Similar to farmers, Illinois food wholesalers and retailers have been deemed essential and continue to work to keep food and other products moving and shelves replenished. Hear from Rick Siemer who runs an Illinois wheat milling company, and Paul Simon, with Schnucks Markets, which has supermarkets in Illinois and four other states.
How has the global coronavirus pandemic impacted what we wear, how we power our vehicles and what we eat, and how much might it do so in the future? Hear from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, the president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, Georgia farmer Vincent “Zippy” Duvall, and Ogle County, Illinois farmer Brian Duncan, who serves as vice president of the Illinois Farm Bureau.
After one of the toughest years in memory to farm, how are the people that grow our food and other rural Illinoisans faring as we enter a new growing season? What’s being done to help ensure mental wellness throughout all of Illinois? Hear from Illinois farmers Greg St. Aubin and Drew DeSutter, along with internist Dr. Paul Pedersen, M.D., chief medical officer at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, and Courtney Cuthbertson, Ph.D., University of Illinois assistant professor and Extension specialist.
Does the recent sunshine and warmer temperatures have you itching to get out and grow? You’re not alone. With the third highest number of farmers markets in the nation – including winter farmers markets – Illinoisans have a healthy appetite for fresh, fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy grown and produced right here in our state. Find out what it means to live local, grow, buy and eat the bounty that is produced here in Illinois with Janie Maxwell, executive director of the Illinois Farmers Marke...
In this episode, listen in on our state’s and country’s future leaders from Arrupe College, Eureka College and the University of Chicago (U of C) as they visit an Illinois farm and discuss farm and food-related topics and issues with some Illinois farmers. It was part of the U of C’s Institute of Politics program entitled, Bridging the Divide. Now in its third year, it strives to foster a deeper understanding between students from rural and urban communities.
Illinois-based MightyVine grows fresh tomatoes 365 days a year. The company recently opened its third, massive greenhouse on 7.5 acres, and will ship vine-ripened tomatoes to Chicagoland grocery stores, restaurants and other points in the Midwest. Listen to company CEO Gary Lazarski, State Rep. Tom Demmer and MightyVine’s Director of Business Development, Danny Murphy, on how, why and where they are growing more than 10-million pounds of Illinois tomatoes each year.
Over its 150 years, the National Weather Service (NWS) has kept an increasingly watchful eye on the sky that has helped protect our food supply, our property, and our lives. In this episode, Chris Miller, the NWS warning coordination meteorologist in central Illinois, discusses what to do before such things as winter storms, lightening, flash floods and tornadoes turn our world’s upside down, technology used to protect us, and what we might expect weather wise for the rest of winter and beyond.
More of the meat, milk and eggs we eat have a good chance coming from right here in Illinois. Tasha Bunting is a mom, raises livestock and oversees Illinois Farm Bureau’s efforts to help the state’s livestock farmers succeed. Hear from Bunting, along with Kay Johnson Smith, president and CEO of the Animal Agriculture Alliance, on topics such as how animal care changes with the seasons, use of antibiotics to help sick animals, nutritional value of alternative proteins and more.
Farmers, Farm Bureau and groups such as The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) can be valuable sources of information when you and others have questions about farming and food and emerging technology about both. Hear from Bill Pauling and Lisa Garrow from the DuPage County Farm Bureau and Roxi Beck, CFI’s director of consumer engagement.
Some Illinois farmers, those in other states, and the chief economist for the nation’s largest organization of farmers share thoughts on the condition of the farm economy, its impact on farmers, and their outlook for 2020. Listen to John Newton, chief economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, Ben Boyd, Georgia farmer, Blake Hurst, Missouri farmer, and Illinois farmers Drew and Adrienne DeSutter.
Springfield has plenty to do indoors with cultural, culinary and affordable places and events to check out. Amy Beadle with VisitSpringFieldIllinois.com and Chris Wills with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum provide details on why you should consider visiting Illinois’ capital city.
Our state serves as the gateway to an extensive network of trails for snowmobiling in the upper Midwest. Hear from snowmobiling enthusiasts that describe the trail network in Illinois, in surrounding states, and why this family fun, winter sport continues to grow.
From climate-smart farming, to small-town distilleries, to home-state parks worthy of discovery in 2020, which Partners podcast was your favorite? Listen in on segments from the top-five most listened to Partners podcast episodes over the last year, and get these Illinois farm, family and food-related places and events on your to-do list in the new year.
After a wild weather year, Illinois’ new state climatologist Trent Ford, provides an outlook for 2020 and beyond with a group of Illinois farmers from across the state.
