Summer 2009, ILFB Partners

SUMMER 2009

ILLINOIS

FARM BUREAU

®

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS

ILFBPARTNERS.COM

Tastes Like

Summer Gather up some fresh produce and head for the kitchen

CHAMPIONS OF ANIMAL CARE

BE A LOCAVORE Find links to farmers’ markets online

HAYFIELDS OF DREAMS

LETTERS

Our Featured Reader

Q

What is the purpose of the Ottawa Art League?

ANSWER The Ottawa Art League was established in 1967 by a group of artists from the Illinois Valley Area. We help cultivate a greater interest in art and encourage camaraderie among area artists.

We arrange local competitions, monthly meetings and six fine art shows each year.

ADRIENNE PIKE ADELPHIA Passionate about art, agriculture and the outdoors, Adrienne Pike Adelphia has found a unique way to combine all these into a career.

An artist and entrepreneur in Ottawa, Ill., Adelphia operates two small businesses, A’s Lawn & Landscape and A.P. Art, along with growing herbs and vegetables for the farmers’ market.

Adelphia’s roots lie in agriculture; her father raises corn and soybeans. She also serves as president of the Ottawa Art League.

Q

How does Illinois agriculture inspire your own artwork?

ANSWER All of my artwork is based on and influenced by nature. Because I grew up on a crop farm, the importance of rain became pretty obvious to me early in life.

A lot of my work is based on the importance of water to life, and even more recently, the ripple effect – how one small thing can change everything else around it.

Q

What is your favorite outdoor attraction in Illinois?

ANSWER Starved Rock State Park is amazing; it’s located between Ottawa and Utica. Ottawa and its surrounding areas are beautiful – full of rivers, valleys, sandstone canyons, waterfalls and trees.

It’s a great area for water recreation and hiking. Also, my husband and I really enjoy kayaking on the Vermilion River.

Q

What do you consider the most important agricultural issues today?

ANSWER I think some of the biggest issues we face are sustainable living and agriculture; soil, water, and wildlife conservation; and a need for the planting of more trees.

GARDENING DILEMMAS Editor’s note: Gardening woes? Jan Phipps, our gardening guru, is available to help. Read some of Jan’s responses to your questions below, then turn to page 24 for her latest column.

Hi Jan. My husband and I have been plagued with cabbage maggots in our vegetable garden the last few years.

Is there anything we can do?

Cindy and Lee Roy Sent via e-mail

Jan’s note: Cabbage maggots are most common in cool, wet soils that have had a recent addition of manure. Don’t plant until the soil has warmed and only use thoroughly composted manure. If the problem persists, protect the plants with a row cover or screen so the flies that cause the maggots can’t get to the plant or soil.

I have a large plot of June-bearing red raspberries, and in the past few years, the berries have been small and crumble when you go to pick them. What is the cause?

Ed Sent via e-mail

Jan’s note: It sounds like a disease. Take a sample, including a cane, leaves and berries to your county Extension office, and someone there can help you or send the sample for testing.

I read a recent article you wrote on composting, and was wondering how often I should turn my compost pile?

Ron Sent via e-mail

Jan’s note: Once a month from May through September works for me. I turn it less often in the cooler months of spring and fall.

Correction: The website for the Princess Theatre of LeRoy [Spring 2009, page 6] is www.leroyprincess.com.

“All of my artwork is based on and influenced by nature.”

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WRITE TO US E-mail us at ilfbpartners@jnlcom.com. We welcome any feedback, ideas, gardening questions or requests to become our featured reader.

Illinois Farm Bureau

CONTENTS

Features 8 Cream of the Crop

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Family-run Eckert’s Country Store and Farms sells high-quality produce and more.

12 Champions of Animal Care

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Stop by your local fair to learn more about Illinois livestock producers.

18 Eat Like Locavores Farmers’ markets encourage finding high-quality, fresh foods close to home.

26 Travel Illinois Learn why Kankakee is easy to find and hard to leave.

Every Issue 5 PRAIRIE STATE PERSPECTIVE Sunny days and storytelling arrive with the season’s hayfields of dreams.

6 ALMANAC Shop ‘til you drop at the all-night flea market.

17 COUNTRY WISDOM Discover the ABCs of investing.

20 RECIPES Enjoy a taste of summer with farm-fresh produce.

24 GARDENING Pinching and deadheading improve a plant’s appearance.

30 SUMMER EVENTS Things to do, places to see.

ON THE COVER Sautéed Shrimp Farfalle Photo by Jeffrey S. Otto

MORE ONLINE Watch videos, read stories and browse photos at ilfbpartners.com.

Summer 2009

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VOLUME 2, NO. 2

ILLINOIS

FARM BUREAU

®

AN OFFICIAL MEMBER PUBLICATION OF THE ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU

ILLINOIS PHOTOS, VIDEOS, ARTICLES, BLOGS AND MORE

®

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

Web Exclusive

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

Managing Editor Kim Newsom Associate Editor Jessy Yancey

Farmers’ market shopping secrets

Copy Editor Joyce Caruthers Online Content Manager Matt Bigelow Contributing Writers Joe Buhrmann, Charlynn Fargo, Jessica Mozo, Jan Phipps, Karen Schwartzman, Joanie Stiers Senior Photographer Brian McCord

| FARM |

| FOOD |

| FINDS |

Staff Photographers Jeff Adkins, Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier, Ian Curcio, Kyle Keener Creative Director Keith Harris Senior Graphic Designer Laura Gallagher

Bountiful Gardens Summer is here, and flowers are in full bloom. But then again, so are weeds, pests and more. Go online to submit your gardening questions and frustrations to our resident expert, Jan Phipps.

Veggie Tales Few would disagree that tomatoes taste best when just plucked from the vine. In this prime vegetable season, visit our Food section for great salads, sides and entrées.

All recipes can be printed or e-mailed.

Summer Travel

Associate Production Director Christina Carden

Get outdoors and travel Illinois! Go online to weigh in on your favorite summer activities, whether it’s boating, horseback riding, exploring Illinois cities, or even relaxing in your own backyard.

