BCR Ag Matters - Winter 2020

Ag Matters

Winter 2020

Soil saver Chuck Hanley checks the cereal rye cover crop planting depth on his 100-acre field. Hanley has been planting cover crops for several years and seen how the practice improves soil, helps hold nutrients and provides weed control.

See story on page 4

A publication of est. 1851

Shaw Media/ December 2020

| AG MATTERS

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COMMUNITY

Streator backpack project fills a need

By Martha Blum

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

STREATOR, Ill. — Backpacks filled with food and personal care items will be delivered to communities in La Salle County this month to help meet needs of residents.

The backpack project was developed by the Streator FFA Chapter.

“A lot of people in our community struggle with having food and paying bills,” said Alex Austin, plot manager for the Streator FFA Chapter. “So, we thought this would be a perfect time to fill backpacks, especially with the pandemic because it is harder for families to get the resources they need.”

Part of the funds for the project came from the community.

“We posted about the event on our Facebook page, and people were quick to give us help,” said Brayden Matsko, reporter for the chapter. “We received $900 in community donations and $300 in physical donations of items.”

In addition, the chapter received a $1,200 National FFA Living to Serve grant for the project. That resulted in the filling of 58 backpacks by the members of the FFA chapter.

“This is going to help a lot of people and let them know there are people here for them,” said Ivory Wright, president of Streator FFA Chapter, which has about 100 members.

Backpacks were filled with a variety of items, including crackers, pancake mix, band aids, shampoo, masks and hand sanitizer.

“It may only be $30 of stuff, but it’s $30 they don’t have to spend,” Matsko said. “So, they can use that $30 to put gas in their car or buy Christmas presents.”

The Streator FFA Alumni members assisted with the backpack project.

“We had a lot of alumni come in and help set everything out,” said Riley Hintzsche, Streator Township High School agricultural teacher and FFA adviser. “They made sure the items were ready so it was an organized system.”

Twenty-four of the backpacks will be distributed through the food pantry at the Streator Township High School. The FFA chapter gave the remaining backpacks to the OSF King Care-A-Van, which serves residents in a four-county area that includes La Salle, Bureau, Putnam and Henry counties.

“We want to thank you for this generous donation and your hard work.

It’s amazing what you guys can do,” said Ellen Vogel, community health engagement program manager at OSF Center for Health-Streator.

“I’m proud to be from Streator to see the work you do, and the national recognition this chapter has received is amazing,” Vogel said. “I’m looking forward to the wonderful work you’ll do in the future.”

The King Care-A-Van is a mobile health center that travels to communities throughout the four counties to provide services at places such as food pantries, homeless shelters and the Salvation Army.

The van, which features two exam rooms, became a reality for OSF thanks to a donation by Don and Val King, Manlius.

“My job is to get the van out to the people who don’t have access to care,” said Christin Mitchell, community health specialist at OSF Center for Health-Streator. “Some smaller towns don’t have doctors so we bring people to them.”

The King Care-A-Van has a wheelchair lift and a screen on the outside which is often used for cooking demonstrations.

“Sometimes I go to a food pantry and they will do a cooking demonstration about the foods you find at a food pantry,” Mitchell explained.

“There will be a discussion about how to make a healthy meal out of what you have.”

Services provided by the mobile health center vary depending on the need.

“We ask about the areas of greatest need because every town has a different need and then we find a partner to help us provide it,” Mitchell said.

For example, the King Care-A-Van partnered with the La Salle County Health Department to provide measles vaccines.

“We’ve also had an educator talk about how to make diabetic-friendly meals,” Mitchell said.

“Driving the van is a very humbling experience when you realize there are needs you didn’t even know about,” Mitchell said. “Last year, OSF employees donated hats, scarves and gloves to hand out from the van because we were finding people that didn’t have those items and they were cold.”

Connecting people with resources is See PROJECT, Page 3

AGRINEWS PHOTO/MARTHA BLUM

Streator FFA members Brayden Matsko and Ivory Wright fill backpacks.

3 AG MATTERS | Shaw Media/ December 2020

Streator FFA members display the backpacks they filled in front of the King Care-A-Van prior to touring the mobile health center. With the help of community donations and a grant from the National FFA, the chapter filled 58 backpacks.

