Illinois
Farm Bureau
fall 2011
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A quarterly magazine for members
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Growing an Education Chicago high school focuses on agriculture curriculum View Finder Farmer reaps harvest of photographs
Pumped for Pumpkin Recipes
Storing History Route 66 museum elevates grain’s past and present
letters
Got Fun Festivals?
This Issue at a Glance 6 7 4 8
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Thank you for you help, Janie Metscaviz Vice Chair, Kewanee Hog Days
2. Chicago High School for the Agricultural Sciences
Editor’s note: Thanks for asking! We typically write all of the articles in the seasonal events section ourselves, but anyone is welcome to suggest an Illinois event. Just send an email to ilfbpartners@jnlcom.com, and be sure to include the event name, date, website and a brief description of what to expect. Due to space constraints, we can’t guarantee your event will be featured in the magazine, but contacting us directly will increase your chances. Please note that our deadline for winter events has already passed, but you can send in events scheduled for March 2012 and beyond for consideration.
3. 60th Annual Murphysboro Apple Festival
O Canada
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1. J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum in Atlanta
4. Zecher Photography in Aledo 5. Guided Barn Quilt Tour in Kankakee 6. Baker’s Memorial Fun Fly in Freeport 7. Farm fun, museums and nightlife in Aurora 8. Bootiful Nauvoo 2
I would like to submit an article for your event calendar. We have put together an article but aren’t sure how or where to send it. Could you please give me some advice as to how I can get this to the right person?
The fowl featured on the inside back cover of the Summer 2011 issue are Canada geese, not Canadian. Donald Gress, via email
Editor’s note: Canadian geese is a common misnomer, but Canada geese is the accurate name of these birds, which don’t necessarily come from Canada. Thanks for spotting our error and giving us a lesson in grammar!
Dairy Discovery Kudos to Kent and Kathy Johnson on raising two fine young men! I have known them for years and remember the boys as toddlers. Thank you for keeping the tradition of family farms alive and well while incorporating new technology. Finding the article in the summer issue was an “udder delight.” Christine (Gum) Carver Springfield
Correction In our Summer 2011 issue, we mistakenly said a record-holding Holstein produced 59,298 gallons of milk in a year. The cow actually produced 59,298 pounds of milk – or a little more than 6,895 gallons. As A.W. Smitherberger of Elgin pointed out, cows would need an udder the size of the barn to produce that many gallons! We apologize for the error and thank our eagle-eyed reader for catching this oversight.
write to us Email us at ilfbpartners@jnlcom.com. We welcome any feedback, story ideas, gardening questions or recommendations for our events section. Illinois Farm Bureau
Contents
Features 8 View Finder Mercer County farmer and photographer reaps a harvest of beautiful images
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12 Growing an Education Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences focuses on agriculture curriculum
18 Storing History Atlanta museum elevates grain’s past and present
Every Issue
26 Travel Illinois: Aurora
5 prairie state perspective
Live it up in the City of Lights
Dining ‘out’ around the campfire
6 Almanac Learn about new online games that teach kids about farming
17 country wisdom Analyzing inflation, the biggest financial risk you’ll ever face
20 recipes Get pumped for pumpkin recipes far beyond pie
24 Gardening Deciphering botanary, the language of gardeners
30 fall Events Tour the quilt-block-adorned barns in Kankakee County On the cover Chicago High School for the Agricultural Sciences Photo by Antony Boshier
26 more online Watch videos, read stories and browse photos at ilfbpartners.com.
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Volume 4, No. 3
Illinois
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Farm Bureau
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An official member publication of the Illinois Farm Bureau
Visit our website for videos, stories, recipes and much more
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Publisher Dennis Vercler Editor Dave McClelland Associate Editor Martin Ross Production Manager Bob Standard Photographic Services Director Ken Kashian President Philip Nelson Vice President Rich Guebert Jr. Executive Director of Operations, News & Communications Chris Magnuson
Managing Editor Jessy Yancey Copy Editor Jill Wyatt Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Blair Thomas Contributing Writers Joe Buhrmann, Carol Cowan, Charlyn Fargo, Celeste Huttes, Jessica Mozo, Jan Phipps, Joanie Stiers Media Technology Director Christina Carden Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Vikki Williams
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Media Technology Analysts Chandra Bradshaw, Lance Conzett, Michele Niccore, Marcus Snyder
Nancy’s Best Ever Pumpkin Bars These cakelike baked goods go from tasty to tantalizing when smothered in a simple cream cheese frosting. Find a link to the recipe at ilfbpartners.com/pumpkin-recipes.
Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier Web Designer Richard Stevens Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan Information Technology Director Yancey Bond Accounting Diana Guzman, Maria McFarland, Lisa Owens County Program Coordinator Kristy Duncan
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Receptionist Linda Bishop Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Sr. V.P./Operations Casey Hester Sr. V.P./Sales Todd Potter, Carla Thurman V.P./Custom Publishing Kim Holmberg V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Development Teree Caruthers V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens Controller Chris Dudley Marketing Creative Director Keith Harris Distribution Director Gary Smith
Serving up recipes, tips and food for thought
Illinois Farm Bureau Partners is produced for the Illinois Farm Bureau by Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (800) 333-8842. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Illinois Farm Bureau Partners (USPS No. 255-380) is issued quarterly by the Illinois Agricultural Association, 1701 Towanda Ave., P.O. Box 2901, Bloomington, IL 61702. Periodicals postage paid at Bloomington, IL 61702 and additional mailing offices. The individual membership fee of the Illinois Agricultural Association includes payment of $3 for a subscription to Illinois Farm Bureau Partners. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notices on Form 3579 to Illinois Farm Bureau Partners, P.O. Box 2901, Bloomington, IL, 61702-2901. Member
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Illinois Farm Bureau
prairie state perspective about the author Joanie Stiers writes from West-Central Illinois, 11 miles from where she met her husband at a wiener roast.