Web Design Director Franco Scaramuzza

Ad Traffic Jessica Childs, Marcia Millar, Patricia Moisan, Raven Petty Web Development Director Brian Smith Web Project Managers Andy Hartley, Yamel Ruiz Web Designer Carl Schulz Web Production Jennifer Graves Color Imaging Technician Twila Allen Integrated Media Manager Kelly McBrayer For online advertising information, contact Kelly McBrayer, (800) 333-8842, ext. 277, or e-mail kmcbrayer@jnlcom.com Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Sr. V.P./Operations Casey Hester Sr. V.P./Sales Carla Thurman V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Editorial Director Teree Caruthers Production Director Natasha Lorens

ILLINOIS BLOG

Photography Director Jeff Otto Controller Chris Dudley Accounting Moriah Domby, Diana Guzman, Maria McFarland, Lisa Owens

“Economic stimulus, great.

Economic over-stimulation, not so much.”

READ MORE IN “WHAT’S THE ISSUE?”

WATCH A VIDEO Summertime means fresh peaches at Sager Farms in Kell. See this and more Illinois videos at ilfbpartners.com.

Advertising Sales Manager, Custom Division Beth Murphy Distribution Director Gary Smith Custom/Travel Sales Support Rachael Goldsberry Sales/Marketing Coordinator Rachel Matheis 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 Member

Magazine Publishers of America Custom Publishing Council

Please recycle this magazine

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Illinois Farm Bureau

PRAIRIE STATE PERSPECTIVE

A (Hay)Field of Dreams jobs of my grandpa’s nearly eight decades of life. Traditional square baling in modern agriculture today is as close as I can get, considering he started farming with horses.

Many farmers reflecting on today’s youth will often express general disappointment in their work ethic. Hence the phrase, “It’s hard to find good hay help.”

Few want to endure the manual labor – one of the reasons that manufacturers have developed more modern hay production methods.

But expense and heritage keeps some farm families baling small squares the same way they have for decades.

One method dictates that the baling team rides an open hayrack like surfboarders, and they are armed with pirate-like hooks. They stab the hook into an approaching 60-pound bale and pull it onto the rack. Someone grabs the bale by its strings and lifts it into position.

Despite the heat and hard work, I still begged to substitute for Mom on the square baling team in exchange for babysitting our daughter a few summers ago. I wanted to prove I could remain in the class of “good hay help.”

I also needed an updated bedtime story to share.

Fresh hay bales are as much a symbol of summer as a Popsicle that melts faster than my toddler can eat it. To my family, the first bales of the season signify that we can spend more time outdoors until bedtime because lengthier sunny days have arrived.

The bales also become an eye-pleasing addition to the rural Illinois landscape, especially for our daughter, who likes to count items and identify shapes.

The shapes and sizes of this livestock forage dictate our discussion of them in the minivan, our daughter’s primary bale-spotting vehicle. I explain that most bales today are round, taller than Dad, and entirely created and moved by machine. The cows from the nearby pasture enjoy any edible shape, but only the “small squares” win a badge from Grandpa for proving endurance and work ethic.

The traditional, laborious method of making, gathering and storing square bales happens less often in farm country, but when it does, the task proves a challenge for even the fittest of high school football players. And so comes the storytelling.

Perhaps one night this summer I will share a bedtime story about baling from my high school days, but Great Grandpa could tell some better ones.

Baling remains one of the most physically demanding Summer 2009

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joanie Stiers writes from rural Williamsfield, where the appearance of fresh hay bales implies that warm and lengthy sunny days have arrived. ilfbpartners.com

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Antiques at 3 a.m.?

You won’t want to miss the annual All-Night Flea Market in Wheaton on Aug. 22.

With 37 years of tradition and more than 300 dealers, this bargain hunt has been named the world’s fifth best flea market by the Travel Channel, with more than 8,000 shoppers each year.

Plan to arrive at sundown or later, and as you meander throughout the DuPage County fairgrounds, you’re likely to find antiques, collectibles, oddities and more. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight or lantern!

For more information, call (715) 526-9769.

A Hidden Keepsake Among the roses of the manor at Cuneo Gardens in Vernon Hills, you’ll find tokens from the era when American culture reached full bloom.

In the early 20th Century, a businessman named Samuel Insull established an estate and hired renowned landscaper Jens Jensen to beautify the grounds.

Another landscaper, John Cuneo Sr., acquired the property during the Great Depression and tacked on his own touches inside and outside the home.

The home became Cuneo Museum & Gardens in the 1990s, and today, statues, columns, and trees stand guard over the vintage tract. Fountains, ponds, meadows premises. and woods add harmony to the premises See more photos and plan a visit at www.cuneomuseum.org.

BRING THE TROPICS HOME B T Tropical gardening is quite literally a hot new trend among Illinois plant enthusiasts. Most are incorporating tropical varieties into annual or perennial enth borders borde because of their huge, shiny leaves and bold colors. And believe it or not, these the plants thrive in Illinois’ summers, which are usually filled with plenty of sun, h heat and humidity.

MORE ONLINE For more ideas on tropical gardening and plants to try, visit ilfbpartners.com.

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Illinois Farm Bureau

ALMANAC

®

Breaking Ground

A Site To See If Abe Lincoln is highlighted at a site, chances are the place is worth seeing.

Downtown Vandalia is home to Illinois’ oldest surviving capitol building – the Vandalia State House.

This two-story building served as the state’s fourth state house, governing from 1836 until 1839. Today, visitors can explore the painted brick building independently or follow a guided tour.

The rooms are furnished with artifacts and relics from the 19th Century, and informational signs in the hall explain each room. A small exhibit dedicated to Lincoln is found on the first floor.

On some days during the summer, characters dressed in 1830s attire greet visitors to the historic building. For hours and more information, call (618) 283-1161.