PROJECT FROM PAGE TWO

another focus of the King Care-A-Van. “We can connect people who need a job, and we encourage people to take care of their mental heath, so we have resources for that,� Mitchell said.

BLUM

Martha Blum can be reached at 815223-2558, ext. 117, or marthablum@ agrinews-pubs.com. Follow her on Twitter at: @AgNews_Blum.

AGRINEWS PHOTOS/MARTHA BLUM

Potato chips, water bottles and shampoo were just a few of the items that went into each of the backpacks for the project that will benefit residents in the Streator community.

Shaw Media/ December 2020

| AG MATTERS

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SOIL SAVER

Farmer expands cover crop acres

By Tom C. Doran

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

SAUNEMIN, Ill. — Cover crops have been a part of Chuck Hanley’s farming operation for several years and he brought it to the next level this fall.

For the past five to six years, Hanley has been planting between 30 to 40 acres of cover crops each fall. He finished harvesting on Nov. 5 this year and started planting cereal rye cover crops the next day to take advantage of the unseasonably sunny, warm weather. “This year it’s been working out well and I just went ahead and bit the bullet and we’re planting cover crops in this 100-acre field,� he said as Tony Drach, also of Saunemin, handled the planting duties. “This 100-acre field was corn this past year and it’ll be soybeans next year. We’ll burn it down in the spring and no-till right into this. It’ll be up yet this fall and we’ll have a nice cover crop stand by spring. “We’re planting at about 50 pounds per acre in 15-inch rows between the

corn rows. So, we have two 15s and a corn row on either side.�

Hanley has seen the advantages as advertised that cover crops provide. “Cover crops help hold the soil.

They help with weed control and increase the soil organic matter. That’s one of the reasons we’re doing it — to increase the organic matter and for soil health. The ground seems so much mellower and it’s just in better shape,� he said.

The planting date varies each year, depending on when harvest is complete and the ground is fit. “Last year I planted cover crops around Dec. 15 and it still came up.

Right now we have an ideal time.

The soil is in perfect condition. The weather is warm and it will get a good start this fall. By spring when we get ready to plant soybeans we’ll burn it down and plant right into it,� Hanley noted.

Every field and every farm is different. Hanley recommends consulting with a seed dealer and other experts who have been working with farmers.

He said he uses cereal rye based on those recommendations for his farm.

He added he is enrolled in the Conservation Stewardship Program through the Natural Resources Conservation Service for his cover crop program.

In addition, he noted that the Illinois Department of Agriculture is in the second year of its Cover Crop Premium Discount Program for those wanting to begin the practice. The program is applicable for acreage in Illinois planted to cover crops in the fall of 2020 that will be planted to an insurable crop in 2021.

Eligible applicants receive a $5 per acre premium discount on the following year’s crop insurance invoice for every acre of cover crop enrolled and verified in the program.

Last year’s inaugural season of the IDOA program resulted in an additional 50,000 acres of cover crops planted in the state with 70% of applicants identified as planting cover crops for the first time.

with the Livingston County Soil and Water Conservation District for about 37 years, currently serving as vice chairman.

He also was actively involved in the six-year Indian Creek Watershed Project, a locally-led conservation initiative that included on-farm and off-farm stakeholders in the watershed. The project, which concluded in 2016, was a source of a wide range of insights into conservation practices and documented impacts.

That effort has now shifted into the Vermilion Headwaters Water Partnership, a program Hanley is currently involved with through SWCD and on his farm.

The Vermilion Headwaters Watershed is a 254,322-acre watershed encompassing parts of Livingston, Ford, Iroquois and McLean counties in Illinois working to reduce the loss of nitrogen from farmland in the watershed through reduced tillage, cover crops, nutrient management and tile water WATERSHED EFFORTS treatment.

Conservation practices always have “Conservation has been a big part been integrated in Hanley’s farming of my farming operation. I’ve been operation and he has been involved See SOIL, Page 5

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Waterhed en, Ford, AGRINEWS PHOTO/TOM C. DORAN in Illis of ni-Mike Haag wraps up strip-tilling this field north of Saunemin, Illinois, on Nov. 6. This marked the second fall that he’s been strip-tilling ahead of the following year’s corn acres in his ershedongoing efforts to improve soil quality. crops, water the cover crop we’re able to help en- crops for a year or two, maybe became it works, you just have to be patient,” rich the soil. It’s just good for the soil,” frustrated and stopped using them. he explained. ig part Hanley said.

