take place at OSU South Centers in Piketon, Ohio from 6-8 p.m. Production details on currants and gooseberries for current and prospective growers will be discussed. $5 per person. Call 740-289-2071, ext. 223, or e-mail strawser.35@ cfaes.osu.edu for details.

MICHIGAN
Sept. 8-9: The National Mastitis Council will host a regional meeting at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Mich. More details can be found online at http://nmconline.org or contact Rochelle Ripp at 608-310-5335, ext. 29.

Sept. 13-16: Swine Jobs School will help train members of Michigan’s rural communities to work in highly-skilled positions on hog operations. The first session will take place at the Schoolcraft Township Building in Vicksburg, Mich. Swine Jobs School applications, a class syllabus and expectations for the on-farm training are available at http://bit.ly/swinejobs

KENTUCKY
Sept. 8: The Central Kentucky Agritourism Association Meeting will include listening to the state agritourism director Whitney Meadows about news on the Harvest Festival and Holiday “Open Farm” and bus tour operator. The meeting is at Maple Hill Manor, 2941 Perryville Road, Springfield, Ky. from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. Visit www.centralkyfarmsare fun.com to learn more or e-mail questions to maplehillmanorbb@aol.com or

Sept. 8: Discussion of Kentucky’s federal and state funding for efficiency programs, integration of energy and agriculture and biomass potential will be discussed at the Economic Development through BioEnergy Symposium taking place at Bowling Green, Ky.

Sept. 11: A Woodland Owners Short Course targets both seasoned and new woodland owners and is being offered at Casey County Cooperative Extension Office in Liberty, Ky. from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT. The cost includes lunch and is $25 for individuals, $40 for couples, $5 for youth. Pre-registration is appreciated; space is limited. To register, call 859-257-7597 or visit www.ca.uky. edu/forestryextension/WOSC.php

TENNESSEE
Sept. 8: Cotton farmers are welcome to attend the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture’s Cotton Field Day taking place at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center in Jackson, Tenn. This free event will have nine educational tours offered to the region’s farmers. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with field tours beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at noon. For more information, call 731-425-4768.

IOWA
Sept. 16: The 100th annual National Dairy Cattle Congress will take place in Waterloo, Iowa. The event will feature the 22nd annual Top Ten Holstein sale at 10 a.m. as well as the National Cattle Congress Fair & Show. Entries close Sept. 1. Contact Dallas Burton at 785-379-9774.