SAY HELLO TO HEIRLOOMS Did you know that the tomato is the most popular garden bounty in America? And in recent years, heirloom versions have become quite popular. The science behind heirlooms tells us that seeds saved from nonhybrid varieties produce plants quite similar to the parent plant – which offers us some more interesting and unique tomato flavors and types.

John Deere continues to crank out groundbreaking ideas – just ask the 1.5 million guests who have visited the John Deere Pavilion in Moline.

Since opening in 1997, the facility has greeted guests from all 50 states and more than 50 countries, informing them about the history and outlook of John Deere.

The pavilion has become the Quad Cities’ hottest tourist attraction as well as one of Illinois’ top five places to visit.

To learn more, visit www.deere.com.

MORE ONLINE Learn more about heirloom varieties of tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables at ilfbpartners.com.

Summer 2009

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With more than seven generations’ worth of family farming, Eckert’s Country Store and Farms sells produce that’s the

Creamof the

Crop STORY BY

Joanie Stiers Jeff Adkins

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

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Illinois Farm Bureau

C

hris Eckert’s ancestors likely didn’t foresee that urban development would be their farming family’s biggest challenge, yet its most exciting opportunity at the same time.

The Eckert family’s German ancestors began farming in Southwestern Illinois in 1837, with commercial fruit production a primary focus since about 1900. Today, the sixth and seventh generations operate Eckert’s Country Store and Farms, which has grown to become the largest you-pick apple and peach orchard in the nation.

The business serves a half million customers per year at its locations in Belleville, Millstadt and Grafton, all within 20 to 50 minutes of St. Louis.

“Our biggest challenge going forward is urban sprawl,” says Eckert, company president and a seventh-generation operator of the family business. “We’re on the edge of the city limits, and part of the ground we have historically farmed is

TIP Chris Eckert offers his suggestions for selecting fresh summer produce.

• The closer the fruit or vegetable is grown to where you live, the better it’s going to taste.

• Avoid bulk produce.

Produce is perishable and meant to be purchased in small quantities more often.

• Produce generally should feel heavy for its size, which means the item has adequate moisture.

• Choose bright-colored and firm vegetables.

Visitors to Eckert’s Country Store and Farms ride out to the farm on wagons for an authentic peach-picking experience.

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MORE ONLINE Find the ripening schedule for you-pick crops at www.eckerts.com.

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being developed. We have to sharpen our retail saw and be able to compete in a very tough marketplace.”

The Millstadt and Grafton retail farms, open seasonally, focus on apples and pumpkins. Belleville is the heart of the family business, where its year-round operations include a gourmet specialty food store, 200-seat restaurant, ice cream shop, and lawn-and-garden center. Customers select from seasonal homegrown peaches, apples, pumpkins, strawberries, blackberries, tomatoes and Christmas trees.

“Today, our focus has really turned toward the retail business,” Eckert says. “We found

that there is a lot of opportunity going forward for us to build upon our history as a producer and partner up with producers in our area and provide a full range of locally produced products.”

In addition to their own farm-grown crops, the Eckerts sell goods from local producers of wine, beef, pork, cheese, apple butter, honey, jelly, chocolate and more.

It was Chris’ great grandfather and fourth-generation Eckert farmer, Alvin O. Eckert, who launched the family into commercial fruit production by opening a roadside farm stand in 1910.

Alvin’s sons joined him in a partnership,

Illinois Farm Bureau

and the business expanded significantly from 1925 to 1950 into diversified industries with the retail portion still existent today.

The sixth generation deserves credit for starting pick-your-own operations at a time when wholesaling had proved the primary way to sell fruit. The Eckerts determined that you-pick apples generated more profit on fewer acres. The farm downsized from 700 to 150 acres of apples and began attracting 300,000 to 400,000 pick-your-own customers.

“It was a big shift in the way we do

business, and a good one,” Eckert says.

“It is a more profitable business and you have more control over the market.

But you also have the new risks. Our business is very heavily skewed to the fall and particularly weekends in the fall.

If we get rain during one of those autumn weekends, it can have a negative impact on our income for the year.”

Pressure from weather, insects and plant diseases remains among the operation’s biggest production threats.

The farm focuses on scouting, management and limited pesticide use to minimize costs and reduce

resistance issues.

“We really don’t do anything dramatically different from most growers,” Eckert says.

And that includes needing a large labor force. The Eckert family adds 300 seasonal employees to its yearround staff of 100 during peak seasons. The employees harvest 400 acres of tree fruits and 100 acres of miscellaneous crops all with the ultimate goal of increasing the taste experience for area consumers – who come in by the hundreds for a taste of local food.

Family Affair T

he sixth and seventh generations oversee daily operations at Eckert’s Country Store and Farms based in Belleville, making the operation truly family-run. Chris Eckert, left, is president of Eckert’s Inc. and oversees retail, pick-your-own and wholesale operations. Angie Eckert, Chris’ wife, oversees retail operations for both the country store and the garden center. Jill Eckert-Tantillo manages the restaurant, marketing and human resources. Jim Eckert is the company’s chief horticulturist and president of Eckert Orchards.

WATCH ONLINE Learn more about this family-run farm from Chris Eckert in our online video.

Summer 2009

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Illinois Farm Bureau

Stop by your local fair to visit with Illinois livestock producers and learn why they are the

Champions of

Animal Care

Martin Ross PHOTOGRAPHY BY Ken Kashian STORY BY

T

his fair season, somewhere between the corn dogs and the pedal tractor pull, take a turn through the livestock barns.

Wander, explore, and take in the sights and the robust smells. And, by all means, speak up. The livestock producers and exhibitors you’ll see throughout the barns welcome the dialogue and chance to tell their stories.

One of those farm families you may meet are the Oros from Greene County. Jake and Mary, along with their daughters, Jade, Mira and Ava, specialize in raising breeding stock for the cattle industry. In addition to their own 60-cow herd of largely Angus and Maine-Anjou cattle, the three sisters are

enthusiastic livestock exhibitors.

In her second year at the Illinois State Fair last summer, Jade took reserve champion for her steer. Mira’s bull calf claimed reserve champion at the 2008 Greene County Fair.