“You just have to keep experimentFROM PAGE FOUR e been Hanley was asked what message he ing. Just keep trying. I’ve been doing Tom C. Doran no-tilling for a lot of years and with has for those who have tried cover this for five or six years. I’ve found that

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Shaw Media/ December 2020

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MONEY

Farmland values up in Illinois

By Tom C. Doran

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

CHICAGO — Midwest farmland values remained strong through the third quarter of 2020.

A Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago survey observed a year-over-year 2% increase in its agricultural land values in the third quarter across the district.

“That does indicate there’s some momentum. That was the highest increase in six years for farmland values, so there’s definitely a little more optimism there,” said David Oppedahl, Chicago Fed senor business economist.

Indiana and Wisconsin led the way with year-over-year jumps in their farmland values of 6% and 3%, respectively, while the growth in farmland values was 2% in Illinois and 1% in Iowa.

Overall, the district’s farmland values were unchanged from the second quarter of 2020, although Illinois’ values experienced a 2% quarterly decrease from July 1 to Oct. 1.

The vast majority of survey respondents, at 82%, anticipated the district’s farmland values to be stable during the fourth quarter of 2020.

“The bankers indicated there could be some increases in the fourth quarter, as well. Part of their response also indicated the demand for farmland from both farmers and non-farmer investors is expected to be higher this winter.

“That showed some positive tendencies there,” Oppedahl said.

“At the same time we see the higher values and potentially some higher values coming ahead. There is still a lot of uncertainty.”

EARNINGS “In contrast with the pattern of the past few years, crop net cash earnings (which included government payments) were expected to be up during the fall and winter from their levels a year earlier,” Oppedahl said.

Forty-four percent of survey respondents forecasted crop net cash earnings to increase over the next three to six months relative to a year ago, and 28% forecasted these earnings to decrease.

“At the same time we do see that dairy, hogs and cattle farmers will continue to have a lower level of cash earnings over this winter even though there were some improvements in the

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third quarter,” Oppedahl noted.

“There was also a pickup in agricultural trade which helped matters.

Additionally, by the end of October, the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program had dispersed over $2.4 billion to farm operations in the district’s five states,” 24% of the $10.3 billion sent nationwide.

LOAN REPAYMENT Twenty-two percent of survey respondents forecast loan repayment rates to decline this fall and winter from a year ago while 18% predicted a higher repayment volume.

In addition, forced sales or liquidations of farm assets owned by financially distressed farmers were expected to increase in the next three to six months relative to a year ago, according to 31% of the responding bankers, while 8% expected a decrease.

The district’s overall non-real estate farm loan volume the October through December period of 2020 was anticipated to be roughly similar to that in the same period of 2019, while the district’s volume of farm real estate loans was forecasted to be somewhat higher.

The Seventh Federal Reserve District of Chicago includes the northern two-thirds of Illinois and Indiana and all of Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Tom C. Doran can be reached at 815780-7894 or tdoran@agrinews-pubs. com. Follow him on Twitter at: @ AgNews_Doran.

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By Tom C. Doran

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The new Illinois Corn Growers Association president sees a bright future for the industry.

“There’s a lot to look forward to.

I think things are picking up for the grain industry,” said Randy DeSutter, a Woodhull farmer who was elected to the top seat at the organization’s annual meeting on Nov. 24.

“We have a lot more exports now that’s helping with the prices. We’re also working on a New Generation Fuels Act introduced by (U.S. Rep.) Cheri Bustos that will potentially increase the amount of ethanol used in vehicles. There are a lot of positive things on the horizon.”

DeSutter has served on the ICGA board for eight years, most recently as vice president. He will continue his role as District 3 director for the duration of his term as president, serving members in Henderson, Henry, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island and Warren counties.

