Marshall, Ind., is the place to be Feb. 28 if you’re interested in forages and how to integrate wildlife into your farming operation. The Indiana Forage Council will hold its annual meeting and seminar beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time at Turkey Run State Park.

Keith Johnson, Purdue University forage specialist, says the annual meeting is open to anyone who wants to attend. However, you don’t have to come to the meeting to attend the dinner, which follows at 6 p.m., and the seminar, which begins at 7 p.m.

Cost of the dinner and seminar is $20 per person. RSVP by Feb. 21 to Jason Tower at [email protected], or call him at 812-678-4427.

The highlight of the evening could be talks by two outstanding speakers with special stories to tell.

“So I bought a farm,” the title of Sara Creech’s talk, barely scratches the surface. Featured in Indiana Prairie Farmer in 2018, Creech, Hendricks County, returned to Indiana from Florida after losing her husband to disease. She bought a farm sight unseen to produce healthy food.

What started out as a personal journey to better feed herself and others turned into a full-fledged farming operation on a small acreage, including pasture-fed meat, eggs, free-range poultry, and organic fruits and vegetables.

Forages are an important part of her operation, Creech says. She will explain how she incorporates forages and cover crops of various types into her farm.

Jarred Brooke, Purdue University wildlife specialist, will discuss how to bring wildlife back into the picture in his talk, “Integrating wildlife on the farm.” The young specialist, who works with both adults and youth interested in wildlife, will focus on the habitat needs of various species.

His goal through the program is to share how forage producers can take steps to integrate wildlife into their operation.

Come for the meeting if you can, but don’t miss out on dinner and two excellent programs in one seminar, Johnson says.