Dining ‘Out’ Wiener roasts evolve but remain fall-time favorite Fall-time wiener roasts rank second for my favorite casual meal. Only a meal in the field during the corn and soybean harvest can top it. My family likes to dine out – in the outside sense of the word. In fact, I met my husband at a wiener roast. We exchanged our first words near the fire. Three years later, we exchanged vows and began to weave wiener roasts into our marital journey. The attraction remains the casual outdoor attire, family nature and hearty, home-cooked food, including baked beans, cheesy potato casserole, apple salad and a darkened hot dog topped with two spoonfuls of my aunt’s homemade relish. I especially love that I can drop the garden hoe or park the lawn mower and attend a planned or impromptu roast with a five-minute prep time and grass clippings in my hair. No need to bathe, change clothes or put on makeup. The roasts are as inviting as our church’s annual ComeAs-You-Are Luncheon. The difference is you leave smellier than you arrived. The smoke permeates your hair and hooded sweatshirt with the scent of burnt wood and the occasional flame-raising paper plate. Like most farm activities, farm-based wiener roasts have evolved. Twenty years ago, Dad would pile logs bigger than fence posts in the barnyard or a grassy space away from the house. With matches, a little diesel fuel and some time to burn down, the fire was ready for roasting hot dogs or marshmallows with an 8-foot-long willow stick. Anything shorter would singe the eyebrows. In general, preparation was more extensive. We took
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the pickup truck to the wet spot of the cattle pasture to cut willows and whittle them into points for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. We pulled straw bales from the barn for seating. Now, we roll out the fire pit, grab some pre-cut firewood from the pile, unsack the camping chairs and wipe off the two-pronged metal hot dog sticks. Yet even with the changes, I still love wiener roasts, and the convenience means we experience them more often. Before the kids were born, my husband and I would pull out the fire pit on many late summer and early fall evenings for the ambiance and s’mores. We would talk about the day and wave at Farmer Don, whose truck sound and speed identified him before his style of wave. We look forward to these unplanned evening roasts again now that our youngest nears school age, old enough to respect the fireside rules. Over the years, wiener roasts have become the central theme for birthday parties, fishing trips, Fourth of July celebrations and our church’s Sunday School kickoff. The local 4-H club still has an annual one to start its membership year. I remember those gatherings. The 4-H leader presented the annual willow-stick safety speech, teaching 4- to 5-foot-tall kids how to carry the towering things and not fling flaming marshmallows. Speaking of the gooey delights, I keep marshmallows, Hershey bars and graham crackers on hand year round in s’more-designated containers. I’ve been known to crave even the chewier, microwavable version in winter for a flavor of crisp, fall days. ilfbpartners.com
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Lawn & Order With leaves falling from the trees and the scenery losing its summer color, we don’t always think of fall as an important time for lawn care. But caring for your yard properly in early autumn will make it healthier come spring. Here are some tips on lawn care this season: Fertilize. Add fertilizer during the early fall to replace the nutrients that were lost over the warm summer months. This will stimulate the growth of new root systems during the dormant winter months, which will cause the grass to grow more thickly in the spring. Get rid of the dead leaves. It can seem like fighting a losing battle, but raking your lawn is important. Stacks of dead leaves will shield your grass from the sun and cause it to die fairly quickly. Moist dead leaves can also foster diseases and mold that can be very harmful to your lawn. Clear the leaves away at least once a week for the best results. Source: www.lawncare.org/fall-lawn-care
A More Realistic “FarmVille” Work a booth at a farmers’ market, harvest the wheat from your field, sort the ingredients to make an apple pie – all while playing a computer game called My American Farm. My American Farm is a free online education resource developed by the American Farm Bureau Federation to engage kids, teachers and parents in agriculture through fun activities. Students can learn the nutritional content of produce with Farmers’ Market Challenge, or discover agriculture facts from all 50 states (did you know the common corn plant is 5 to 12 feet tall?) with Ag Across America. Check out the fun at www.myamericanfarm.org.
Feeding the World Do you know about the struggles farmers face when trying to feed the growing world? Farmers must produce enough food for the global population of 6.3 billion people. Today, the average U.S. farmer produces enough food to feed 155 people. According to the United Nations, global agriculture will have to produce 70 percent more food over the next 40 years than it does today. This means that by 2050, one farmer will have to produce enough food for 264 people. Learn more at ilfbpartners.com/feeding-the-world.
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Illinois Farm Bureau
almanac
Farm Focus: Pumpkins
Local Food 101 Hungry for an education in the local food movement? Classes are cropping up at several Illinois colleges.
More than 1 billion pounds of pumpkins are produced in the United States each year, and almost half – more than 495 million pounds – are grown in Illinois. The top pumpkin-producing counties in the state include Logan, Mason, Tazewell and Kankakee. Here are more fun facts:
Six community colleges across the state now offer classes that target students moving into careers for specialty crop and local food demands. The courses and training programs prepare students for careers working in the local food sector.
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Each school – Black Hawk Community College East Campus, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC), John Wood Community College, Joliet Junior College, Kankakee Community College and Lincoln Land Community College – developed a program suited for its resources and location.
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Students at IECC planted a vineyard, fruit orchard and vegetable crop to sell in the community through local restaurants, farmers’ markets and grocery stores. In a local food farming program at John Wood, students are trained in sustainable fruit and vegetable production and marketing.
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Perennials: To Cut or Not to Cut Pondering whether to cut back your perennials for winter? Many perennials, especially mums, are better left alone. They provide food and shelter to birds, and leaving the stems on aids in overwintering as the foliage helps to insulate the plants’ crowns. If you are bothered by foliage diseases, cut back perennials once they have gone dormant (after they have experienced several hard frosts). Cut the plants down to within 2-3 inches of the crown. Source: University of Illinois Extension
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Most pumpkins are grown for processing, not ornamental sales. Pumpkin flowers are edible. Pumpkins are a fruit. Pumpkins are 90 percent water. Pumpkins range in size from less than a pound to more than 1,000 pounds. Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites. Today, they aren’t considered remedies to either.