Jake Oros sees farming as “a great way of life” he’s grateful to share with his children.

He emphasizes the rewards, the realities, and the responsibilities of livestock production, and Oros works to instill in his girls a deep respect for their animals.

Sound livestock care isn’t just part of the farm way of life. It’s good economics. Like producers across the U.S., Oros is disturbed by the occasional but well-publicized stories

MORE ONLINE Visit ilfbpartners.com for a full Illinois fair listing, complete with dates, attractions and more.

There, you’ll also find information about Illinois livestock shows, including the factors by which the animals are judged.

Oros family members, clockwise from top left, Mary, Ava, Jake, Mira and Jade, raise high-quality beef cattle on their Greene County farm. Ava, Mira and Jade are accomplished livestock exhibitors in Illinois.

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Illinois Farm Bureau

JEFF ADKINS

of animal abuse in his industry.

And just as importantly, he is concerned by the public’s frequent lack of understanding of what constitutes true “animal welfare.”

For example, California producers are bracing for the economic impact of Proposition 2, a state ballot initiative approved last November that places severe new restrictions on livestock housing and “confinement” operations where animals are raised indoors under controlled conditions.

“Prop 2” could affect 95 percent of California egg production, potentially forcing consumers to buy eggs from other states or Mexico.

Illinois Pork Producers Association Executive Director Jim Kaitschuk warns that if similar restrictions spread nationwide, U.S. consumers could be forced to import meat raised “under lesser standards or, in some cases, no standards.”

Amid public confusion over animal welfare vs. animal rights and confinement vs. “free range” production, Oros recognizes the crucial need for consumer education.

The county or state fair is a good a place to start the dialogue.

“That’s what cattle shows and the state fair are for – to educate people,” Oros says. “If you don’t know, don’t just make your own judgment. Ask somebody who might know.”

“Stop by a farm some day and visit, ask questions,” he adds. “It wouldn’t bother me if anyone stopped by my place out of the blue to ask questions: ‘What are you doing? Why do they eat that?’ That’s what usually causes problems – when people don’t know.”

The state fair exemplifies Illinois’

commitment to livestock health and welfare. In addition to their own commitment to effective animal care, all exhibitors at any Illinois fair must comply with the state’s Humane Care for Animals Act, which is designed to ensure owners provide their livestock proper food, water and shelter.

For Oros and his neighbors, animal care is about more than mere compliance. Well-cared-for animals are more relaxed and healthier and, as a result, perform better. The more time producers spend with their animals, the better they can spot signs of illness or injury.

Kaitschuk argues California’s Prop 2 succeeded largely amid a consumer “feel-good” attitude about free- or open-range production systems. In reality, he maintained, there are several reasons why confinement is “a better form of raising animals today.”

Animal comfort and air temperature and flow are controlled in the poultry or hog house, Kaitschuk notes. Equally important, animals are protected from predators.

From an environmental standpoint, confinement operations control manure, which otherwise might wind up in local streams and rivers.

All that currently may mean little to Mira Oros. The Greenfield Elementary student and 4-H member cares primarily about the impact her respect and care have on the farm environment and animals she loves.

“They act nicer around you, they’re easier to show and you become friends with them,” she explains. “In the summertime, we get up every morning at 7 and work with them, talk to them, wash them, brush them.”

In the livestock barns at the Illinois State Fair, fairgoers can see animals being cared for, witness grand champions being named and learn more about the state’s livestock production. Livestock contributes $1.7 billion to the Illinois agricultural industry each year.

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Dog Days of Summer Now is an especially crucial time to take stock of your own animal’s health and safety. Here are a few tips to help your pet survive the hottest days of the year.

MORE ONLINE See the online version of this story at ilfbpartners.com to learn more summer pet care tips and to submit your own.

STROKE SIGNS: Heatstroke is one of the major risks for pets left in the sun for prolonged periods. Watch for the signs of possible pet heatstroke: panting, staring, an anxious expression, refusal to obey commands, fever, vomiting, and collapse.

If those symptoms appear, move your pet to the shade and apply cool (not cold) water to his body gradually – to his head, neck and chest only. Allow him to drink water or lick ice cubes, and go to a veterinarian immediately.

FAIR FIASCO: Don’t take your pets to crowded summer events such as concerts or fairs. Loud noises and crowds, combined with the heat, can be stressful and dangerous.

PICKUP PERIL: It is extremely dangerous – and in some states, illegal – to drive with a dog in the back of a pickup truck.

Your dog should ride either in the cab (in a crate or with a seat belt harness designed for dogs), or in a secured crate in the bed of the truck.

RISKY RAYS: Despite their fur coat, pets can get sunburned, particularly if they have

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light skin and hair. The consequences can include pain, peeling, and skin cancer. Keep your pet out of direct sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and when you go out, rub a little non-toxic sunblock on unprotected areas like the tips of the ears, the skin around the lips, and the tip of the nose. Also, if your pet has a thick coat, brush it regularly to keep it thinned out, but don’t shave him. Exposed skin will sunburn easily.

BACKYARD BLUES: Animals shouldn’t be left outside unsupervised on long, hot days, even in the shade. Shade can move throughout the afternoon, and pets can become ill quickly if they overheat, so keep them inside as much as possible.

WORM WORRIES: Check with your veterinarian to see if your dog or cat should be taking heartworm prevention medication. Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, which may pose a risk particularly during the hot summer months.

DEADLY DRINKS: Hot weather may tempt your pet to drink from puddles in the street, which may contain antifreeze or other chemicals. Antifreeze has a sweet taste animals like, but it’s extremely toxic.

GARDEN GRIEF: Store plant food, fertilizer, and insecticides where your pet can’t reach them.

– Martin Ross Illinois Farm Bureau

COUNTRY WISDOM ®

The ABCs of Investing The complex world of investing can be very intimidating, considering all the options – stocks, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, cash equivalents and more.

While some people are bewildered by the choices, many invest in mutual funds. But where do you begin?

