Partners

A couple hundred couples have been through what's called the Strong Couples Project over the past couple years in an attempt to refresh, renew and reconnect relationships. Two partners who have been through the program, Lauren Olson and Joe Viola of Mansfield, Ill., share how they participated and what they experienced. The project's leader, Allen Barton, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Extension Specialist in Human Development & Family Studies, University of Illinois (U of I), and Michele Crawford, Community Health Educator, U of I Extension in Cook County, explain how the program works and what it's accomplishing.

Think you can't get fresh greens, fruits, vegetables in Illinois this time of year? Think again. Michael Hatfield, who grows hundreds of pounds of food offers up information on his specialties along with Janie Maxwell, Executive Director of the Illinois Farmers Market Association, who provides details on what you can and where you can find winter freshness in Illinois.

Want to know how some food companies decide what to sell and choices we have in stores? Shedding some light on how, where, what and why they source what they offer - is Mikel Hancock, St. Director of Sustainable Food & Agriculture for Walmart, and Rob Meyers, Vice President, Sustainable Agriculture for PepsiCo.

For several years, some farmers have been advocating for the ability to fix the increasingly complex equipment they use to grow food, animal feed and fuel. Hear why, what's transpired on the issue and what might be in store in the future on the right to repair issue. Those featured include Richard Guebert Jr., Randolph County farmer and president of the Illinois Farm Bureau, Zippy Duvall, Georgia farmer and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, and David Gilmore, a senior vice president of Illinois-based John Deere.

They support farmers in your community and the vibrant Illinois farm and food sector at the local level. Listen to five specific examples of award-winning county Farm Bureau programs and why you might want to get more involved. Guests include Jill Frueh, manager of the Bureau County Farm Bureau, Bailey Conrady, assistant manager of the Champaign County Farm Bureau, Ruth Zeldenrust, Chicago Heights farmer and secretary-treasurer of the Cook County Farm Bureau, Rhodora Collins, agriculture literacy coordinator for the DeKalb County Farm Bureau and Mike Swartz, manager of the McLean County Farm Bureau.

The local foods movement in Illinois continues to evolve, with expanding fruit, vegetable and herb availability and variety, new farmers markets and places to experience Illinois agriculture. Randy Graham, a farmer who runs Curtis Orchard and serves as chairman of the Illinois Specialty Growers Association (ISGA) and Raghela Scavuzzo, ISGA executive director, discuss what's happening in the sector and an opportunity for you, your towns, cities, schools and more to jump on board the local foods movement.

Come with us to count down the top five Partners podcasts according to downloads of 2022. You just might be surprised to find out what interested most subscribers and listeners. Got an idea for one ini 2023? Send it to us at [email protected]

These two women make ensuring people enjoy and have fun in our state's largest city a priority because it's their job. Joyce Fong and Debbie Sawyer both serve as concierges at major hotels in Chicago and share what you can expect from them and what's worth discovering this time of year and beyond.

These two young men heavily influenced by their fathers share what they're making and/or marketing and rather unconventional ideas for holiday gifts. Both featured on the Partners website and in the winter 2022-23 edition of Partners magazine meet and hear Nicholas Burke of Carbon Forge Design in McLeansboro and Kirk Gregory Jr., with COUNTRY Financial in Chicago.

They have fun with food in classrooms and share how agriculture could lead to great careers too. Meet Eva Manzke, Interventionist at Walker Elementary School in Bedford Park, the newest Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year, along with Katrina Milton, Director of Ag Literacy for the Cook County Farm Bureau.