Even though the weather is cold, making farm chores difficult, the work never ends.

Maybe some of you are even missing the mud that came with the mild temperatures that we recently enjoyed.

Why not take a break from it all and attend one of the many educational programs offered by the Cooperative Extension this winter?

NW Beef Management Workshop Series - A series of meetings for area beef producers will be held Feb. 10, 17, and 24 at the Wesley Grange, located about one mile north of Interstate 80. Each session will begin at 7 p.m.

The first two sessions will focus on bull selection and the third will focus on marketing feeder cattle.

The deadline to register is Friday. There is a $6 per person fee for each session, or $10 for two people from the same farm. In addition, a $15 registration fee is offered for all three sessions.

Beginning Beekeeping Seminar - Managing honeybees can be a very rewarding enterprise and a profitable sideline. You may want to keep bees for the honey they produce or for the pollination they provide.

The seminar is designed to help you understand the things that are necessary to get started in beekeeping.

The seminar will be offered on Feb. 12 at the Leslie Firth Learning Center, Mercer County Extension Office. The session begins at 9 a.m. and should be over by 4 p.m.

Registration is limited to 40 people. The $25 fee includes lunch. A second family member can register for $20. Youth 18 and younger get in for $10.

The deadline to register is Friday.

Western Pennsylvania Beekeeping Seminar - This seminar is for the more experienced beekeeper or for the beginner that wants to learn more about managing beehives. The seminar will be offered Feb. 18 and 19 at the Penn State Beaver Campus.

This year's program will feature nationally recognized researchers Maryann Frazier, Dennis van Englesdorp and Jim Tew. They will address timely integrated pest management programs. In addition, participants will learn new ideas for rearing queens, identifying diseases and working with honey.

Registration is $25 per person and the deadline is Feb. 11.

For more information on any of these programs, contact the Butler County Cooperative Extension office at 724-287-4761.

This material is submitted by Donna Zang, Extension director, and the staff of the Penn State Extension office at the Sunnyview Nursing Home complex.