Nearly all mutual funds can be broken down into three main components – stocks, bonds and cash equivalents.

STOCKS Stocks represent ownership in a company. Owners of stock are typically entitled to receive dividends (paid out as earnings) and to vote on the selection of directors and other important matters.

Stockholders own “equity” in the company. People invest in stocks because they believe the value of their investment will increase over the long term. It’s important to remember that stockholders share in the fortunes and misfortunes of a company. As a result, since stocks bear the greatest risk, they also offer the best historic returns.

BONDS Bonds are essentially an IOU for a loan you make to a corporation or a government. The borrower, sometimes called an issuer, promises to pay back the amount of the loan after a period of time. Depending on the type of bond, interest may be paid periodically to the bondholder, or paid all at once when the bond reaches the end of its term.

Because issuers intend to return the loaned amount to the investor, bonds tend to carry less risk than stocks and, consequently, tend to provide a lower historic return.

Summer 2009

CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash equivalents are short-term investments with maturities of less than one year. These often include short-term government or corporate securities as well as certificates of deposit or money market funds. As these types of investments carry very little risk, they also tend to provide the lowest returns.

INVESTMENT RULES OF THE ROAD I’m often amazed that we spend countless hours learning how to drive a vehicle and navigate to our destinations, while we fail to take the time to educate ourselves about the investment vehicles that will get us safely to our life’s destinations.

We’d all like to find a low-risk investment that offers high returns. Unfortunately, these are very hard to find.

The key is to strike the right balance of risk and return to meet your goals. So what’s the right mix for you?

That’s where the help of a trusted adviser can be beneficial. Recognize that it’s OK to “pull over to the side of the road” and let a professional provide guidance and help you arrive safely at your destination.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joe Buhrmann is a Certified Financial Planner™ and the supervisor of the Advice Center for COUNTRY Financial. Visit COUNTRY on the Web at www.countryfinancial.com. ilfbpartners.com

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Chicago’s farmers’ markets encourage residents to

Eat Like

Locavores STORY BY

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Charlyn Fargo

Illinois Farm Bureau

STAFF PHOTO

F

armers’ markets can be irresistible, with the lure of fresh-picked sweet corn, green peppers, ripe red tomatoes and green beans to sort through on a summer day.

However, that shopping experience has become more than buying food. It’s a way to meet your neighbors, says Chicago Farmers’ Markets spokeswoman Veronica Resa.

“The farmers’ markets are very popular because they’re more than just a marketplace,” Resa says. “It’s a link to the community where you can see your neighbors and buy great locally grown fresh food.”

The farmers’ market phenomenon has even created a new buzzword. These days, people who attempt to eat only foods grown locally are referred to as locavores, and the term was chosen as the 2007 New Oxford American Dictionary word of the year.

Chicago has 24 city-run farmers’ markets that operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. They typically open at 7 a.m. and sell out of produce within a few hours, since many customers stop by on their way to work.

“Farmers’ markets in Chicago are 200 years old,” says Resa, who has overseen the program for the past six years. “Some are historic. Some are more recent.”

The city requires that 80 percent of what is sold by a farmer must be produced on his or her farm. Her challenge, as land prices near the city of Chicago escalate, is to find enough farmers to supply produce.

“Farming is a calling, a way of life,” Resa explains. “We have stabilized the supply of produce for our markets, but it will be difficult to grow them. Farmers are leaving because the price of land is so valuable.”

She has reached out to farming operations in neighboring states – Michigan, Indiana and

Wisconsin as well as Illinois.

“You need 10 farmers for one market,” she adds. “Sometimes, that’s very hard to find.”

The farmers’ market on Daley Plaza is one of the biggest in Chicago. Another is located at the Sears Tower, and there are four markets downtown with the others in Chicago neighborhoods.

“We’re not sure who actually shops at our farmers’ markets – we’ve never studied ZIP codes,” said Resa. “We know they aren’t the answer to food deserts – areas where there aren’t supermarkets – but they do play a role.”

COUNTRY Financial is one of the sponsors of the Chicago Farmers’ Markets.

“Our roots lie in agriculture, so this is a perfect fit for us,” says Chris Anderson, media relations coordinator for COUNTRY Financial.

Last year, COUNTRY Financial developed a contest for a logo to be printed on canvas shopping bags and drew nearly 80 entries.

COUNTRY gave away 3,000 of the designed canvas bags and 5,000 green canvas bags to farmers’ market shoppers.

The company also sponsors a Chef Challenge at Daley Plaza in which three chefs have 30 minutes to choose produce from the farmers market and 30 minutes to prepare a dish on site for a panel of judges.

“We’re happy to see these farmers’ markets are not only helping people eat healthy but are also turning into social events,” Anderson says. “It’s pretty neat to see.”

MORE ONLINE Visit ilfbpartners.com for links to farmers’ markets across Illinois and recipes to try with your produce purchases.

Find bright, colorful vegetables and more at the Chicago farmers’ markets this summer.

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Illinois Farm Bureau

Tastes Like

Summer Celebrate the season’s bounty with fresh, flavorful ingredients STORY BY

Jessica Mozo Jeffrey S. Otto

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

A

hh, summer. ’Tis the season for juicy red tomatoes straight from the vine, homegrown squash and zucchini, and all those other mouthwatering fresh veggies and fruits your green thumb – or your neighborhood farmers’ market – provides.

Yes, gardening season is in full swing again. And that means it’s easier than ever to incorporate healthy, delicious produce into your cooking regime.

A great place to start is with our Cabbage-Apple Slaw.

Shredded cabbage and tangy chopped apples are tossed with a homemade dressing of sour cream, lemon juice, chopped shallot and horseradish.

Round out the flavors of that tangy, sweet salad with our Tomato and Field Peas drizzled with savory Garlic Aioli.

The main course bursts with summer flavor, thanks to an abundance of veggies and herbs. Succulent shrimp are sautéed in tart lemon juice and olive oil and combined with farfalle pasta, zucchini, summer squash, red bell pepper, heirloom tomatoes, carrot, basil, parsley and oregano.

