Tune in to IL Corn TV as Shane Gray sits down with Jenna Herrick, Manager of Conservation, and Fletcher Morgan, Central Illinois Regional Director for Ducks Unlimited (DU), for a great conversation about their work and impact.

What You’ll Learn in This Video:
00:00 – Introduction
01:00 – Growth of agricultural engagement within Ducks Unlimited
01:30 – Shane shares his experience at DU events and fundraisers
02:30 – Fletcher on seeing young generations get involved in conservation
3:00 – Jenna explains the Big Rivers Initiative (BRI)
03:50 – Partnering with state departments and local organizations
4:40 – How conservation improves soil, water, and wildlife habitat
05:30 – Recognizing DU’s volunteers and supporters
06:40 – Learn more at ducks.org/Illinois

Follow IL Corn TV for more meaningful conversations.

IL Corn Growers Association – https://www.ilcorn.org

Sign up for updates: https://ilcorn.formstack.com/forms/sign_up_youtube_alert

#DucksUnlimited #DU #ILCornTV #WetlandConservation #BigRiversInitiative #SustainableFarming #WildlifeHabitat #ConservationPartnerships #FarmersForWildlife

In this episode, we dive into a fascinating study revealing how U.S. red meat exports directly impact corn utilization and farmer profitability. A third-party analysis shows that roughly one out of three hogs and 14% of cattle raised in the U.S. are destined for international markets — creating major ripple effects across the ag economy.

Show Notes:
⏱️ 0:00 – Introduction
⏱️ 1:01 – The Ducks Unlimited Mission
⏱️ 2:14 – Partnering with Agricultural Producers and Landowners
⏱️ 2:48 – Ducks Unlimited’s Conservation Work in Illinois
⏱️ 3:28 – Support for the “Fall Covers for Spring Savings” Program
⏱️ 4:20 – Why Cover Crops Matter for Wetland Ecosystems
⏱️ 6:09 – “Farm the Best, Conserve the Rest” Explained
⏱️ 6:23 – Turning Marginal Acres into Productive Conservation
⏱️ 8:22 – Not to be Corny segment

Follow IL Corn TV for more stories from farmers leading the way in sustainability and innovation.

#DucksUnlimited #ILCornTV #Conservation #Wetlands #CoverCrops #SoilHealth #BigRiversInitiative #FarmTheBestConserveTheRest #AgriConservation #FarmlandStewardship

What happens when a farmer rethinks everything he knows about soil, livestock, and sustainability? Dan Sanderson from Pasture Grazed Farm shares how curiosity and care for the land led him toward conservation agriculture, and how that shift reshaped his family farm and his mindset.

Episode Guide:
00:40 – Conservation ag inspiration
01:20 – Building farm community
03:00 – Virtual fencing on the field
05:10 – Small grains & cover crops
06:00 – Simple conservation tips
08:00 – Why oats make great covers
9:10 – Not To Be Corny & Closing Thoughts

Learn more about Pasture Grazed Farm:
Website: https://www.pasture-grazed.com/

Youtube: 
@AmericanFarmland - https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFarmland
@ilsoybean - https://www.youtube.com/@ilsoybean
@AISWCD - https://www.youtube.com/@AISWCD
@TheUSDANRCS - https://www.youtube.com/@TheUSDANRCS
@compeerfinancial8562 - https://www.youtube.com/@compeerfinancial8562
@ilsustainableag - https://www.youtube.com/@ilsustainableag
@FarmCredit - https://www.youtube.com/@FarmCredit

🎧 Follow IL Corn TV for more stories from farmers leading the way in sustainability and innovation.

#ILCornTV #ConservationAg #PastureGrazed #SoilHealth #SustainableFarming #FarmBetter #MidwestFarming #InspiredByAg #AgInnovation

From early conservation efforts in the 1980s to winning the Illinois Leopold Conservation Award, farmer and author Dan Sanderson joins host Shane Gray to share how conservation practices, virtual fencing, and his book Grounded transformed his farm and perspective.

Episode Highlights:

1:51 - Early Conservation: Lessons from the '80s
5:38 - Dan's Conservation Journey Begins
6:23 - The Transformative Soil Health Academy
7:41 - Rethinking Soil: From Dirt to Organism
8:49 - The Ethic of Cover Cropping
9:08 - Real-World Lessons from Cereal Rye

Tune in to hear how conservation, stewardship, and soil health are shaping the future of farming.

Learn more about Dan:

Website: https://www.pasture-grazed.com/

Follow IL Corn TV:
📧 Get notified when new episodes air: https://bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts
📩 Want to be a guest on IL Corn TV? Contact: [email protected]

Enjoyed this episode? Follow the show, rate it, and share it with someone who’s passionate about soil health and sustainable farming.

#SoilHealth #Farming #ILCornTV #Conservation #SustainableAg #covercrops #farmmanagement

In this episode of IL Corn TV, farmer and board member Shane Gray sits down with Charlie Arnot, CEO of the Center for Food Integrity, to explore how farmers can build real trust with today’s consumers. From the power of storytelling to the challenges of a post-truth world, Charlie shares what it takes to connect, engage, and communicate with meaning.