For more trivia, visit ilfbpartners.com/ farm-facts-pumpkins.
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View Finder Mercer County farmer and photographer reaps a harvest of beautiful images
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Illinois Farm Bureau
storY BY
Carol Cowan Antony Boshier
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
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n the chill of pre-dawn, feet wet with dew, Michael Zecher stands at the base of a rise, waiting for the day’s first rays to hit the John Deere combine atop the hill in front of him. When the moment comes – that moment when the sunrise on the eastern horizon shines mirrored on the combine’s green body and the sky behind blushes pink over blue – Zecher goes to work. Not harvesting the cornfields – at least, not today. Today, he snaps the shutter of a Canon 40D and documents this singular instant with the lens of his camera. “The excitement of photography for me is capturing a moment in time when everything comes together perfectly: the subject, the lighting and the composition – the sense of the moment that I tripped the shutter,” Zecher says.
Big Picture Show Zecher’s photography can be seen at the Old Threshers Reunion in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Sept. 1-5; Art in the Park in Galesburg on Sept. 10; and the Grand Detour Arts Festival in Grand Detour on Sept. 11. You can also view and purchase his work at www.zecherphoto.com.
Patience is the Virtue Arresting that certain bend of the grass or scud of the clouds across an azure sky requires patience, and lots of it – kind of like farming. In fact, the Mercer County farmer and photographer summarizes his technique in three words: “Patience, patience, patience.” Relying almost exclusively on natural light and returning to a location at different times of the day to get the perfect conditions, Zecher rarely tweaks his images in the “digital darkroom” after the initial snap. His goal is to faithfully represent each scene as he originally saw it. “I tend to be a very technical photographer, and I try to zero in on what is Michael Zecher finds inspiration in agriculture, which cultivated his career in photography.
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Arresting that certain bend of the grass or scud of the clouds across an azure sky requires patience, and lots of it – kind of like farming. core to what I’m seeing. I’ll shoot a picture and then I’ll look within that scene, trying to narrow it down to the key thing that catches the eye. I might step closer or try a different angle; I’ll put my camera down low or move it up high.” Bumper Crop of Images His painstaking technique has yielded a portfolio of more than 10,000 images, many with agricultural themes: a red barn dusted with snow looming tall above white-blanketed fields; farm buildings and a lone windmill silhouetted black against a golden sunset; rows of tasseled corn and rows of plump, yellow kernels; round hay bales in a dusty line. Nature scenes, wildlife and architecture fill out Zecher’s 10
repertoire, and his photography has taken him to 34 states, four foreign countries and 22 national parks. But his agricultural photographs are that for which he is most noted. He admits he was a little nervous before showing them for the first time in Chicago. “I wasn’t sure how the folks up there (about 170 miles from his home) would like pictures of corn and soybeans, but all different kinds of people had real positive memories of agriculture, so they were very interested. We’re extremely impressed with how well they’ve gone over,” Zecher says. Rooted in the Soil His own roots in agriculture run deep. Raised on a grain and livestock farm in Eastern Illinois, Zecher taught
high school agriculture in Auburn and then managed a feed production plant in western Iowa before moving to Aledo in 2009 to partner with his father-in-law in farming 2,200 acres of corn and soybeans. “Farming is still No. 1,” he says. “That’s where the bread and butter come from, and I really enjoy it. I like getting out, getting my hands dirty, and I like the variety of farming. There’s just something about the Illinois Farm Bureau
attachment to the earth. And there’s something very therapeutic about sitting in the tractor cab and driving all day long.” He stumbled into photography almost accidentally. “I actually bought my first camera back when I was teaching high school with the idea of taking pictures of the kids at FFA contests and just doing a little ag department promotion,” Zecher recalls. “When I started playing with
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it and taking some nature pictures, photography became a serious hobby.” Going Pro In 2008, Zecher began showing his work, and he and his wife, Jennifer, hit about a dozen shows each year. As for his gear, Zecher shot slide film on Canon’s Elan and A2 cameras before jumping the digital divide in 2005 with the purchase of a Canon 20D. In 2008, he acquired his
current “workhorse” – a Canon 40D. He also uses Canon lenses. “I’ve got a range of lenses, from the very wide angle to my longest lens, which is a 300mm, and then I’ve got some teleconverters I can put on that. I’ve definitely got quite a few toys to choose from,” he says. His advice to amateur photographers? “The big thing is patience,” he reiterates. “Take the time to go out and play with your camera.” ilfbpartners.com
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Illinois Farm Bureau
Growing an Education
Joanie Stiers PHOTOGRAPHY BY Antony Boshier storY BY
Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences teaches students that agriculture is much more than farming
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iana McMillian helped design and create a three-hole golf course as part of a multiyear, horticulture experience project at her high school. That’s not what the recent graduate expected from the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, a school she originally stereotyped as a place that taught kids how to farm. She left understanding the myriad opportunities in the agriculture industry. “People need to realize just what I learned: Agriculture is much more than farming,” says McMillian, who graduated in 2011 with an agricultural endorsement on her diploma. “It’s an important concept that needs to be learned in every school.” Like most schools, students at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences learn general subjects and can join
the debate league or basketball team. Unlike its counterparts, the nationally recognized, innovative curriculum at this enrollmentcapped magnet school enhances the traditional high school experience with real life agricultural applications and a strong emphasis on FFA and leadership. Students are chosen by lottery for the year-round school, which uses agriculture education at its core and industry-trained educators, such as veterinarians, food scientists and agribusiness professionals, to teach some of its courses. This approach, teamed with a campus that includes a nearly 50-acre working farm, a greenhouse, atrium, foodscience lab and other amenities, provides students with a unique education in agriculture from within the city limits. “It doesn’t matter if you’re in an urban or
Buy local The farm stand run by Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences students is located at 3857 W. 111th St. in Chicago, just off the South Side or 95th/Dan Ryan stops on the red line. Learn more about the high school at its website, www.chicagoagr.org.