Summer 2009

BUY LOCAL You can purchase many of the ingredients for this flavorful summer meal at your local farmers market or produce stand. While you’re there, pick up some fresh Ilinois flowers for a gorgeous summer centerpiece.

Visit ilfbpartners.com for links to farmers’ markets in your area.

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Sautéed Shrimp Farfalle 1

pound uncooked large shrimp, peeled and deveined

2

tablespoons fresh lemon juice

6½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 4

tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided

1

shallot, minced

1

clove garlic, minced

1

teaspoon Dijon mustard

8

ounces farfalle, cooked al dente

1

each of zucchini, summer squash, red bell pepper and carrot – all cut into match-stick sizes

2

heirloom tomatoes, cored and cut into ½-inch cubes (about 2 cups)

1

tablespoon minced oregano

½ bunch parsley, minced (for garnish) 1. Toss shrimp with lemon juice and one tablespoon

of oil. Cook in hot sauté pan until just done, being careful to not overcook. Cool.

2. Whisk remaining oil and vinegar in small bowl.

Add shallot, garlic and mustard. Combine remaining ingredients and toss gently. Add shrimp and top with minced parsley.

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Illinois Farm Bureau

Tomato and Field Peas With Garlic Aioli

Cabbage-Apple Slaw

1

cup field peas

6

cups ripe tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1

bunch basil

4½ cups shredded green cabbage

1

tablespoon fresh mint, chopped

1

cup sour cream

Salt and pepper

1

tablespoon finely chopped shallot

Olive oil

2

tablespoons horseradish

1

tablespoon sugar

1. Shell field peas, blanch for three minutes and shock

3

cups unpeeled red or green apples, cored and coarsely chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

in bowl of ice-cold water. Combine with tomatoes.

2. Cut the basil into long, thin strips, then combine

1. In a large bowl, combine the sour cream, lemon

with mint and scatter over tomato mixture. Season with salt and pepper, and drizzle oil. Toss together and top with the garlic aioli (instructions below).

juice, horseradish, shallot, sugar and seasonings.

Taste and adjust seasoning.

2. Lightly toss in the shredded ingredients and mix until well-blended.

Garlic Aioli Instructions 1. In a food processor, pulse together 1 tablespoon

cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard and 2 egg yolks.

2. With the motor running, slowly drizzle 1 1/2 cups

canola oil through the feed tube. Fold in 1 tablespoon of roasted garlic.

TIP For the best results, refrigerate the Cabbage-Apple Slaw for at least two hours before serving.

Summer 2009

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GARDENING

Battle For the

Blooms For a more prolific garden, fight with your hands – pinch and deadhead your plants

T

he gardening practices of pinching and deadheading sound a little mean, don’t they? But while they sound a little harsh, both can greatly improve a plant’s appearance.

And, if you’ve always thought deadheading and pinching describe the same thing, you’re not alone. Here’s the difference. Pinching removes the growing tip of the plant to encourage it to branch out and become bushier. Deadheading is removing spent blooms to tidy up the plant’s appearance.

Pinching is usually done when a plant is first transplanted, often before any buds appear. It is also done on fall-blooming plants in late June to keep them from becoming too long and leggy by the end of summer.

So why does this method work? Many 24

annuals and perennials contain a hormone called auxin, which is stored at the top of the stem. Its purpose is to make the plant grow tall and straight with a single main stem.

When you pinch off the top half-inch, the auxin is removed, which allows side branches to develop.

Pinching is easy and kind of fun if you don’t mind green fingertips. Simply use your thumb and forefinger to “pinch” off the growth from the top inch right above a pair of leaves. If you’re not a green-fingernail sort of person, just wear gloves or use hand pruners.

Deadheading not only makes the plant look better, but it encourages it to bloom again. Flowers past their glory quickly become unattractive, so removing their dead blooms Illinois Farm Bureau

ASK AN EXPERT

Q

My Wave™ Petunias start out great but diminish as the summer goes on.

What am I doing wrong?

is probably something most people already do to tidy up a bit.

Why does this make the plant re-bloom?

Seeds are produced in the flower head, but when they are removed from the plant, it’s tricked into producing more in its relentless quest to propagate.

There are times when deadheading all the blooms is not a good idea. If your garden is visible from inside the house, it is nice to have something out there for winter interest. Plants with stiff stems and large seed heads provide just that, along with some food for the birds.

For example, you might choose to not deadhead your coneflowers.

Another reason to leave at least a few spent blooms is when you want a plant to self-seed Summer 2009

for next year. In Illinois, some great selfseeders are morning glory, hollyhocks, money plant, rose campion and dill. For the more tender annuals whose seeds can’t survive our winters, you will have to save them yourself.

The perennials that benefit from more radical pinching (pruning, actually) in early summer are mums, asters and some of the bigger sedums. All of these plants split and fall over once the buds open in the fall unless they’ve been helped to stay shorter and bushier.

So, get out in that garden and have at it!

ANSWER It takes a lot of energy for the new trademark petunias (Wave™ and Supertunia™) to continue their mass of blooms all summer.

What works for me is to fertilize them with a water soluble fertilizer weekly and never let them dry out. It involves some effort, but you are rewarded with great nonstop color and no deadheading.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jan Phipps farms, gardens, writes and podcasts near Chrisman. She’s been a University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener for 10 years. ilfbpartners.com

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{Travel Illinois}

KANKAK There’s much more to this little city than meets the eye

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Illinois Farm Bureau

KEE STORY BY

T

he City of Kankakee’s tagline is “Easy to find, hard to leave,” and it’s not difficult to see why. For a small city of just over 27,000 friendly folks, Kankakee certainly has a lot going for it.

The peaceful community, located 55 miles south of Chicago on Interstate 57, is the perfect mix of urban and rural influences and offers an array of attractions, from antiques and agritourism to museums, golfing and water sports galore.

