Penn State Extension Montgomery County

We had a fun evening talking with local farmers at the Montgomery County Farmers Gathering last night! We were well represented with Andrew, Laura, Katie, Amy and Ruth!

Our Extension Office will be closed today in observance of the 4th of July!

The office will reopen on Monday July 6th!

For an abundance of educational content – such as articles, videos, and online courses – that can be accessed anytime, anywhere, visit extension.psu.edu.

Marion Deppen passed away this month, just shy of 100 years old! We pulled out some highlights, but his full obituary can be found with the link below.

He was employed for nearly 36 years with the Penn State University Agricultural Extension Service. For 13 years, Marion served as a County Agricultural Agent in Clinton, Wyoming, and Montgomery Counties. For the remainder of his career, he served as Regional Director in the Southeast and Capitol Regions.

Marion was a pioneer in farmland preservation. He called the first public meeting on the subject in Montgomery County in 1955 and later served on the Centre County Farmland Preservation Board for 27 years, many of them as Vice Chairman.

In 1968, he was one of only three Extension employees in the United States to receive the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cost Reduction Award, which was personally presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Montgomery County Planning Commission

Marion R. Deppen Obituary | Wetzler Funeral Home, Inc. | Bellefonte, PA View Marion R. Deppen's complete obituary, share memories, and explore heartfelt tribute posts from the community.

Our Extension Office will be closed today in observance of Juneteenth.

We will reopen on Monday June 22nd!

For an abundance of educational content – such as articles, videos, and online courses – that can be accessed anytime, anywhere, visit extension.psu.edu.

There is still time to register for Saturday's event!

We still have openings for this workshop! It’s not too late to sign up!

Have you seen this fun opportunity to visit local farms?

A new LIFT session starts on Tuesday Feb 24th right at our Extension Office!

https://extension.psu.edu/lift-12

Event Details
When:
Tuesdays and Thursdays
February 24-May 14, 2026 (9:00 AM-10:00 AM)

Where:
Penn State Extension Montgomery County
1015 Bridge Rd.
Collegeville, Pennsylvania 19426
View Map

Registration deadline:
February 23, 2026
11:59 p.m.

LIFT (Lifelong Improvements through Fitness Together) is an in-person, group-based strength-training program for adults aged 40+. Participation in LIFT may result in improvements in functional fitness, or the ability to perform activities of daily living with ease. Participants are encouraged to work towards achieving their own personal goals in a group setting.

LIFT sessions are held twice a week for 1 hour over the course of 12 weeks and include an active warm-up, eight core strength-training exercises, and a cooldown. The program also includes basic nutrition information with an emphasis on increased fruit and vegetable intake.

Watch Videos: What's Involved in LIFT Classes and Their Benefits
Learn more about the class with these two videos:

What's Involved in Participating in a LIFT Class
Benefits of the LIFT Program
Who should attend?
Adults 40 years of age or older interested in improving their health, vitality, and well-being.
Strength training offers physical, mental, and emotional benefits including:

Increased muscle mass and strength
Improved bone density
Reduced risk for osteoporosis and related fractures
Reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, depression, and obesity
Improved self-confidence, sleep, and vitality
Improved balance
What to expect at the classes
5-minute warm-up
8-12 strength-training exercises to promote proper body positioning, flexibility, and posture
Easy-to-use nutrition information
5-minute cooldown
Some insurances may reimburse participants with 80% or better attendance. Please contact your insurance provider for more information.

Space is limited! Preregistration is recommended!

LIFT (12 Weeks) Get motivated, energized, and inspired while boosting strength, flexibility, and vitality! LIFT’s group training helps build confidence and improve your body and overall well-being.

March 11th at our Extension Office!

"Hay Production" workshop focuses on the challenges of producing quality hay in a demanding production year. This workshop provides practical instruction on strategies and management practices that support more consistent, high-quality hay production. Participants will gain timely insights to strengthen decision-making and improve outcomes in future hay seasons.

Hay Production A practical workshop for hay producers addressing recent production challenges, with guidance on markets, management, equipment, and forage quality to support more consistent, high-quality hay.

Wishing you all a wonderful and safe holiday season and a Happy New Year!

Our office is closed for the holidays and will re-open at 8:30am on Monday January 5th, 2026!