After a half-decade of tough economic and weather conditions, some Illinois farmers and others involved in the state’s food and farming sector may need a helping hand when it comes to mental wellness. Hear what Amy Rademaker, rural health and farm safety coordinator, Carle Foundation Hospital, and Josie Rudolphi, Ph.D., assistant professor of agricultural safety and health, University of Illinois, have found across the state. You’ll also hear about a new program in Illinois designed to train ind...
Move over Taste of Chicago, Illinois farmers provided a Taste of Illinois featuring fresh food from across our state. Hear from some of the farmers that provided Illinois-grown leafy greens, peaches, bread, beef and a lot more at the event held in Chicago.
An Illinois farm couple converted a classic, old corn crib into an art studio and gallery on their farm, which attracts visitors from town and well beyond. Take an audio tour of this DeKalb County venue, learn how it happened and what it features with Valerie and John Weberpal of rural Sycamore.
Some Illinois farmers describe how they’ve maneuvered through one of the toughest years to farm in recent memory, yet still have much to be thankful for as well. Southern Illinois farmer Richard Guebert Jr., central Illinois farmer David Meiss, and northern Illinois farmer Tammy Halterman also share some of their favorite Thanksgiving memories on their farms.
A former high school on old Route 66 in downstate Illinois has been converted into a family-run destination that attracts visitors from across Illinois and around the world. Meet the owners, Dave Hammond Sr., Dave Hammond Jr., and diner manager Tonia Pickerill to find out why you don’t want to pass up the Pink Elephant not far off of I-55.
You can find sweets in virtually all shapes, sizes and maybe even flavors at the Chocolate Factory near Golconda in the heart of Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest. Find out the back story to the winter Partners magazine article and hear from business owner Linda Meherg, her daughter and co-worker Angela Bailey, story author Kim Hill and video producer Helen Dobbyn Reedy.
Locals from nearby and loyalists from afar hang out at Front Porch Soap & Gift in west-central Illinois. Owner Carolyn Hitchcock took a hobby and turned it into a thriving business. Hitchcock describes what it’s all about and why you and your family might want to visit.
2019 has shaped up to be one tough year to farm in the Prairie State. Hear from farmers John Bartman, Brian Duncan, Dennis Green and Jack Schleich from all regions of the state on how this year’s harvest has shaped up thus far in a year that included weather swings from one extreme to the other.
Some young farmers have turned to crops such as hops and certified organic grains to offer distinctive products to their customers and spur economic development in rural areas. Hear hop grower Ross Sorensen and spirits farmers Dallas and Will Glazik describe some of the unique things they have growing on their Illinois farms.
Illinois shares some common town and metro-area names with those in Canada and Mexico. We have a lot more in common too, and each stand to be impacted by the proposed U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to improve trade among our states and countries. Mark Denzler, the president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturer’s Association, provides some specifics on why USMCA matters to all of Illinois.
Dozens of artists have made downtown Bloomington a thriving art community with studios and galleries abound. This year’s 19th annual Around the Corner Art Walk takes place Fri., November 1, and, among others, features Eaton Gallery, where artists Herb and Pam Eaton celebrate the art of Illinois agriculture.
As the Kennay farm family will tell you, renovating a historic theater to house a brewery and distillery is no small feat. Hear from Rick Kennay, farmer and owner of the business, and Adam Kennay, head distiller, about how they diversified their Illinois family farm to create craft beers and spirits from home-grown grain.
Meet Paul Ackerman, whose family grows pumpkins near Morton, and Paul Siegel, whose family maintains a pumpkin patch near Lockport. The two growers will reveal the condition of this year’s crop of Illinois pumpkins and discuss opportunities for you and your family to visit the state’s many pumpkin farms and patches this fall.
Fall serves as a great time to visit Illinois state parks. On this episode of the Partners podcast, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director, Colleen Callahan, reveals hidden gems within Illinois state parks and explains why you don’t need to travel across state lines to have great family fun this season.
Expect to hear more climate change chaos talk later this month when the United Nations convenes for a “Climate Action Summit” on Monday, September 23. Hear from Erin Fitzgerald, CEO of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, and greenhouse gas expert Frank Mitloehner, Ph.D., University of California-Davis, about how U.S. agriculture can be a solution when it comes to climate change.
Many Illinois orchards have opened for the season! Find out how the apple crop has fared this year and hear from orchardists of two family-run orchards in Illinois, Liberty Apple Orchard in Edwardsville, and Donnie Appleseed Orchard in LaSalle. We’ll cover orchard etiquette and hear about what you can expect when visiting these or other orchards this fall.
