For last year’s Prairie Days festival Darke County Parks began a new tradition of pressing sorghum with an antique press. The demonstration met with such resounding support that the park district decided to continue and plant another crop of sorghum this year. Through the assistance of park volunteer Neal Schmidt, Crop Production Services of Ansonia donated soil nutrients and spray as well as company time to apply the product on this year’s crop. Darke County Parks would like to extend a very special thank you to Crop Prodution Services of Ansonia for helping to make this year’s crop even better than last year’s and in turn helping to educate the next generation about crops and farming practices of year’s past.

Photo Caption: Darke County Parks would like to thank Darrell Gower, Crop Production Services Site Manager, and the CPS staff for donating the product and time for this year’s sorghum crop.

It’s paddling season! Grab the water bottles, sunscreen, and a hat, and let’s get on the water. On Friday, June 24th from 10am to 3pm join naturalists at Shawnee Prairie Preserve west of Greenville on St. Rt. 502 for an exciting summer paddle. After meeting at the Nature Center, participants will travel in the park van to the put in location where they will paddle the Greenville Creek. Remember to pack a lunch as the group will find a place to stop along the way to grab a bite to eat then hop back on the water to finish the trip. Call to reserve a canoe for doubles or a kayak for solo paddling. Prior experience is not required but will prove useful, and there will be a $5 fee for the program. For more information about this or any of the other exciting trips in this season’s series, to register for the program, or other Park District programs, please call the Nature Center at (937) 548-0165 or email info@darkecountyparks.org.