Spring Valley — Sixteen volunteers have returned from highland Ecuador, where they put their gardening skills to good use in indigenous communities during a gardening volunteer venture. This gardening volunteer venture was sponsored by the Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program and organized by The Tandana Foundation.

So what is the relationship between healthy soils and healthy water? How can you manage inputs and planting date for high economic corn yields? Which soils should respond to sulfur applications? What are some opportunities and considerations with subsurface placement of nutrients?

The Hardin County Sheep Improvement Association will hold its annual Lamb Banquet on Saturday, March 3 at St. John’s Evangelical Church in Kenton at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the banquet can be reserved from the Extension office by calling 419-674-2297 and paid for at the door the night of the banquet.

The 2018 Conservation Tillage Club breakfast program series will conclude on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at the Plaza Inn Restaurant in Mouint Victory. The session will start at 7:30 a.m. with a complimentary buffet breakfast followed by the program at 8 a.m.

The third annual Hardin County Horse Banquet will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kenton Moose Lodge. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a silent auction to raise funds for a scholarship.

COLUMBUS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will offer a new opportunity for Ohio agricultural producers to improve water quality in the Indian Lake watershed. The watershed encompasses parts of Auglaize, Hardin and Logan Counties.

The Hardin Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will be taking orders for tree seedlings and bare root transplants through Feb. 28. The seedlings for sale are: River Birch, Chinkapin Oak, Arborvitae, Colorado Blue Spruce, White Pine and Norway Spruce.

The Benjamin Logan FFA Chapter sent nine students to volunteer at the Our Daily Bread soup kitchen in Bellefontaine on Jan. 29. They used coordination and teamwork to take care of the guests.

If so, you may be among the majority of consumers who throw that milk out once the date on the carton or jug label has passed. But Ohio State University researchers say not so fast that pasteurized milk is still good to drink past its sell-by date.

The 2018 Conservation Tillage Club breakfast program series will continue on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at the Plaza Inn Restaurant in Mt. Victory. Each session will start at 7:30 a.m. with a complimentary buffet breakfast followed by the program at 8 a.m. The final session will be held on Feb. 20.