Students at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences learn about testing the ammonia levels of water in a fish tank, above, and how to grow, harvest and market produce for the school’s farm stand.
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Illinois Farm Bureau
Left: Caring for livestock – including shearing sheep – is part of the hands-on experience at the high school. Above: Aloe is grown by horticulture students, while animal science students learn about pet checkups from Dr. Joan White, a veterinarian-turned-teacher.
rural environment. Ag impacts pretty much everything we do on a daily basis,” says Will Collins, a teacher and alumnus of the school. “I love the fact that our school is literally introducing students to a new concept that will impact them for the rest of their lives.” Students choose from the high school’s five career pathways, which are Animal Science, Agricultural Mechanics and Technology, Agricultural Finance, Horticulture and Food Science. They have an eight-week course in each pathway during their sophomore year and enter one by their junior year. These pathways are academic and career focused. After high school, some students continue agricultural studies or careers, such as recent graduate Joseph Moseley III, who is studying agricultural economics in college this fall. He has great interest in a career that works with mergers and acquisitions. Other students choose to use their intensive agricultural studies at the high school as a reference in non-ag careers. McMillian intends to use knowledge gained in her agricultural finance pathway to open her own physical therapy business after college. For two years, students take two hours of course work a day related to their pathway, says Scott Nelson, a teacher, campus farm manager and agronomist. That learning is intense and hands-on. “You can explain it on a chalkboard or video, but seeing it done firsthand is pretty
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amazing,” Nelson says. In fact, students are required to spend two summers on campus. Students run the school’s farm stand, which involves growing and marketing produce, such as peppers, squash, watermelon, tomatoes and pumpkins. Those interested in animal science care for the school’s livestock, which includes sheep, goats, horses, beef and dairy cattle, chickens, turkeys, pigs, groundhogs and iguanas. Chicago’s flower garden show includes entries from horticulture students. In the food lab, students make value-added products, such as zucchini bread, from campus-grown produce. These experiences also provide opportunities to meet an FFA requirement to maintain a Supervised Agricultural Experience, or SAE. All of the nearly 600 students in the school are members of the National FFA Organization. The school’s leadership foundation and student government structure is embedded in FFA, a component of the nation’s agricultural education curricula that helps students develop leadership, life skills and career achievements. “This was not my first choice school. This was actually my mom’s choice for me,” says McMillian, who is studying nutritional science in college this fall. “Now I feel it was the best decision that my mom could have made for me. I had a lot of opportunities and experiences that I wouldn’t have had at other high schools.”
# By the
Numbers
All Chicago Ag Sciences students are members of the National FFA Organization. Here are a few more FFA-related fun facts:
1929
Year the Illinois Association of Future Farmers of America was founded
1985
Year the Chicago Ag Sciences FFA Chapter was chartered
7,487
Number of FFA chapters in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
5
National rank of the Chicago Ag Sciences FFA chapter based on number of active members
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Surprising Ag Careers
Jeff Adkins
Agriculture industry employs one-fourth of the state’s work force
More online Agricultural job demand is increasing, but according to a recent report, there aren’t enough graduates to fill the positions. Learn about agricultural employment opportunities at www.ag.purdue.edu/ USDA/employment.
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Biochemists, biophysicists, veterinarians and environmental engineers in agricultural applications will be agriculture’s most in-demand jobs through 2015, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These job titles represent the norm: More agriculture jobs are found off the farm than on them. The agriculture industry actually employs 23 percent – nearly one-fourth – of Illinois’ work force, according to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Yet less than 2 percent of Illinois’ population works on farms. “The field of agriculture is so vast that you can make connections between what kids are learning here and what needs to be done in the agricultural world on so many levels that you can’t think of them all,” says Scott Nelson, a teacher and campus farm manager at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. The school’s alumni roster includes current U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, an
example of how an agricultural education could lead all the way to Washington, D.C. In fact, a number of non-agricultural companies are looking for employees with ag backgrounds, says Jennifer Neef, director of career services for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. For example, a wealth management firm needs a real estate analyst with a focus on farmland. A consulting firm needs employees with a foundation in weather science and crop production to link marketing decisions with weather prediction. Neef says an understanding of science will be a marketable asset for graduates moving forward. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture says 74 percent of agricultural job growth through 2015 is expected in business and science occupations; 15 percent in agriculture and forestry production; and 11 percent in education, communication and governmental services. Neef and Will Collins, who teaches an agricultural careers course at the Chicago Ag Sciences school, share the following ag careers that students and the general public may overlook: Biochemist or biophysicist Weather and crop production analyst Construction manager or architect Environmental engineer or scientist Agriculture teacher Food scientist, technologist or engineer Public relations specialist Agricultural engineer Genetic researcher Real estate analyst – Joanie Stiers
• • • • • • • • • •
Illinois Farm Bureau
country® wisdom about the author Joe Buhrmann is a Certified Financial Planner™ certificant and the Manager of Financial Security Field Support for COUNTRY Financial. Visit COUNTRY on the web at www.countryfinancial.com.
