ILLINOIS

April 26: A family-friendly celebration of animal companions will be held for the third time at the University of Illinois in the Stock Pavilion in Urbana, Ill. Additional information may be viewed online at http://pets.ansci.uiuc.edu/outreach/petstravaganza.cfm

May 13: The first University of Illinois Extension sustainable agriculture tour will stop at the Eagle Dancer Ridge Lamas, Inc. in East Peoria, Ill. and open up discussion on raising llamas in Illinois. Registration is required at least one week in advance. Visit www.extension.uiuc.edu/smallfarm/ for more details and to register. Contact Donna Cray at 217-241-4644.

INDIANA

April 24: Operating an Efficient Farmers’ Market will help inform market operators and vendors about Indiana’s food handling regulations, alternative payment programs, and recent trends in Boonville, Ind. at the Warrick County Fairgrounds 4-H Center. For questions and more information, contact Dennis at 765-494-9812 or jhdennis@purdue.edu

April 24: A workshop to assist participants on starting a specialty food business will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Indiana Farm Bureau building in Indianapolis, Ind. Contact Maria Marshall at 765-494-4268; mimarsha@purdue.edu 

Apr. 26: Benefit Trail Ride and Chili Supper at Tippecanoe River State Park, Winamac, Ind. Door prizes, etc. Sponsored by Battle Ground Saddle Club. For details, go to: http://www.bg-sc.com/ e-mail jirwin@bg-sc.com or call 765-572-1077.

April 26: A flea market will be at the 4-H Building on the Blackford County Fairgrounds in Hartford City, Ind. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call to reserve a table at 765-330-2015.

April 26: The relationships between food and the environment, sustainable and organic agriculture, and communities and economic development will be discussed at a forum in Lafayette, Ind. Contact Anne Knupfer at knupfer@purdue.edu

April 26-27: 8th annual Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Show is coming to Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Ind. There will be a $5 gate fee for Hoosier motorists, and a $7 gate fee for vehicles from neighboring states. For camping, call 812-849-4129. For lodging at Spring Mill Inn, call 1-877-9SPRING.

April 26-27: 18th annual Redbud Trail Rendevous will be at the Fulton County Historical Society in Rochester, Ind. The event portrays frontier history with tepees and historic tents, camps and foods cooked over wood fires, music and dance. Call 574-223-4436 or visit www.icss.net/~fchs for more detailed information.

April 28: “Biofuels moving Indiana Forward,” will discuss the opportunities, and challenges of rapidly increasing the production and use of renewable fuels at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville, Ind. To register, go online at www.southshorecleancities.org

April 29: A pasture management workshop entitled, “Pasture Management after the Drought,” will be hosted by the Hancock County Purdue Cooperative Extension Office in Greenfield, Ind. Pre-register by calling 317-462-1113.

May 3: The Community Farmers’ Market of Owen County kicks off in May and will run through Oct. 25. Local farmers, gardeners and artisans are invited to showcase produce, arts and crafts every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon in Spencer, Ind. Interested vendors should contact Gwen Dieter at 812-829-2605 or visit www.owenswcd.org

May 3: The Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center in Dubois, Ind. will feature a Rainbow Trout sale from fish raised in the SIPAC pond last fall. For specific details, contact Jason Tower at 812-678-4427.

May 4: A fun horse show will be at the Circle-X Ranch in Winchester, Ind. at 10 a.m. For class information or further details, contact Larry Cline at 765-768-6467.

May 10-11: Indiana wineries will compete in The Race into the Wineries event from noon-6pm, for visitors to enjoy different festivities, track food and wines across the state. Participating wineries include Buck Creek Winery (Indianapolis, Ind.), Chateau Thomas Winery (Plainfield, Ind.), Easley Winery (Indianapolis, Ind.), Ferrin’s Fruit Winery (Carmel, Ind.), Grape Inspirations Winery (Carmel, Ind.), Mallow Run Winery (Bargersville, Ind.), and Simmons Winery (Columbus, Ind.). For more information, call 1-888-VINO-INDY or visit www.indywinetrail.com

May 12: Operating an Efficient Farmers’ Market will help inform market operators and vendors about Indiana’s food handling regulations, alternative payment programs, and recent trends in Greencastle, Ind. at the Putnam County Fairgrounds, Harris Hall. For  more information, contact Dennis at 765-494-9812 or jhdennis@purdue.edu


OHIO
April 26: The 2008 Mid-Ohio Valley Agriculture Opportunities conference will take place at Washington State Community College in Marietta, Ohio. For more information on the conference, contact Eric Barrett at 740-376-7431 or e-mail barrett.90@osu.edu

Editor’s Note: Coming Events is a free listing. The material presented is a cross-section of activities about which we know. Placement in Coming Events is on a space available basis and is up to the discretion of the Farm World staff.