Area briefs

HACKENSACK -- Upcoming programs offered at Deep Portage Conservation Reserve include soap making, bird watching and snowshoeing.

Call (218) 682-2325 to register.

At 1:30 p.m. Saturday, learn the art and history of soap making and create your own to take home. Cost is $10 per person and includes a fee for materials.

At 1:30 p.m. Jan. 10, a combination of bird watching and snowshoeing will be offered. Travel through the Deep Portage woods on snowshoes while searching for winter birds. Snowshoes will be provided. Cost is $5 for adults.

Crop Disaster Program deadline is Jan. 30

Farmers with a quantity loss in excess of 35 percent or a quality loss of 20 percent because of eligible weather related causes could be eligible to receive benefits from the Crop Disaster Program.

Deadline to apply is Jan. 30.

Producers who did not have crop insurance or Non-Insured Assistance Program coverage for the year in which they receive benefits will have to agree to buy the applicable coverage for the next two available crop years.

For more information, stop in at the Aitkin-Itasca Farm Service Agency office or call (218) 927-2912.

Creative sewing expo to be held in Wadena

WADENA -- The 10th annual Creative Sewing Expo will run 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Minnesota State Technical College in Wadena.

The expo, which is sponsored by Wadena-Deer Creek Community Education, is designed for home sewers, teachers and home business owners.

The speaker at the general session will be Lisa Mandell, who will present, "Fashions for 2004." Mandell's collection of garments will include a variety of styles that reflect the looks of ready-to-wear. Garments will be shown sewn in knits, fine fashion fabrics, fleece and more. She also will share secrets for success she uses when constructing garments.

Sewing expo participants will choose from a variety of workshop topics, including sewing children's clothing, sewing machine troubleshooting and felting hand-knitted items.

There also will be two sessions offered 6 to 10 p.m. Feb. 27: Twinkling Stars -- A Fat Quarter Quilt or the Octagonal Table Topper. These two sessions are for quilters who have experience with cutting and piecing, but they do not need to be advanced quilters.

Registration deadline is Feb. 5.

For more information call Wadena-Deer Creek Community Education at (218) 632-2150, extension 134, or visit www.wdc2155.k12.mn.us and link with Community Education Sewing Expo.