The world's largest museum has a traveling exhibit on tour in Illinois, and you can see it now and into the new year. Explaining Voices and Votes: Democracy in America includes Matt Meacham, program manager, statewide engagement, Illinois Humanities; Bobbi Perryman, executive dir., Vespasian Warner Public Library in Clinton; Dave Blanchette, bd. chairman, Jacksonville Area Museum.
The most populous county in Illinois also includes a thriving food and farming sector. Cook County Farm Bureau president Janet McCabe, a farmer from Orland Park, and Ruth Zeldenrust, the organization's secretary-treasurer and farmer from Chicago Heights, share some of their farming adventures in county with more than five million people.
There's a green, winter blanket appearing in some farm fields across Illinois this time of year. Illinois farmers Clint Robinson and Lucas Roney share what's green before farm fields might soon turn white and what - what's out there - do for them, and us.
These two sisters help run one of the last remaining family-owned turkey farms in the nation that raise, process and sell turkeys right from their farm. Kayla and Nicole Kauffman share everything you might want to know about raising this holiday favorite.
Go behind the headlines and take a deeper dive into Thanksgiving meal costs and other items like ingredient availability, how to defrost, menu options, leftovers, and ways to avoid a big binge. Veronica Nigh, senior economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, Nick Fitch, supermarket director, Steve Promenschenkel, chef and Brook Rush, registered dietitian, all with Hyvee.
Like a modern-day barn-raising, community harvests bring the farming community together to lend a hand for those in need. Come inside this community harvest and hear why some Illinois farmers organized it, what took place, and from the farm family that welcomed friends and others from two states to help them wrap up harvest.
An area representing one-third of the value of food produced in the United States remains mired in drought, including a stubborn area of Illinois that has pulled through with some surprising results this growing season. Hear from farmers Julie and Marshall Newhouse, along with Brad Pugh, meteorologist with the Climate Prediction Center in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Many farmers and other vendors have capacity to store or can still grow and offer locally-grown fruits, vegetables and other products at indoor farmers markets. Hear how and what you might expect from Raghela Scavuzzo, the Assoc. Dir. of Food Systems Development for Illinois Farm Bureau. Two farmers market-vendors, Carolyn Waldee, and Valeriy Bianco, share how they'll juggle cheeses and mushrooms along with others, indoors.
Involved in one of the most dangerous and risky of all businesses, those that produce food use some innovative ways to manage both successfully. Jeff Kirwan, a farmer from western Illinois, shares what he's dealt with in recent years and how he manages. Doug Yoder, crop agency manager with COUNTRY Financial, provides details on how one tool to manage risk has evolved and how it works.
Built by a Chicago grain merchant, this historic site and non-profit arts park now hosts a farmers market, fast proving the place to be each Sunday in the Chicago suburbs. Volunteer Sharon LeCoque, and farmers and market vendors Mike Biver with Terra Vitae Farms, and Colin Raclawski with Von Bergen's Country Market, share what it's all about.
With harvest in full-swing, Marty and Andy Dole take you to one of their farm fields and inside their combine as they harvest this year's crops. Marty shares what's taking place, and Andy how he has built an audience for his farming adventures online.
More Illinois farmers have started selling products they raise and grow directly to you, many right from their Illinois farms. Hear from three that do so, Wanda Farm, Hephzibah Farms, Inc., and Cody’s Farm & Orchard, and about an event that allowed visitors to learn about what they, and several other Illinois farmers have to offer directly to you.
To clean or not to clean, should you soil test, how to put tree leaves to work for you and more. Hear from Jan Phipps, Partners gardening writer, and Duane Friend, a University of Illinois Environment & Energy Stewardship Extension Educator, on what you might consider to keep your gardens and lawns growing and flourishing in the future.
Take a deeper dive into the cost and availability of what's in our current and future salad bowls. Bob Young, president of Agricultural Prospects and former chief economist with the American Farm Bureau sorts it out, and Jamie Johansson, California farmer and president of the California Farm Bureau who has details on the drought and wildfires impacting what some call our nation's salad bowl.
In addition to harvesting crops, these Illinois farmers have a wedding and new child arrival plans this fall. Iroquois County farmer Krista Lottinville and Gallatin County farmer Blake Luckett share details on this year's crops and how they'll juggle family and other changes on their farms.