Inflation Investigation Analyzing the biggest financial risk you’ll ever face As the space shuttle made its final voyage, I reminisced about the Apollo missions three decades ago. When my brother gave me his stamp collection, the prized stamp was the one commemorating the Apollo-Soyuz 1975 mission. Though it’s a little ragged around the edges, it carries a much greater message than the one of hope, peace and cooperation it offered more than 30 years ago. Today, it’s an example of one of the biggest risks investors face: inflation. Inflation is an increase in prices, which means a decrease in purchasing power. As prices increase, it takes more money to purchase the same goods and services. In 1975, you could mail a letter using that Apollo-Soyuz stamp for one shiny dime. Today, it costs 44 cents to mail the same letter, an increase of 340 percent. Everything goes up, right? Wrong! In 1975, if you invested money in one of the safest investments – a 10-year note from the Department of Treasury – you received a 10-year, nearly risk-free investment backed by the U.S. government that earned 7.8 percent. Today, a similar 10-year Treasury note yields less than 4 percent. Your investments need to grow faster than the rate of inflation to allow you to accomplish all the great things in life – owning a bigger home, funding a college education or enjoying a comfortable retirement. According to Morningstar Associates, a leading authority on asset allocation and investment products, the inflation rate has averaged 3 percent over the last 15 years. At that rate, a 50-year-old earning $50,000 would need an income of $78,353 at age 65 to maintain the same standard of living. Geologists say that the rock formations that comprise
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Niagara Falls recede 3 to 4 inches each year due to the constant flow of water across the face of the falls. So it is with our investments. Regardless of size, our portfolios face the erosion effects of inflation. Even small amounts of water, given enough time, will fracture and reduce the size of rocks. Inflation works against us in a similar manner. We get used to the constant drip-drip-drip of inflation. But, over time, even strong portfolios can crumble. To lessen the impact of inflation upon investments, it’s important to have investments that grow faster than the inflation rate, such as stocks. According to Morningstar, between 1926 and 2010, large company stocks have provided average returns of 9.9 percent. During the same time frame, Morningstar indicates fixed-income investors, seeking “safe investments,” have seen returns averaging 3.6 percent for shorter-term securities and 5.5 percent for longer-term securities. To outpace inflation, investors need to look to stocks as a hedge against the devastating effects of inflation. Like stamps, plenty of products and services have increased in price over the years. Even with inflation at relatively low rates, it’s still a danger to our financial wealth – and health – and it’s still the biggest risk we face. People who reach their financial goals rarely go it alone. To learn more about inflation, consult your financial adviser. Investing in stocks does involve substantial risk to principal. Price and return will vary, so you may lose money. Investing for short periods makes losses more likely. Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity. You should evaluate risks and expenses carefully before investing. ilfbpartners.com
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Storing History Atlanta museum elevates agriculture’s past storY BY
Celeste Huttes Boshier
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Antony
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harming though it may be, the small farming community of Atlanta seems an unlikely destination for international tourism. But every year, visitors from around the world stop at the J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum to travel back in time. “It’s amazing – we just had three people here from Australia,” says Jim Coleman of the Atlanta Historical Preservation Council, which operates the museum. Located just a block off historic Route 66, the elevator was once a hub of grain storage and merchandising. Today, it is a working museum where visitors can learn about agriculture, transportation and commerce at the turn of the 20th century with exhibits such as the farm-to-table journey of corn flakes. The warm wooden structure, painted a bold brick red, stands in stark contrast to the sleek steel cylinders used for modernday grain storage. “You don’t see lumber like this anymore,” Coleman says. “This elevator is a monument to agriculture in this area 100 years ago – and today.” With a 30,000-bushel capacity, the elevator opened in 1903 to embrace a new era of largevolume grain commerce. After thriving for decades, it closed in 1976 amid growing demand for greater storage capacity and advances in transportation and technology. The elevator would be a faint memory today were it not for the vision of a group of citizens led by Deane May. “The city was talking about burning it down in 1988,” says Jim’s wife, Marge, a fellow council member.
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“We started researching the history and found that there just weren’t elevators like this anymore.” Thus, the preservation council was born, and members began the monumental task of restoration. The elevator reopened its doors on July 17, 1999 – this time as a museum. Along with the elevator, the site features a scale house, engine house and a 1927 boxcar staged where a railway once connected Atlanta to larger grain markets. A donated period scale and a building once used by the Cracker Jack Co. sit on the original foundation of the scale house, where untold wagonloads of grain have been weighed. The heartbeat of the operation is the brick engine house, carefully rebuilt using materials from the period. Today, it houses a restored 1920 gasoline engine that drives the conveyer belt. Inside, a vintage wooden farm wagon sits on two dump logs, which act like a seesaw, to show how gravity was used to empty grain from wagons into a pit under the floor. Cups along a conveyer belt carried the grain from the pit to the top of the 60-foottall building, where a spout dropped the grain into one of six storage bins. “You have to give Hawes credit – the elevator was sophisticated in its day,” Jim Coleman says. “Elevators still use the same system today to take the grain up.” What you won’t find at a modern-day elevator is the sense of nostalgia you’ll feel at the J.H. Hawes Elevator. As Marge Coleman says, “It’s wonderful to know you helped bring history back to life.”
Tour the Past From June through August, the J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum is open to the public on Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. Tours may also be arranged by appointment by calling (309) 830-8306. Special educational programs are available for school groups in grades 4-12. And if you’re looking for an unforgettable venue for a special event, the elevator is available for rental. All tours are free. Donations are welcome and are used to continue restoration of the elevator. Learn more at www.haweselevator.org.
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Pumped for
Pumpkin Fall recipes celebrate Illinois pumpkin growers 20
Illinois Farm Bureau
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Charlyn Fargo Mary Carter PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jeffrey S. Otto storY & recipes BY
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Photo Courtesy of flickr user robholland
food styling BY
id you know that farmers in Illinois grow more pumpkins than anywhere else in the world? They grow 95 percent of the pumpkins used for processing, according to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Most of that processing takes place in Morton, called the Pumpkin Capital of the World. And most of that pumpkin puree ends up in pumpkin pies. Those pumpkins grown in Morton aren’t the Halloween jack-o’-lantern pumpkins your kids carve. Both are members of the cucurbita family, which includes squash and cucumbers. But processing pumpkins are a different variety – typically smaller, meatier and sweeter – and more suited to cooking. They are often called sugar pie pumpkins. A medium-sized (4-pound) sugar pumpkin should yield around 1 ½ cups of mashed pumpkin. The puree can be used in any recipe calling for canned pumpkin. The field pumpkins, bred for perfect jack-o’lanterns, tend to be too large and stringy for baking, though it isn’t out of the question. Most parts of the pumpkin are edible, including the seeds, leaves, flowers and flesh. Pumpkin falls into one of the almost perfect foods category. A single cup of cooked pumpkin has just 83 calories and is packed with 3 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, and a whopping 2,650 IU (international units) of vitamin A. One cup of cooked pumpkin has more vitamin A than a cup of cooked carrots. The bright orange color is a dead giveaway that it’s loaded with beta-carotene, a plant carotenoid that is converted to vitamin A. As an antioxidant, it may help prevent against certain kinds of cancer and protect against heart disease. This fall, think outside of the pie plate – add a little canned pumpkin into your next protein shake or try it in bread, muffins or pancakes. Turn the page to find these recipes.