DeSutter is part of a fourth genera-

States-Mexico-Canada Agreetion family farm. After gradment last year, the trade deal uating from high school, he with China, our exports are continued to further his eduup considerably, so we hope cation at the University of Ilthat continues. linois, majoring in agriculture “Some improvements on economics. the locks and dams on the In 1979, he started farming Illinois River were just comwith his father, Maurice, and pleted. There’s actually pobrother, Jim. His son, Mattential that we may get some thew, and nephew, Drew, new locks in the next few have since joined the opera- DeSutter years on the Illinois and Mistion, where they grow corn sissippi rivers. They’re schedand soybeans.

Randy married his wife, Susie, in uled pretty close to the top of the list.

1986, and they also have a daughter, You never know on this, we’ve been Kristin. In his free time, he enjoys trav- waiting a long time, but it would be fantastic to get new locks so our exeling and sports. ports are even more competitive in the world market. Hopefully, that will be PRIORITIES DeSutter noted the top priorities for happening soon.” the organization.

“Of course, an increase in ethanol AG ADVOCATE The new ICGA lead has been active use is a big goal. The Next Generation Fuels Act has potential. We’d in numerous organizations for many also like to get more E15 in stations years.

He has served as chair of the Illinois around Illinois and the nation. That will increase ethanol use a lot,” he FFA Foundation and as state president of the Illinois Beef Association. He said.

“Trade is very important as we’ve was a member of the Cattleman’s Beef seen with the passage of the United Board for seven years, serving on their

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Executive Committee for two years.

He joined the Illinois Soybean Association in 1985 and served for three years as that organization’s treasurer.

DeSutter was named to the American Soybean Association Board of Directors in March 2000. He previously served two years on the Public Affairs Committee and four years on the Membership and Corporate Relations Committee. He has also served three years on the Commodity Classic Committee, including as co-chair.

He also served as ASA vice president and an Executive Committee member, as well as a member of ASA’s Public Affairs Committee.

DeSutter is a member of the 1994 Class of DuPont Young Leaders, a participant in the Syngenta Leadership Program and a 1986 graduate of the Illinois Ag Leadership Program.

In 1995, he was named one of the U.S. Jaycees National Outstanding Young Farmers.

Tom C. Doran can be reached at 815-780-7894 or tdoran@agrinewspubs.com. Follow him on Twitter at: @AgNews_Doran

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Long-time ag advocate new ICGA president

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Shaw Media/ December 2020

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New ICGA officers, directors Jan. 8 deadline to apply

By Tom C. Doran

ria and Tazewell counties.

Two directors were reelected and will continue in BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — their positions as directors.

Each year on the Tuesday They are Keith Sanders, Vanprior to Thanksgiving, Illidalia, District 11, Christian, nois Corn Growers AssociEffingham, Fayette, Montgomation members from every ery and Shelby counties; and corner of the state converge Rahn Garrett Hawkins, Waterloo, for the annual meeting.

District 2 director District 14, Bond, Clinton, Of course, since these are Madison, Monroe, St. Clair not “normal” times, that and Washington counties. get-together turned virtual, as Reelected at-large directors have so many other meetings, include Kate Danner of Aledo and new officers were elected and Dave Rylander of Victoby ICGA membership. ria.

Joining newly-installed ICGA president Randy COMMITTEES DeSutter, Woodhull, as Committee members were Bunting officers are Vice President also elected at the Nov. 24 District 5 director Marty Marr of Jacksonville, meeting.

Treasurer Sarah Hastings of The Exports Committee will Sidney and Secretary Kate be led by Chairman Rylander Danner of Aledo. and Vice Chairman Matt Newly elected directors Rush, Fairfield. are Ellen Rahn, Mount CarTerry Smith, Clayton, was roll, serving corn farmers elected to lead the Industrial in District 2, Carroll, Jo DaCommittee and Sanders will viess, Ogle, Stephenson and serve as vice chairman.

Winnebago counties; Jason The Grassroots Committee Bunting, Emington, District 5, Shane Grundy, Kankakee, La Salle District 8 director leadership for the coming year are Chairman Bill and Livingston counties; and Leigh, Minonk, and Vice Chairman Mike Shane, Peoria, District 8, Cass, Fulton, Logan, Mason, Menard, Peo- Hawkins.

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Look to the Natural Resources Conservation Service for conservation assistance on farmland and forestland.

“NRCS has a long history of conservation planning with agricultural producers and forestry managers.

