Partners

In the second part of a series on opportunities for farm- family- and food-related places and events to discover, consider these activities and destinations to put on your travel calendars. Sheila Hoffman, mayor of Durand, Faith Ackerman, president of Durand Charm, LeAnn Clark, president of Durand Area Retailers, Trades and Services (DARTS), and Kelly Giovanine, executive director of Durand Charm, share why their community is special with an event that might be worthy of checking out. Michelle Misfeldt, board secretary of Revitalize Erie, and Danae Wunderlich, events chair of Revitalize Erie, share what’s taking place there and efforts to keep their small Illinois community viable. Both of these communities have been helped by the Western Illinois University-based Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, which strives to breathe new life into small and medium-sized towns, villages and cities across the state.

This dairy power couple answers the question, "What do farmers do in summer?" and a whole lot more. Meet Joshua and Emily Reinhardt, who share everything from late night and early morning trips to the barn, robots, milk nutrition, working with family, juggling haying, chopping, mental health and more right from the barn office on their Randolph County, Ill. farm.

It's the perfect time of year to find out what you can do to help strengthen the power of pollinators. Find out why and how and about a free event in Chicago with Bona Heinsohn, Director of Government Affairs and Public Relations, Cook County Farm Bureau, and Raelynn Parmely, Environmental Program Manager, Illinois Farm Bureau.

As most Illinois farmers wind down planting, these two start harvesting. The 'Stahlhut girls" of Madison County, Kim Hansen and Kris Straub, grow lavender and open their former pig and dairy farm to the general public. Hear from the two who explain all about growing lavender, why they grow it and what they do with it all.

Fans of locally raised, locally processed meats say you can taste the difference. Tom Eickman with Eickman's Meat Processing in northwest Illinois and Erica Kelsey with Country Home Processing in southeast Illinois explain why and some of the unique things they do and make for you and others to try.

In the first of a series on opportunities for farm- family- and food-related places and events to discover, consider these affordable activities to possibly put on your travel calendar. Bob Norris helps lead Lincoln Days in western Illinois. Merri Sevey spearheads the new Freedom Fest in northwest Illinois. Both of their communities have been helped by an Illinois-based institute breathing new life into small and medium-sized Illinois towns, villages and cities.

A livestock farmer and an energy expert share their knowledge of great and safe grilling techniques. We talk cuts, foolproof ways to cook, energy use and storage. Hear from Wes Hornback, who with his family raise beef and pork, along with David Rich, Propane Marketing & Technical Services Manager, GROWMARK.

This new garden in suburban Chicago hopes its blooms benefit pollinators and vegetation cleans water from streets, parking lots, yards and fields. Learn what it's about and how you might replicate some or all of it with Beth Gehrke, Elgin area farmer and board member of the Kane County Farm Bureau, and Jonathan Koepke, president of Environmental Consultants and Planners (ENCAP), who helped design the pollinator and rain garden in the shape of Illinois.

What's taking place to have fresh, Illinois-grown-and-raised fruits, vegetables, meats and more available for school children in Illinois schools? Explore with two people helping to lead efforts to make it happen. Gary Cuneen serves as Executive Director for Seven Generations Ahead, and Mike Lewis is a Sustainable Agriculture Specialist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology.

Flower farming in Illinois continues to bloom, whether fields where you can roam, or on porches, in shops, and full buckets for you to select from at farmers markets. Hear from Kate Danner, Mercer County flower farmer and owner of Dandee Flowers, and Drew Groezinger, Jo Daviess County flower farmer and owner of Clara Joyce Flowers, on how and why they do it and how you can experience what they grow.