Jessica Mozo

ANTONY BOSHIER

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES Long before settlers came to Kankakee in 1834, the area was home to the Potawatomi Indians, who cherished it for its gently rolling landscape, abundant wildlife and, above all, the beautiful Kankakee River. Today, Kankakee citizens and visitors still love the Kankakee River, which runs 57 miles through the county and provides oodles of outdoor recreation opportunities, including boating, canoeing, camping, hunting and hiking.

Fishing is especially popular along the banks of the Kankakee River – it holds the state record for Northern pike, walleye, and small and largemouth bass.

Can’t get enough of the water? Embark on a memorable journey down the Kankakee River with the help of Reed’s Canoe Trips, a family-owned guide service that leads canoeing adventures for all ages. Reed’s offers three different trip options, ranging from two hours to six hours on the water. Scenic rock bluffs, old Indian caves and wildlife make for excellent scenery along the way.

Surrounding both sides of the Kankakee

Summer 2009

TOP 10 SUMMER EVENTS • Strawberry Festival (June) • Kankakee Fishing Derby (June) • Juneteenth (June) • Kankakee Kultivators Garden Walk (June) • Arts and Crafts Fair (June) • Annual Crafts Extravaganza and Fireworks (July) • Summerfest (July) • Kankakee County Fair (August) • Powerboat Nationals (September) • Kankakee Blues Festival (September)

Many hikers enjoy trekking along Rock Creek, a tributary of the Kankakee River. ilfbpartners.com

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STAFF PHOTO

Take the kids to the Splash Valley Aquatic Park or plan a quiet weekend at the elegant Magruder House.

KANKAKEE MUST-SEES • Kankakee Railroad Museum • Paramount Theatre • Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra

River for 11 miles, Kankakee River State Park attracts visitors with its 4,000 acres of pristine bluffs and woodlands. A three-mile hiking trail provides views of limestone canyons and a frothy waterfall, and wild turkeys, whitetailed deer, coyote, red fox, beavers and turtles are easy to spot. In addition to hiking, the park has opportunities for horseback riding, biking, camping, fishing, boating and hunting.

• Strickler Planetarium • Perry Farm Park • Kankakee County Historical Society Art Museum

FUN FOR THE FAMILY Treat the family to a soft-serve ice cream cone or a milkshake at the Dairy Queen, whose founder, Sherb Noble, started the ice cream store franchise in Kankakee in 1938.

Noble owned a small ice cream store called

Sherb’s on South West Avenue, where he launched the multi-million-dollar business by offering a deal no one could refuse during the Great Depression – all-you-could-eat, softserve ice cream for just 10 cents. More than 1,600 people took Noble up on the offer the first day. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Slather on sunscreen and cool off at Splash Valley Aquatic Park, where you can float effortlessly in the lazy river, slip down a water slide, let the little ones splash in the shallow toddler pool or soak up the sun with a good book. Operated by the Kankakee Valley Park District, Splash Valley is the region’s premier water park and provides endless summer fun for all ages from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Take a break from the heat and hit the ice at Oak Orthopedic Sports Arena, a family ice sports complex with an NHL ice rink, fitness center, arcade, pro shop and the Breakaway Café. Public skating hours and drop-in hockey times are available several days a week, and skates can be rented for $3.

HUT, HUT, HIKE! More than 100,000 Chicago Bears fans trek to Olivet Nazarene University in nearby Bourbonnais each summer. Every July and August for the past seven years, the NFL team has held its annual summer training camp there.

Fans bring lawn chairs and enjoy family nights, fireworks displays and other events during the training camp.

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Illinois Farm Bureau

LOCAL FLAVOR

TODD BENNETT

Get a close-up look at birds’ nests, animal tracks, feathers and other natural wonders at Willowhaven Interpretive Center, a free hands-on museum that allows kids and adults to learn while exploring the splendors of nature. Live animal displays and aquariums let you come nose-to-nose with Illinois wildlife, and scheduled programs cover everything from gardening to bats.

CALLING ALL HISTORY BUFFS Stroll through the Riverview Historic District, located less than a mile from downtown Kankakee, and you’ll be enveloped by shady, tree-lined streets and graceful homes built around the turn of the century.

Among them are two Frank Lloyd Wright houses built side by side – the Warren Hickox and B. Harley Bradley houses.

Stay overnight in the Riverview Historic District at one of two quaint bed and breakfasts – the Magruder House, built in 1892, and the Riverview Guest House, built in 1907. The elegant Magruder House is the ideal spot to relax and unwind by a Victorian fireplace, while the Riverview Guest House is known for its bright and cheerful Maurice Chevalier Dining Room (named for the French actor and singer).

Kankakee boasts 135 churches of nearly every denomination, and the six oldest can be seen on the downtown Historic Church Walking Tour. These six 1800s churches are included in the walking tour, and their breathtaking architecture and ornate stainedglass windows are sure to leave you speechless.

Deliciously Unusual FIND OSTRICH ON THE MENU AT AMERICA’S BISTRO

F

or a dining experience unlike any other in Kankakee, eat at America’s Bistro in the Meadowview Shopping Center.

Owned by Mexican immigrant Rigoberto Falgado, America’s Bistro is known for serving dishes that are deliciously unusual.

“We’re very different from other restaurants in Kankakee. We cook a lot of wild game, like ostrich, buffalo burgers, Atlantic salmon and sea bass,” Falgado says. “Everyone loves our lamb shanks – they are excellent. We cook them in veal stock for three or four hours, which makes them juicy and tender and adds a lot of flavor. Then we serve them with linguine pasta and rosemary sauce.”

Grilled Atlantic salmon is another favorite with customers.

“We cook the salmon on medium so it doesn’t dry out,” Falgado says.

“We serve it with our mustard caper sauce and garnish it with fresh vegetables and saffron rice. We also do a lot of cooking with wild mushrooms, like shitaki and portabella.”

You might say owning a restaurant was Falgado’s destiny. He started in the restaurant business at age 15 and worked his way from a dishwasher to a busboy and a cook. Today, he prides himself in the fact everything on his restaurant’s menu is made from scratch – and that includes some incredible desserts.