Prepping Pumpkin All three ways to prep pumpkin for use in recipes begin the same way: Cut the pumpkin in half, and discard the stem section and stringy pulp. Save the seeds to dry and roast. Then, you have three options: Baking Method In a shallow baking dish, place the two halves facedown and cover with foil. Bake in a 375-degree oven for about 1 ½ hours for a medium-sized sugar pumpkin or until tender. Once the baked pumpkin has cooled, scoop out the flesh, and puree or mash it. For silky smooth custards or soups, press the puree through a sieve (sifter). Boiling Method Peel the pumpkin and cut it into chunks. Place in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until tender. Let the pumpkin cool, and then puree the flesh in a food processor or mash it with a potato masher or food mill. Microwave Method Microwave the halves on high power for 7 minutes per pound, turning pieces every few minutes to promote even cooking. Process as above. You can refrigerate fresh pumpkin puree for up to 3 days, or store it in the freezer up to 6 months.
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Henrietta’s Pumpkin Bread 1
cup oil
3 cups sugar 3 eggs 1
can pure pumpkin (or homemade puree)
3 cups flour 1
teaspoon each: cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg
1
teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1
cup pecans, chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together oil, sugar, eggs and pumpkin. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl, and add to pumpkin mixture. Add nuts. Prepare three small loaf pans or one large Bundt pan with cooking spray. Pour in batter. Bake for about an hour or until toothpick comes out clean.
More online Hungry for more? Find a link to the recipe for Nancy’s Best Ever Pumpkin Bars at
ilfbpartners.com/ pumpkin-recipes.
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Illinois Farm Bureau
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins ¾ cup brown sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 ¼ teaspoons ground
2
eggs
1
cup pumpkin puree
¼ teaspoon salt
cinnamon
¼ cup water
½ teaspoon ground
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup semisweet
nutmeg chocolate chips
½ teaspoon baking soda
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease and flour muffin pan, or use paper liners. Mix together sugar, oil and eggs. Add pumpkin and water. In separate bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices and salt. Add wet mixture to dry mixture, and mix together. Stir in chocolate chips. Fill muffin cups 2 3 full with batter. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.
Pumpkin Pancakes 3 cups milk 1 cup pumpkin puree 1 egg 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground allspice
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon ground ginger
3 tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
In a bowl, mix together milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Add dry mixture to the pumpkin mixture, stirring just enough to combine. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately ¼ cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides, flipping first side when bubbles form, and serve hot. Makes 12-18 pancakes.
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Gardening
Garden Speak
Understanding botanary, the language of gardeners
H
about the author Jan Phipps is a University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener. She farms, gardens, writes and podcasts near Chrisman.
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ave you ever been around a group of gardening enthusiasts who seem to be talking in a foreign language? We gardeners like our slang, language shortcuts and horticultural lingo. Here are some of the more common words and phrases you’ve probably heard, beginning with botanary, which is short for botanical dictionary. Let’s start with the phrase, sleep, creep and leap. This refers to perennials. The first year there is little above-ground growth because the plant is establishing roots. The second year it grows a little, but by the third year it is mature and may be multiplying. How about M.A.D.? When you put a
plant somewhere other than its ideal growing conditions, that plant has to either move, adapt or die. I know, it’s a harsh world out there, even in the garden. You’ve probably figured out doesn’t like wet feet refers to plants that need good drainage, but why? Roots need oxygen, which is present in air spaces between soil particles. When those spaces are filled with water, the roots essentially drown. What the heck is a green manure crop, you ask? It is something planted with the express purpose of turning it into the soil to enrich the nutrient level. Green manure crops can be planted anytime, but are most often established in the fall. Illinois Farm Bureau
Ask an expert
Q
There are fanshaped, mushroomy looking things growing from the base of my tree. What should I do? Answer Nothing. I’m sorry, but your tree is dead or soon will be. The fungus you described indicates the final stages of root rot.
Grasses are used to provide organic matter. Legumes are used because of their nitrogenfixing capability, and certain brassicas and mustards are deterrents to various nematodes, fungi, and insects. A sport is a serendipitous quirk of nature that provides the horticulture industry with new plants. What looks like a malformation on an otherwise normal plant is removed and cultivated. Many of the dwarf varieties of conifers started out as a sport. Speaking of conifers, did you know those tan tubes at the end of branches appearing each spring are called candles? They contain the new year’s growth. What is a thug? It’s slang for a plant that
Fall 2011
reproduces a little too fast, spreading and crowding out the neighboring plants. Beware of friends giving you a pass-along plant with the description, “It spreads a bit.” Perhaps, but it could also be a thug. During a drought, you may hear gardeners talking about using gray water to water their plants. Gray water is water that has already been used once to do the dishes or as bath water. It is a responsible way to conserve water but keep your garden alive during water restrictions mandated by municipalities. Now that you are in the know with the language of botanary, you too can pepper your conversation with garden speak.
Q
I want to grow my own pumpkins next year. Advice? Answer You need lots of room for their long vines and big leaves. Plant when the soil is consistently warm and water during dry spells. It’s a fun crop. E-mail your gardening questions to Jan at ilfbpartners@jnlcom.com.