We have the technical knowledge to develop a conservation plan for your resource concerns and NRCS has conservation programs that are available to implement that plan,” said Ivan Dozier, Illinois NRCS state conservationist.

The primary financial assistance program is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural and forestland producers.

To participate, producers can apply for EQIP throughout the year; however, Illinois NRCS has established an application deadline for Jan. 8. Producers are encouraged to submit an application by the application deadline if they are interested in the program.

With EQIP, producers have successfully addressed natural resource issues on their farm. Some EQIP ac-

tivities include installing structures to address gully erosion, improving pastureland diversity by interseeding and improving soil health by increasing organic matter with cover crops.

In addition to conservation practices, EQIP funds the development of a plan, such as Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans, Grazing Plans, Drainage Water Management Plans and more.

Producers interested in EQIP should submit a signed application, NRCS-CPA-1200 form, to the local NRCS field office or through the Farmers.gov website using their account.

EQIP applications submitted by Jan. 8 will be evaluated by local NRCS field office staff. The NRCS staff will work with an applicant to assess the land and resource concerns, answer ranking questions and determine program eligibility. If an application is ranked high enough to be funded, the NRCS staff will work with the applicant to develop a contract.

For information on EQIP, contact the local NRCS field office or visit www.nrcs.usda.gov.

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Lawn job grows into top project

AG MATTERS | Shaw Media/ December 2020

eds,

NATIONAL FFA AWARD: TURF GRASS MANAGMENT

By Martha Blum

lawn mower, Honda push mower and a broadcaster for spreading fertilizer and grass seed.

INDIANAPOLIS — A FFA project Nodine did not initially focus on that started with mowing the lawn of developing an award-winning project.

“My freshman year I made $45, and the Cambridge Public Library developed into a national award-winning once I realized what my classmates were doing, I knew I had to step it achievement for Logan Nodine.

Nodine was named the national up,” he said. “I had a net worth of over $13,000 this winner for Turf year.”

Grass ManageWinning the ment at the recent “I’m glad I was able to be national award 93rd National was a surprise to FFA Convention part of a great organization.” the Cambridge and Expo.

FFA member The Cambridge, Logan Nodine on who is advised by Illinois, FFA joining the FFA Trent Taber. member actually “I was supper started his mowshocked,” he ing business when said. “I was just he was in seventh grade, and after choosing turf grass happy to be in the top four.”

Since the convention was held virmanagement for his FFA project as a high school freshman, he started to ex- tually this year due to the pandemic, each of the four finalists prepared a pand his business.

“I began advertising on Facebook video about their project for the judges and in town by putting up advertise- to view.

“I did a two-minute introduction ments in gas stations to build my business as much as I could,” said the son about my project and then they sent of Robert and Sarah Nodine. “I went me three questions and I had one from one lawn my freshman year to 12 minute to answer each of those questions,” Nodine said. lawns my senior year.”

While in high school, Nodine served For both his commercial and residential lawns, the FFA member said, as the chapter vice president as a sehis goal was to make the lawns look as nior and he was a member of the ag best as possible. In addition to mow- sales and parliamentary procedure ing, Nodine also spread fertilizer and teams.

“I went to as many events as I could grass seed for customers.

The National FFA winner purchased to gain experience,” he said.

Nodine is currently a freshman at several pieces of equipment for his business including a Stihl string trim- Iowa State University where he is mer, a Stihl leaf blower, Toro riding studying ag business. His career goal AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

National winner in Turf Grass Management, Logan Nodine started his lawn mowing business while in seventh grade which developed into his supervised agricultural experience project as a Cambridge, Illinois, FFA member. includes working in the agricultural industry.

“I’m focusing on finance, but I’m not completely sure yet,” he said. “I might get a minor in turf grass management and maybe I’ll work at a country club.”

For the summer of 2021, Nodine is applying for internships to get a better idea about his future career.

“I’ve applied for a couple of internships that involve agronomy,” Nodine

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said. “Last summer I worked at Wyffels and I want to learn a lot more.

“I’m glad I was a part of FFA since I wasn’t 100% sure I wanted to join until my eighth-grade year,” he said.

“I’m glad I was able to be part of a great organization.”