In Part II of a two-part series on autumn adventures in Illinois, find out what’s new with fall-favorite chrysanthemums, how to care for them, keep them coming back, Mumfest and more with farmers Greg and Mariah Anderson.
In Part I of a two-part series on autumn adventures in Illinois, learn what's new on this Illinois apple orchard and some others this fall. Raoul, Jodie and Brandon Bergersen, a family-run orchard growing apples and several different fruits.
Small, medium, large, whatever the size of animals, significant demand exists for doctors of veterinary medicine or DVMs. Dr. James Lowe, an educator, adviser, researcher, farmer and associate professor at the University of Illinois (U of I), Sydney Leib, a second-year student in the U of I College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Chelsea Ballinger, a vet-med school graduate who has established a mobile veterinary practice all share what it takes, costs, and more.
What’s your favorite fair food? Three of the largest fairs in Illinois have returned this year, and offer the conventional, unusual and healthy options. Hear from Partners Prairie State Perspective author Joanie Stiers on her family’s take, and from Raghela Scavuzzo, executive director of the Illinois Specialty Growers Association, on how this group offers fresh, locally-grown food and more at the Illinois State Fair.
What EF means when it comes to tornadoes, longer seasons, what’s a snow drought; in part II of our two-part series on weather and climate, National Weather Service-Chicago Meteorologist Rafal Ogorek, and State Climatologist Trent Ford discuss our roller-coaster weather year thus far, the numbers they collect and look at and weather and climate research taking place.
The National Weather Service (NWS) plans some changes when it comes to weather advisories. An assessment of what climate change means to Illinois recently received an update. In the first of a two-part series, find out what both mean to you, with NWS Meteorologist Rafal Ogorek, and Illinois State Climatologist, Trent Ford, Ph.D.
Opportunities abound to explore the heritage behind the food we and the farms that grew and grow it. In this episode, learn about the American Farm Heritage Museum and the historic Marbold Farmstead, both in Illinois with regular hours and special events.
What's in season, and what are some great ways to prepare fresh Illinois-grown fruits and vegetables? University of Illinois Extension Educator Elizabeth Wahle, Ph.D., shares what's coming from the fields, and Partners food writer Jodie Shield shares four quick ways to put them to work.
As we enter peak fresh fruits and vegetables season, how can we be ensured what we select, prepare and eat remains clean and safe to eat? Raghela Scavuzzo, Associate Director of Food Systems Development for the Illinois Farm Bureau, and Brenda Foos, director of the federal USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Services Monitoring Programs Division, share what’s taking place to ensure food safety and offer tips on common sense food preparation practices.
Take a closer look at what’s driving the supplies and costs of some favorite foods that make up the classic American cookout with Veronica Nigh, acting chief economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, and Lynn Martz, a Dekalb County crops and livestock farmer.
Partners gardening writer and master gardener Jan Phipps shares what you might want to watch for and do now to keep you gardens growing and producing. Olga Arias, president of the Rainbow Beach Community Garden, the oldest in the Chicago Park District community garden system, describes how their plots are proceeding, a new Cookfresh® grant recently secured from Cook County Farm Bureau, and what it’s like to garden next to the second largest Great Lake.
One of the first coast-to-coast highways to accommodate automobiles takes a scenic and historic route through Illinois. Kay Shelton Kozak, national president and Illinois chapter state director of the Lincoln Highway Association, shares what you’ll experience on the road across Illinois. Jodie Binkley, co-owner of Harner’s Bakeries and Restaurant, shares why you might want to put one of its locations on your list of places to stop during your Illinois Lincoln Highway adventure.
With three young children and twins on the way, this farm family didn’t quite know what the future held when their barn burned three years ago. Illinois farmers David and Katie Vanderstappen share their story on why they were determined to rebuild and what had to take place to be able to welcome their dairy cows back to the home farm.
Shocked about some of the prices you’re paying? The former chief economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, Bob Young, examines what we’re paying now and what we might pay in the weeks and months ahead. He’s joined by farmer Brian Duncan, vice president of the Illinois Farm Bureau, who provides some perspective on factors impacting what he and other farmers grow and produce for our plates.
Popularity of locally-grown, fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and more trended upward even before the pandemic. Find out how farmer Natasha Lewis has kept up with demand from her family’s Big Rock Organics farm in northeast Illinois, along with Cassie Rae, general manager of Farmhouse Meat Company in western Illinois, who talks how to go whole-hog or whole-cow.