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{Travel Illinois}
Aurora Live it up in the City of Lights storY BY
Jessica Mozo
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Antony
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Boshier
Illinois Farm Bureau
A
urora may lie in the shadow of big brother Chicago, but as its motto states, Aurora is “a city second to none.” With a fast-growing population nearing 200,000, Aurora is Illinois’ second-largest city and offers endless opportunities for dining, shopping, socializing, museum hopping, gaming, nightlife, and soaking up local history and agricultural flavor. Located 37 miles west of Chicago, Aurora was nicknamed the “City of Lights” in 1908 for being one of the first U.S. cities to install an all-electric street lighting system. Fun on the Farm There’s no better time than fall to enjoy a day on the farm, and Aurora’s Blackberry Farm Pioneer Village is a fun day trip for kids and adults alike. The historic farmturned-living-history museum is sprawled out
on 54 picturesque acres, and visitors can watch live demonstrations of blacksmithing, spinning, weaving, sewing and pottery. Blackberry Farm has five museums containing 19th century artifacts, carriages, a Victorianera music shop, pharmacy, general store and toy store. Kids love riding the farm’s restored miniature train and old-fashioned hay wagon rides along Blackberry Creek, and they can also ride a carousel and ponies. Picnic spots are sprinkled throughout the grounds, and you can also buy food (sandwiches, salads and snacks) at the farm’s Summer Kitchen. Pick up a souvenir in the general store, which carries handcrafted textiles and pottery made on site. In nearby Yorkville, Lyon Farm and Village is maintained by the Kendall County Historical Society and has 15
Aurora Area Must-Sees SciTech Hands-On Museum Paramount Theatre Hollywood Casino America’s Historic Roundhouse Phillips Park Blackberry Farm Pioneer Village Fabyan Dutch Windmill Esther’s Place Fiber Arts Studio Downtown Aurora William Tanner House Museum
Left: The Hollywood Casino overlooks the Fox River in downtown Aurora. Above: A caboose at Lyon Farm and Village in nearby Yorkville is among many sites showcasing Kendall County’s railroad history.
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Batavia Depot Museum
10 Places to Shop ‘Til You Drop Aurora Farmers Markets Chicago Premium Outlets Westfield Fox Valley Shopping Mall Kendall Marketplace West Aurora Plaza North Aurora Towne Center Kane County Flea Market David L. Pierce Art & History Center Electibles Out of the Attic Antiques
historic buildings depicting local history. The village comes alive in September for its annual Fall Festival (slated for Sept. 24-25), complete with crafters, antique cars and tractors, a flea market and bake sale, children’s games, a petting zoo, hayrides, and live entertainment. Each October, Lyon Farm hosts Halloween parties with old-fashioned games, a costume parade, prizes, trick-or-treating and hayrides through the farm’s haunted barn. The parties are scheduled for Oct. 23 and 30. Phillips Park is another outdoor wonderland with 325 acres of attractions. It is home to the Phillips Park Zoo, which offers free admission and features 100 animals representing 41 different species. Phillips Park also has an 18-hole golf course, fishing lake, a one-mile trail, war memorials, the Mastodon Gallery and the Sunken Garden. Downtown Aurora Downtown Aurora is a feast for the senses, with eye-catching architecture, beautiful landscaping and the scenic Fox River
The Paramount Theatre
running through it. Pick up a tour brochure at the Aurora Convention & Visitors Bureau to discover all that downtown has to offer. Aurora’s award-winning Downtown Cell Phone Walking Tour and Heritage Tour are self-guided and give visitors a peek at Aurora’s unusual buildings, modern sculptures and works by world-renowned architects. While downtown, catch a show at the fabulous Paramount Theatre – you can’t miss the lighted marquee. The 1931 art deco movie palace was Illinois’ first airconditioned building outside Chicago and entertained crowds for more than 40 years with “talking pictures,” vaudeville, concerts and circus performances. The theater underwent a $1.5 million restoration in the 1970s and added a 12,000square-foot lobby in 2006. It presents a roster of world-class performers, plays and touring musicals each year. In 2011, Paramount’s Broadway series will include “My Fair Lady” in September and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in November.
Gone With the Wind Ever seen a real working windmill? You can just north of Batavia along Illinois Route 25. The Fabyan Dutch Windmill has been praised as the best example of an authentic Dutch windmill in the United States. It stands 68 feet tall and was built between 1850 and 1860 by two German craftsmen. In 1997, the Kane County Forest Preserve District invested more than $900,000 to fully restore the historic windmill. It opened to the public in 2005, and tours are available on weekend afternoons from May 15 through Oct. 15, and by appointment. Call (630) 208-8662 for touring information.
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Illinois Farm Bureau
local flavor Hollywood Casino is another jewel in downtown Aurora’s crown. Situated along the Fox River, the casino provides more than 53,000 square feet of gaming space with 1,100 slots, as well as table games and restaurants. Visitors can also browse its impressive collection of movie memorabilia. Museums Crank an old fire engine siren and learn about the firefighting history of the Aurora area at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. Housed in the old 1894 Central Fire Station, children and adults have been touring the building on Broadway for more than 100 years. The museum houses more than 1,000 artifacts, 2,000 photographs and seven pieces of fire apparatus, from an 1850s hand pumper to a 1960s aerial ladder truck. Kids love the museum’s five interactive kiosks on fighting fires. In nearby Batavia, explore local railroad history at the Batavia Depot Museum, housed in the previously abandoned 1854 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Depot. Try your hand at sending messages using Morse code on the museum’s live telegraph keys, and check out its collection of railroad artifacts and photos. The inside of the depot looks much like it did a century ago, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Rounding out Aurora museums is the family-friendly SciTech Hands-On Museum, which teaches kids about weather, electricity and astronomy through interactive exhibits.