Martha Blum can be reached at 815223-2558, ext. 117, or marthablum@ agrinews-pubs.com. Follow her on Twitter at: @AgNews_Blum.

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Shaw Media/ December 2020

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SCIENCE

Young scientists Illinois FFA members win national honors

By Martha Blum

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

INDIANAPOLIS — Three projects entered by Illinois FFA members won top honors in the National FFA Agriscience Fair held during the 93rd National FFA Convention and Expo.

The Agriscience Fair includes six categories and is open middle and high school students either individually or in a team.

Freeburg FFA members Cullen Covlin and Matthew Grab are the national champions for Division 6 Plant Systems.

“In previous years we did a project where we simulated hail on soybeans to stress them,” Covlin said. “We found out if we stressed the soybeans at the early growth stage we could obtain a higher yield.”

This year, the high school seniors, who both live on their family farms, applied the herbicide Cobra to soybeans.

“It kills the weeds and it also burns the soybean plants, so that’s what we

used as our stressor,” said the son of Mick and Julie Covlin. “We did obtain a higher yield than our control soybeans.”

Just like other events at this year’s virtual FFA convention, the FFA members made a video about their project that was used for the judging process.

Watching the announcement of the winners, Covlin said, was nerve-racking.

“I was confident that we had a good shot at winning, but I was still surprised when we won,” said the FFA member who is advised by Dusti Ingles.

Lizzie Schafer’s work with cattle embryos earned her national champion honors for Division 3 Animal Systems. Schafer’s family owns an 80head Angus herd and she got the idea for her project from an embryologist.

“My embryologist told me that Quality Grade 2 embryos were more often heifers than Quality Grade 1, so I wanted to see if this was true,” said the daughter of Aaron and Sue Schafer.

“I inserted Quality Grade 1 and Quality Grade 2 embryos into recipient cows,” the Taylorville FFA memSoutheastern FFA member Summer Ramsey won a national award for her Agriscience See YOUNG, Page 11 project that compared dicamba drifting at different temperatures.

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ber said. “And I concluded that Quality Grade 2 embryos are more likely to be heifers than Quality Grade 1.”

Last year, Schafer entered a team project with her brother which was also about bovine reproduction systems and they won a national award, as well.

“It was different this year with the virtual convention,” she said. “The judges sent some questions to all the competitors that we answered in our video that also included information about my project.”

Advised by Sue Schafer, Katie King and Lori Parks, the Taylorville FFA member is currently working on an idea for a project to enter in next year’s Agriscience Fair.

“It will be something with cattle or animal reproduction systems,” she said.

Summer Ramsey won the Division 3 Plant Systems national award with her project that focused on dicamba drift.

“I met with a local co-op expert and he helped me create my project design,” the Southeastern FFA member said.

“My stepdad lost a little over half of a field because of dicamba drifting,” said the daughter of Doug Ramsey and Sara Guymon. “For my project, I compared drifting at temperatures of 20 and 32 degrees Celsius and I also had control plants with no dicamba exposure.”

Ramsey’s hypothesis was the higher the temperature the more damage it would cause to the plants.

“I was correct, at 32 degrees Celsius, the highest amount of damage was caused to the plant,” said the FFA member who is advised by Bryan Schullian.

As an eighth-grade student, Ramsey placed fifth at

Lizzie Schafer opens the cattle chute for one of her recipient cows that was part of her Agriscience Fair project that was named a national winner for animal systems. the national competition.

“I was pretty shocked,” she said about winning this year. “I was going to be happy with whatever place I got.”

The Southeastern FFA member is just starting her new Agriscience project.

“I am going to be growing microalgae and adding

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Martha Blum can be reached at 815-223-2558, ext. 117, or marthablum@agrinews-pubs.com. Follow her on Twitter at: @AgNews_Blum.

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YOUNG

FFA STRENGTHENING AG AWARD

FFA B

Stolen truck sparks learning opportunity P

By Martha Blum

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

INDIANAPOLIS — The Streator FFA chapter turned a negative experience into a learning opportunity for their school which became a national award-winning project.

The Streator FFA Chapter was presented the national champion award in Strengthening Agriculture at the recent 93rd National FFA Convention and Expo.

The Becoming Semi Aware project was developed by the chapter after a semi truck was stolen from one of their FFA Alumni members.