What’s Inside: 

0:49 – Inside the Center for Food Integrity
2:07 – Why trust matters more than science alone
3:58 – Building credibility in a post-truth world
5:24 – The storytelling edge in agriculture
6:05 – How consumers view ag technology
7:36 – What most people don’t know (and why it matters)
8:08 – Listening for shared values
8:46 – Final take: listen more, speak less
9:02 – Not To Be Corny

🎧 Follow IL Corn TV for more stories from the heart of Midwest ag.

More at: The Center for Food Integrity: https://foodintegrity.org/

LookEast Website: https://lookeast.com/people/charlie-arnot/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LookEastBuildsTrust/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmacharlie/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/charlie_arnot?lang=en


Sign up for updates: https://ilcorn.formstack.com/forms/sign_up_youtube_alert 

#ILCornTV #FoodIntegrity #FarmersAndConsumers #AgCommunication #BuildingTrust #NotToBeCorny

Join intern Jenny Abbott and Lorelei as they share what it’s like spending a summer with IL Corn. From a trip to Washington, D.C., to fun “corny” questions about superhero corn powers, tractor yachts, and popcorn in space, this lighthearted conversation brings fresh perspectives on agriculture from the next generation.

In This Conversation: 
0:00 – Meet intern Jenny Abbott & Lorelei
0:47 – Why it’s fun working at IL Corn
1:12 – If corn had a superhero power…
2:00 – Turning tractors into yachts (and other farm daydreams)
2:27 – Do corn plants really have best friends?
2:50 – What secretly comes alive on the farm (Toy Story style)
3:27 – Corn-shaped spaceships & popcorn in space
3:49 – The weirdest cafeteria food at college
4:46 – Surprising corn facts they didn’t know before
5:21 – Final reflections on summer at IL Corn
🎧 Your front-row seat to Midwest ag—follow IL Corn TV for more stories that matter.

Follow Illinois Corn:
🌐 https://ilcorn.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ILCorn/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilcorn/#
Twitter/X: https://x.com/ilcorn?ref
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ilcorn

Sign up for updates: https://ilcorn.formstack.com/forms/sign_up_youtube_alert

#ILCornTV #CornInterns #FutureOfAg #AgCommunications #FarmLife #CornyQuestions #NotToBeCorny

From the film set to the heartland, world-traveling producer Maren Klakegg shares her incredible story. In this episode of IL Corn TV, Maren talks about her journey as a foreign exchange student in Illinois, her initial impressions of "corn country," and how her experience with a farming family gave her a new appreciation for rural life and the people who live it.

Inside This Episode:
0:50 - A Filmmaker's Background
3:00 - From City to Cornfield
4:45 - A New Way of Life
6:34 - Discovering a Shared Passion
8:10 - The Gift of a New Family
9:14 - Not To Be Corny

Tune in to hear how a world-traveling film producer found a new perspective in rural Illinois.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marenklakegg/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/klakegg95



📧 Get notified when new episodes air: https://bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts

📩 Sponsorship or partnership inquiries? Contact: [email protected]

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like, subscribe, and share it with a friend who loves local stories!


#GlobalAg #CultureExchange #RuralAmerica #FarmStories #ILCorn TV

A family farm thrives on a blend of tradition and innovation. In this episode of IL Corn TV, we hear from Missy Friestad, a fourth-generation farmer who's proving that wisdom isn't just measured in years. 

Missy shares how she's bringing modern technology to her family's operation, the powerful connections she's built through social media, and what it's truly like to work with a grandpa who saw the start of it all.

Inside This Episode:
0:50 - A 72-Year Farming Legacy
2:07 - Tackling the Generation Gap
4:35 - Lessons from the Family Farm
5:00 - Tara's Corn Corner
5:20 - Becoming a Voice for Ag
6:55 - The Rise of Women in Ag
8:46 - From Horses to iPads
10:00 - Not To Be Corny

Discover how a blend of old-school wisdom and new-age tech is shaping the future of farming.

Follow Missy and her sister to discover more
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/centralsisters.il/

Tiktok
https://www.tiktok.com/@centralsisters.il


📧 Get notified when new episodes air: https://bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts

📩 Sponsorship or partnership inquiries? Contact: [email protected]

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like, subscribe, and share it with a friend who loves local stories!

#AgTech #GenerationsInAg #FarmWisdom #FemaleFarmer #ILCorn TV

Learn how the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center is shaping the future of renewable fuels. 🌽 From ethanol to sustainable aviation fuel, discover the breakthroughs that could transform farming and energy worldwide.

Inside This Episode:

0:50 - The NCERC Mission
3:19 - Scaling Up Sustainable Aviation Fuel
5:06 - Corn's Future Beyond Ethanol
6:29 - A Legacy with Illinois Corn
7:27 - The Ongoing Partnership
9:40 - Not To Be Corny
10:20 -Final Message


Discover more about National Corn to Ethanol Research Center here:
Website: https://www.siue.edu/ncerc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile/100064364093863/search/?q=ncerc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yan-zhang-52090599/

🎧 Like what you hear? Follow IL Corn TV for more local stories from Illinois farmers and communities.

📧 Get episode alerts: https://bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts

📺 Watch the full show on YouTube: @ILCornTV
📩 For partnerships or sponsorships: [email protected]

#IllinoisCorn #Ethanol #SustainableAviationFuel #NCERC #CornFarmers #Biofuels #RenewableEnergy #IllinoisAgriculture #Farmers #CornToEthanol