Payton’s Pride Roundhouse scores with fabulous food, local beers
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hile in Aurora, enjoy lunch or dinner at America’s Historic Roundhouse, a 70,000-square-foot entertainment complex with a restaurant, microbrewery, 14 bars and a comedy club. Built in 1856, the structure is America’s oldest limestone roundhouse and was originally built with 22 stalls to house and repair locomotives. The deteriorating structure was redeveloped in 1995 by NFL Hall of Famer Walter Payton and is now a thriving destination and nightspot. “We have a huge high-definition TV where we broadcast all the Chicago Bears games, and we regularly host comedy acts and live bands,” says Mike Rybinski, brewmaster at the Roundhouse. The complex also hosts weekly events such as salsa dancing. The Roundhouse menu spans the culinary spectrum from traditional pub food to upscale cuisine. “We hand-trim our steaks on a daily basis, and we grind up the trimmings into ground tenderloin to make our signature pub burger, which is very good,” Rybinski says. “We smoke our own ribs and make our own real mashed potatoes too. One popular appetizer is our jalapeño shrimp wrapped in paper-thin prosciutto. It’s delicious.” The menu also includes seafood, barbecue, pork chops with mashed sweet potatoes, prime rib, decadent desserts and creative drink options. “Our drink staff comes up with creative drinks of the month. In April, we did a drink called Easter Island that was garnished with a marshmallow Peep,” Rybinski says. “Our beers are a big attraction with beer fans, because we have won three World Beer Cup gold medals.” On Sundays, the Roundhouse serves brunch from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., including waffles, omelets, eggs Benedict, french toast and a createyour-own bloody mary bar.
More online Visit www.rh34.com for more information on the Roundhouse, including a calendar of events, drink specials and online reservations.
Walk in the Woods Uncover the secrets of Devil’s Cave at Red Oak Nature Center, a 40-acre natural paradise on the east bank of the Fox River. Devil’s Cave is one of the few caves in the Chicago area. While at Red Oak, hike one of three scenic walking trails, enjoy panoramic views from the Interpretive Center’s observation deck, and watch for wildlife including bald eagles, red fox and deer. There are also designated picnic areas.
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fall Events
Barn Again Oct. 1, Kankakee Thirty barns in Kankakee County are adorned with hand-painted quilt blocks, representing the area’s rural heritage. Learn about the history behind these farms and quilt patterns during the annual Barn Quilt Guided Tour in October. The Kankakee County CVB invites visitors to join them for a countywide tour, with a choice of three different routes. Each tour is approximately three hours long.
More online To learn more, go to www.visitkankakee county.com or call (800) 747-4837.
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Illinois Farm Bureau
This listing includes a few events to add to your calendar in September and October from around the state. Dates were accurate at press time but are subject to change. Please check with the contact listed before traveling long distances to attend. Additional information on Illinois events also is available online through the Illinois Bureau of Tourism’s website, www.enjoyillinois.com.
A Site for Soar Eyes Sept. 3, Freeport Watch the weekend fly by at Baker’s Memorial Fun Fly, during which members of the Freeport Radio Control Modelers Club pilot radio-controlled model airplanes all day. Families can gather and watch club members – who are accredited by the Academy of Model Aeronautics – fly the airplanes they’ve built. The club was organized in 1963 and now has about 40 members. Baker’s Memorial Fun Fly will be held on the club’s field, located about two miles north of Freeport and one mile west of Highway 26. For more information about the club and its event, visit www.freeportilrcmodelers.com.
No Passport Necessary
The festival is downtown, and admission and parking are free. To learn more, visit www.longgroveonline.com or call (847) 634-0888.
A (Red) Delicious Festival Sept. 14-18, Murphysboro Take a bite out of fall during the fiveday Murphysboro Apple Festival, the oldest and largest alcohol-free festival in Southern Illinois. More than 45,000 attendees each year come to see the car show, apple pie eating contest, apple core throwing contest, marching band competition and the Appletime 5K walk/run. The 60th annual festival features a grand parade with more than 160 floats, as well as a general store offering caramel apples, cider and other treats. For a full list of apple festival events, visit www.murphysboro.com.
Sept. 3-5, Long Grove Travel around the world without leaving Long Grove at the town’s World Tour 2011. This Labor Day weekend festival celebrates various cultures with ethnic foods, music and dance. Experience German oompah bands, Irish step dancing and the Scottish fling while browsing internationally themed shops honoring their heritage. Formerly known as Irish Days, this festival has expanded over the years and now includes Brazilian, British, Canadian, French, German, Greek, Irish, Italian, Mexican, Polish and Scandinavian cultures.
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Just Like Lincoln Sept. 16-18, Lincoln Once a considerable chore, splitting logs into rails is now celebrated as a fierce competition at the Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Contest. Men and women compete in four divisions for railsplitting, and other events include a trap shoot, tomahawk throw and woodcarving demonstrations. Arts, crafts, food and children’s games are also on the agenda. The event was first celebrated in 1970, and during its early years, emphasis was
placed on historical accuracy. Everyone who participated in the competition had to wear period costumes. Today, competitors can dress how they please, but the task of splitting rails is the same as it has been since Lincoln’s day. Discover more about the art of railsplitting, this festival and its competition rules by visiting www.railsplitting.com.
Finding Fall’s True Colors Oct. 15-16, Pittsfield Discover the beauty of Western Illinois in autumn by taking a scenic drive through Pike County. Each of the county’s towns – including Barry, Griggsville, Pleasant Hill and Pittsfield – offers a unique roster of events, activities, craft vendors and food specialties for those passing through on the annual Pike County Fall Color Drive. The event’s website provides a list of events in each town so travelers can customize their journey. Find more details about Pike County, its communities and a downloadable map at www.pikecolordrive.com.
Ghost Town Oct. 29, Nauvoo With hundreds of pumpkins lightning up the night, a haunted house, and a ghost and goblins parade, Nauvoo certainly knows how to celebrate Halloween with its spooky annual festival, Bootiful Nauvoo. Local volunteers intricately carve the pumpkins to line historic Mulholland Street, and families can enjoy a number of festivities, including fortune tellers, face painting, food, live entertainment, games and a scary movie. To learn more about the event, go online to www.beautifulnauvoo.com. ilfbpartners.com
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illinois in focus
Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford feature picturesque waterfalls surrounded by the warm colors of autumn. staff photo
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