“His facility was broken into and the guy found keys to his semi and took it for a joy ride,” said Riley Hintzsche, agricultural teacher and FFA adviser at Streator Township High School. “He drove the semi for three miles going through ditches, hitting mailboxes and crashing it into trees.”

The FFA adviser challenged his officer team to turn this event into a learning experience.

“In August 2018, we did the first semi project on campus where the kids learned about blind spots,” Hintzsche said.

Students sat in the driver seat of the

semi and checked each mirror from that position.

“In the blind spots we parked different school vehicles and they had to tell us which ones they could or couldn’t see,” Hintzsche said. “The kids were shocked to realize what semi drivers see when you are driving next to them or behind them.”

Also during the project, the students walked a couple of blocks from 350 to 400 feet.

“We told them if a semi is traveling 65 mph and is fully loaded this is where it will come to a complete stop,” Hintzsche said. “The kids questioned if that would happen even if there are cars in front of the semi and we said yes.”

Last fall, 205 students, half were taking driver education classes and half were FFA members, completed the semi awareness program.

Ideally, the goal for the project is to add more vehicles such as a planter and tractor or a combine.

“That will allow them to see why they should move over,” Hintzsche said. “And understand where the combine is and if he needs to get around a mailbox, you need to be alert for the right side of the combine, not just the left.”

Since the national convention was a virtual event this year, the chapter prepared a video about the semi project for the judging process. The members had about 14 days to complete the video after learning they were selected a national finalist.

Alexandra Austin and Jeniece White completed the video for the chapter that includes close to 100 members.

“I can’t tell you how many times I watched the video,” Hintzsche said.

“Hats off to the girls. They did an awesome job.”

Streator FFA members were quite excited about the prestigious award.

“I believe this is the first time in our chapter’s history to win an award like this,” the FFA adviser said about the chapter founded in 1936. “And as an ag teacher this is my first time to be even selected for top 10.”

The students were pulled into the virtual convention live via Zoom during the announcement of the award.

“I don’t want it this way every year because nothing will replace the feeling of being on stage in front of 50,000 people with the lights shining on the back of your neck and chills running up your spine,” Hintzsche said. “I couldn’t contest to that until I was on stage with a member last year.”

Streator FFA members each took a turn in the seat of the semi truck for the Becoming Semi Aware Project that earned the chapter national champion honors in the Strengthening Agriculture area.

It is really important to thank all the people who assisted with this project, Hintzsche said.

“You can’t get anywhere without thanking those individuals that have helped you a lot and we got a lot of help from alumni, our school and the students,” he said. “The number of people this impacts, not just from the award but from start to finish, all the resources and people who actually had their hand on it.”

Martha Blum can be reached at 815223-2558, ext. 117, or marthablum@ agrinews-pubs.com.

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FFA BUILDING COMMUNITY AWARD

By Martha Blum

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

INDIANAPOLIS — Creating flower planters for Mother’s Day may have been a small activity, but the results were large when the Normal FFA Chapter was selected as the national winner for Building Community.

Chapter members were honored for urn in com- their activity during the recent 93rd National FFA Convention and Expo. the “It’s been a crazy week,” said Liz n the Harris, FFA adviser and ag teacher at Normal Community High School.

The Beauty in Reusing project was initiated by a group of students that are environmentally minded and focused on sustainability.

“We were looking for something to do at one of our chapter meetings and one of the students came across this idea on Pinterest and decided to implement it,” Harris said.

“The students took reused items and created flower planters to give to their mothers on Mother’s Day,” she said. “They used cans, clothes pins, pieces of yarn and painted some of the items before planting flowers i n them.”

FFA members chose a couple of different designs and looked for items around their houses they could utilize.

“They had to modify a little bit based off what was available and that was a good experience for the kids,” Harris said. “And the mothers were excited when they got these gifts from their kids.”

This small activity, Harris said, has sparked additional activities in the school.

“We have a group of students working to increase the recycling in our school,” she said. “Now we are only doing paper because of the cost of recycling.”

Another group of students is focused on developing a composting initiative.

“COVID has put a road block there, but we’re hoping within the next year or two we’ll be able to implement that,” Harris said.

