National Swine Registry internships open

Special to KAN

The National Swine Registry is seeking summer interns in the communications and junior activities departments.
The deadline for applying for both internships is Feb. 1.
Interns with both departments will be expected to work with the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa; the National Junior Summer Spectacular in Louisville, and other events.
Applicants for the communications internship must submit a cover letter stating the purpose of application, resume, three references and samples of work to Megan Sheridan, Director of Communications, National Swine Registry, P.O. Box 2417, West Lafayette, IN 47996.
Questions about the communications internship should be directed to Sheridan at (765) 463-3594 or megan@nationalswine.com.
Applicants for the junior division internship are asked to send a cover letter and resume to Jennifer S. Shike, Director of Junior Activities, National Swine Registry, P.O. Box 2417, West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417.
For more information about the junior activities internship, contact Shike at (765) 463-3594 or (217) 485-5315 or Jennifer@nationalswine.com.

USDA offers energy estimator for livestock

U.S. Department of Agriculture

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns recently unveiled a Web-based energy awareness tool designed to help agricultural producers reduce energy costs related to animal housing.
The “Energy Estimator for Animal Housing” evaluates the energy use and costs associated with heating, lighting and ventilating poultry, swine and dairy housing. This is the fourth energy estimator tool USDA has developed as part of its overall energy strategy to reduce the impacts of high energy costs and to help develop long-term solutions for producers.
Producers with animal feeding operations can save up to $250 million annually nationwide by regularly maintaining their ventilation and heating systems and using more energy-efficient fixtures and equipment. An individual producer may realize up to 50 percent savings in energy use by maintaining ventilation and heating equipment regularly.
Additional information about USDA’s “Energy Estimator for Animal Housing” can be found at http://ahat.sc.egov.usda.gov. Information about the energy estimators for tillage, nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation can be found at www.usda.gov/energytools.

Food exhibition visits Harrodsburg

Special to KAN

A Smithsonian traveling exhibition on American food will be visiting Old Fort Harrod State Park in Harrodsburg through Jan. 20.
“Key Ingredients: America by Food” delves into the historical, regional, and social traditions that merge in everyday meals and celebrations of the American table. “Key Ingredients” is the newest exhibition from Museum on Main Street, a parternship of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Kentucky Humanities Council.
The exhibit will be open for the public to view at Old Fort Harrod State Park’s Black Box Theater. Old Fort Harrod State Park is offering a discounted ticket of $1 to tour the Fort while visiting the Smithsonian exhibit. For more information, call (859) 734-6811, (859) 734-9614 or (859) 734-3314 or go to www.keyingredients.org.