Tickets on Sale Now for 2nd Annual “Salute to Century Farms” and Benefit Auction in Greene County Sept. 28

Contact: David Burton, civic communication specialist
County Program Director - Greene County
Tel: (417) 881-8909
E-mail: burtond@missouri.edu

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Put on your jeans and boots and celebrate our agricultural heritage in an historical setting as we honor the newest Century Farms in Greene County. The second annual “Salute to Century Farms” will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28 at the Round Barn Event Center along Clear Creek, 10731 W. US Hwy 160, Walnut Grove.

The event location is historically known as the Octagonal Barn and is located 3.5 miles east of Ash Grove on Hwy. 160 (northwest of Springfield). The barn was built in 1880 and is probably the earliest polygonal or round barn in Missouri. It is the largest known barn of its type in the state and is the only one with full stone wall construction.

During the event, Greene County Extension will also honor the newest “Century Farms.” Farms in Greene County being recognized this year include the following. The 68-acre Luther and Alice Wallis Farm founded in 1913 and now owned by Robert and Marcia Harralson, Springfield. The 229-acre McAdoo - Helfrecht - Lindsey Farm near Willard founded in 1880 by Dr. Joseph McAdoo and now owned by Charles and Suzanne Lindsey, Springfield. The 260-acre Whitesell Farm near Bois D’Arc founded in 1879 by John Whitesell and G.W.Haynie and now owned by Jim Whitesell of Ash Grove.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Judy Domeny Bowen of Rogersville. The majority of her traditional folksong repertoire comes from the Ozark song collections of Max Hunter and Vance Randolph.  When presenting her farm program, audience members hear stories of her farm animals and songs about gardening, cutting wood, auctions, milking cows, and buying expensive equipment which strikes a chord with anyone who has ever experienced rural living.

Attendees will also be treated to a full meal provided by Maggie Mae’s Catering from Miller.

Judy Domeny Bowen will also conduct a live auction of selected art, gift cards, farm related items and two Yeti coolers. All proceeds from the event will benefit Greene County Extension.

This event is made possible by these sponsors. Our media sponsor is KOLR/KOZL. Our gold level sponsors are Old Missouri Bank and the Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District. Our silver level sponsor is CoxHealth and our bronze level sponsors are Race Brothers Farm Supply and PFI Western Wear. Old Missouri Bank is our named sponsor for the meal.

Advance tickets are required and cost $25 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the Greene County Extension office or with a check or credit card using various tickets options online at http://extension.missouri.edu/greene. For more information, call the MU Extension office in Greene County at (417) 881-8909.
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PHOTOS AVAILABLE FOR USE WITH THIS STORY
Century Farm logo: https://flic.kr/p/vRjvHq
Round Barn exterior: https://flic.kr/p/w9mCzX
Round Barn interior: https://flic.kr/p/vc4YvV

Free eXtension Online Webinar Series Beginning July 15 to Focus on Drone Use in Agriculture

Contact: Bob Schultheis, natural resource engineering specialist
Headquartered in Webster County
Tel: (417) 859-2044
E-mail: schultheisr@missouri.edu

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An eXtension webinar series that begins at 2 p.m. CST, July 15 will provide an overview of unmanned aerial systems in agriculture, along with a preview of future directions and information on how to get involved with this area of opportunity in agriculture.

The UAS webinar may be viewed at https://learn.extension.org/events/2153#.VZVc9KMo6Uk.

The series is being presented by the Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Agriculture Learning Network for eXtension.org, which is an Internet-based collaborative environment where Land Grant University content providers exchange objective, research-based knowledge to solve real challenges in real time.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which some people refer to as drones, may save farmers time and money with bird’s-eye views of farmland, said Bob Schultheis, a natural resource engineering specialist with University of Missouri Extension in Webster County.

“The uses are as varied as Missouri farmland. Entomologists may find the devices helpful for scouting of pests. UAVs can collect information on plants that have grown to heights that make it difficult to walk through rows,” said Schultheis. “Farmers could even use the unmanned devices to document conditions when applying for government programs like crop insurance.

A 2013 report by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International predicts the UAS global market to reach $140 billion over the next decade. The report also said that agriculture would make up 80 percent of the potential commercial market for the devices.

The webinars will introduce the world of unmanned aircraft systems and their potential uses, along with how to use the devices and any legal issues that could apply. As seen in other fields, the sky is the limit for UAS use in agriculture.

While the webinar series will be targeted to extension agents taking the information to the fields, Dharmendra Saraswat, associate professor of geospatial technology at Purdue University, said the webinar series also targets the farmer and those wanting to learn more about the technology.

“It is not restricted to extension agents alone,” said Saraswat. “It will target farmers who are technology savvy. Our target is also youth. We would like to engage 4H youth and any other youth groups who would like to learn about this technology.”

The webinar series begins with an overview and intro to UAS on July 15 at 2 p.m. CST. The remaining installments will be released on a near monthly basis over the next year.

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems webinars, offered at no charge to the viewer, can be found at https://learn.extension.org/events/2153#.VZVc9KMo6Uk
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