The Marshall County Commissioners heard an update from Marshall County Purdue Extension during their meeting March 4. Health and Human Services Educator Karen Richey and Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator Brieanna Slonaker both spoke on activity.
Richey shared that most of her programming focuses on food safety and food science. Every restaurant in Marshall County has to have a ServSafe certified Manager; Richey facilitates training.
The ServSafe Food Manager training is an eight hour class and proctored exam. There are two more scheduled in 2024 for October 1 and December 3rd. Successful completion of the program satisfies Indiana’s requirements to become a Certified Food Protection Manager. The training includes a manual. Participants must score 70% or higher to earn the certificate which is valid for five years. A photo ID with signature is required to take the exam. To register for training visit https://cvent.me/IMDwav. Registration closes five days before each event. The training is held at the Purdue Extension Office in Marshall County located at 112 W. Jefferson St., Room 304, Plymouth.
Richey also facilities the ServSafe Food Handler course. That course is for anyone who needs basic food safety and food handing training, including home-based vendors, food service workers, volunteers or others who work with food who only need basic training. This course does not satisfy the requirement for Food Managers. The ServSafe Food Handler certification satisfies the training requirements for home based vendors outlined in Indiana House Bill 1149. The program focuses on basic food safety, personal hygiene, cross contamination and allergens, time and temperature, cleaning and sanitation. This half-day training also includes a booklet and assessment. The Certificate of Achievement for this course is valid for three years. A photo ID with signature is required to take the assessment. After passing the assessment ,the certificate will be documented with the National Restaurant Association. Marshall County held on training in February and will hold one more this year on March 12 at the Nappanee Public Library located at 157 N. Main St., Nappanee from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Register for that training at https:vent.me/ZNl0Nm.
A photo ID with signature includes a Driver’s License, State ID, Student ID, Military ID, Employee ID, U.S. Green Card, or valid Passport. Both of those links to register for training can be found online at extension.purdue.edu.
Richey also facilitates some programming out at the Marshall County Jail for the Jail Chemical Addictions Program (JCAP) participants. She also teaches Dining with Diabetes classes for those managing diabetes along with other classes to help people manage chronic diseases with food and nutrition. She collaborates with the Marshall County Council on Aging.
Slonaker updated the Commissioners that she is still in training but is getting more comfortable in her role. A Marshall County student will be one of nine participants in the Indiana Dairy Youth Academy this year.
Slonaker has been facilitating professional development workshops, arranging farm tours, and some participants will soon have an International experience in Canada where they will learn about milk quota and how milk commodity pricing works in Canada.
This year Marshall County and St. Joseph County will host a Purdue on the Farm research field.
Slonaker was asked to review some soil health programming. Once released she hopes to implement findings in Marshall County. She emphasized the importance of soil in agriculture and illustrated that soil takes years to form.
Purdue Extension also offered a Pesticide Applicator training class.
Slonaker is in the process of her getting her UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) license through training provided by Purdue. Drones are being used to gather data that translates in to efficient, profitable and long term success as it pertains to the environment and economy. Drones can be used to assess crop health, monitor livestock, disperse cover crop seed, optimized natural resources and more. The Marshall County Purdue Extension Office is offering drone training locally on April 10th and 11th at the Marshall County Fair Grounds.
Richey asked permission for representatives of Purdue Extension to provide a quarterly report moving forward as opposed to every other month; her request was approved.
Call 574-935-8545 for more information on program opportunities or with questions.