“Our most famous dessert is our tiramisu, which we make with mascarpone cheese and Marsala wine,” Falgado says. “We also have a really good chocolate mousse cake with crème brûlée that’s very tasty and light.”

The bistro’s Tuscan-style atmosphere is as distinctive as its food.

“We just redid the place last summer, and a girl from Manteno came and hand-painted art on all the walls,” Falgado says. “It’s a fun place.”

SEE MORE PHOTOS See more photos of America’s Bistro at ilfbpartners.com.

If you enjoy bird watching, be sure to bring your binoculars to Kankakee. The area is home to an array of stunning birds to observe, thanks to easy pickings on the flooded sod of Kankakee County. Shorebirds such as sandpipers, plovers, avocets, turnstones and phalaropes flock to birding areas such as Kankakee River State Park, the Momence Wetlands and Sod Farms. Local birders have recorded more than 200 species of birds in the region.

Summer 2009

TODD BENNETT

ANTONY BOSHIER

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

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SUMMER EVENTS

A Summer Night’s Dream JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST BLOOMINGTON This summer, let the laughs roar and the tears stream at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in Bloomington.

Since 1978, talented theater professionals and interns have gathered here for a celebration of performing arts. The festival is the daughter of the College of Fine Arts and the Illinois State University School of Theatre.

This partnership educates and entertains to help sustain the spirit of Shakespeare.

An open-air theater, which seats more than 400, preserves the festival’s Elizabethan tradition and hosts 36 performances each season.

The festival attracts talent from all over the country, and its contributions to the art of theater have been recognized as far away as England.

Educational opportunities like summer camps for young thespians are available as well as free family events like presentations of The Tempest and slapstick Green Shows.

GET MORE ONLINE Visit www.thefestival.org for a schedule.

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Illinois Farm Bureau

This listing includes a few events to add to your calendar in June, July and August 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.

The King of Catsup JULY 12 COLLINSVILLE There’s no such thing as too much catsup, just ask the folks who frequent the Brooks World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival.

This annual summer event celebrates The World’s Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville. Looming 170 feet above Route 159, the water tower made to look like a larger-than-life catsup bottle was constructed in 1949 for the bottler of Brooks catsup, G.S. Suppiger catsup bottling plant.

In 1995, the colossal catsup bottle was preserved and restored to prime condition, and in 2002, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

This year marks the 11th year of the festival, which provides entertainment, contests and a car, truck and bike show, among its many attractions. Find out more at www.catsupbottlefestival.com.

Big Bagel Bash JULY 16-18 MATTOON The small treat called “bagel” is recognized in a huge way each July at Bagelfest in Mattoon.

Since 1986, Lender’s Bagels factory has been attracting thousands of people to its bagel celebration, and the host likes to throw a good party.

Bagelfest hosts the World’s Largest Bagel Breakfast, which hands out tens of thousands of bagels, complete with cream cheese, honey, butter and jelly.

Also among the event’s activities are a parade, a beauty pageant, concerts, vendors, and a carnival.

Summer 2009

Bagelfest used to boast the world’s biggest bagel, which weighed 563 pounds, according to the 1997 Guinness Book of World Records. Find out more at www.mattoonillinois.org.

History on Display AUGUST 6-8 ELIZABETHTOWN History is relived and revisited at the Hardin County Heritage Festival.

Each August, the 19th Century comes to life at this event through a Civil War re-enactment, a ball and an outdoor play relative to the era.

The festival’s many activities also include a Regal Women’s tea, a pageant and a duck race. Food and craft vendors accompany the entertainment provided throughout the weekend.

For more information on the Heritage Festival and other events in Hardin County, visit www.hardincountyil.org.

For more information about Art in the Park and other Ottawa Art League events held throughout the year, visit www.ottawaartleague.org.

Taste the Windy City JUNE 26-JULY 5 CHICAGO Tickle your taste buds this summer at Taste of Chicago, a 10-day festival featuring some of Chicago’s finest cuisine.

More than 70 restaurants from the Chicago area come to Grant Park to fire up their outdoor kitchens, tempting visitors with irresistible smells in The Windy City air.

This event began on July 4, 1980, quickly expanded, and is now Illinois’ second-largest tourist attraction with more than six million annual visitors.

Taste of Chicago strives to provide a family friendly environment, and live music helps add to the festival’s flavor.

Admission to the event is free, and a percentage of food and drink ticket sales goes toward fighting hunger in Chicago.

Of course, no July Fourth celebration is complete without fireworks, and the Independence Eve fireworks show is complemented by a symphony orchestra.

Class(room) Acts

Art in the Park

JULY STATEWIDE

AUGUST 1 OTTAWA

Teaching young people about the source of their food and clothes has been the mission of the Illinois Ag in the Classroom program since its start in 1981.

Sponsored by the Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Foundation for Agriculture, the program provides classroom materials for teachers and coordinates community outreach programs.

You can learn more about and support the Illinois Ag in the Classroom program by participating in one of its fundraisers.

This summer, you can participate in a golf tournament on July 18 and a pull for agricultural education on July 30.

Learn more about these events at www.iaafoundation.org.

Enjoy the beauty of summer with the beauty of local art. Each August, the Ottawa Art League hosts Art in the Park, an annual event since 1967. Held in Ottawa’s Washington Square Park, the event features professional and amateur artists of all media, including painting, ceramics, sculpture, photography, wood, glass, metals, printmaking, jewelry and mixed media.

Art in the Park is held during Ottawa’s annual Riverfest, a summer festival that features music, an agriculture day, a flea market, farmers’ market, book sale and more. Ottawa is located 80 miles southwest of Chicago.

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ILLINOIS IN FOCUS

LAKE SPRINGFIELD’S SHORELINE totals 57 miles and includes eight public parks. While the lake attracts 600,000 recreational visitors each year, its primary purpose is to serve as a drinking water source for the city of Springfield. The 4,200acre reservoir is the largest municipally owned lake in Illinois. PHOTO BY ANTONY BOSHIER

Summer 2009

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