Seniors Kelsey Kern and Madelyn Hubble developed the video about the flower planter project that was sent to the national judges prior to the convention for judging.

Chapter members gathered for a watch party during the virtual FFA

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FFA members used recycled materials like cans to create unique flower planters for the Beauty in Reusing project. The Normal Chapter won top honor in the area of Building Community at the recent National FFA Convention.

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convention for the announcement of the award and tied it to a social event on Wednesday evening.

“We painted pumpkins for Halloween and the night took a little longer than expected,” Harris said. “It was different because we weren’t on the big stage, but we got to see a lot more of where people come from within the FFA.” The Normal FFA Chapter, with 120 members, has been slowly growing in size since it was restarted for the 20102011 school year.

“When Normal West High School opened the ag program went there,” Harris said. “So, we’ve built a lot at Normal in a short amount of time.”

This is the second year in a row that Normal FFA was nominated for the Building Community award.

“This year was the first time we won and we were blessed to have that rec-

ognition twice,” said Harris, who is in her seventh year of teaching at Normal.

Last year, the chapter conducted a Towels for Howls project where the members collected old towels and blankets to donate to the local Humane Society.

“That project started the same way as our activity for this year,” Harris said. “A student saw a need, wanted to get involved and brought it to the other students in the chapter.”

Harris appreciates the creativity of her students.

“I’m not that creative, but I work with students with amazing ideas,” Harris said.

“Our chapter is a little different than a lot of other chapters,” she said. “We hardly have any farm kids.

Our kids live in the city, so we have to look at things a little differently to work for us.”

AG MATTERS | Shaw Media/ December 2020

Project finds ‘Beauty in Reusing’

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OPINION

What would you say you run your farm by? There are three main elements that I’ve found can be helpful to think about when it comes to how you run your Darren Frye operation and decision-making. It’s the Water Street combination of all three that makes the Solutions biggest difference.

1. Values and mission: The first big concept to think about is your core values and the mission of your operation. Your farm’s core values might already be written down, or maybe you haven’t done that yet. If not, it may be time to get together with the main stakeholders of your operation to talk about the values that matter most.

Then, narrow them down and decide on the most important five to seven or so. These are the guiding values in your operation when it’s time to make decisions, as well as in the daily work culture of your operation.

You can also discuss and create your farm’s mission with your leadership team, whether that’s you and a

business partner, you and your spouse, or you and a formal team. Your mission is about what you’re all there to do together in the operation. It should speak to how you go about business on your farm, as well.

2. Future goals: The next concept to bring into your farm decision-making is your main future goals for your operation. Do you have big primary goals that you’ve put in writing for your farm? I’m thinking about really major, long-term goals that might be part of your plans for the next five to 10 years for the operation.

These long-term goals are important to consider because they help you think about where your farm is heading and how it will get there. Knowing and thinking about your farm goals as part of your decision-making can be helpful. When you know where you want to be in the future, you can make decisions now that will be more likely to help you get there.

3. Farm financials: The third important piece to consider alongside your farm’s core values and mission are “the numbers.� I’m talking about your farm’s financials — the metrics and financial statements that you can use to help guide decision-making.

Making decisions with the numbers is key to running an efficient operation that will thrive into the future. Always taking the numbers into account helps you base your choices on a numerical element of information. The numbers bring a different lens, especially when decisions are tough because emotions are running high, such as anxiety or uncertainty.

Bringing together these three elements — your farm’s core values and mission, your farm’s long-term future goals and your farm’s numbers — is key to success. When you combine all three in your decision-making, it lets you use a broader view of your operation and what it needs to thrive into the future.

CHALLENGES, CHALLENGES As a farm leader, you know it can often feel like there’s no shortage of challenges when it comes to running a farm operation. There are daily challenges that are sometimes easily resolved. Often, these can be a nuisance, but you as the leader or someone else can get it figured out quickly.

Then, there are the tough, more persistent challenges that can come into play. These usually aren’t resolved as

quickly and they typically require the time and attention of the farm’s leader or leadership team.

FLIP THE SCRIPT Most people don’t always either love or hate challenges on the farm.

It’s more of a mix. Sometimes it can depend greatly on what the problem actually is, or which area of the farm operation is having challenges.

I want to encourage you, whatever you may currently think about encountering challenges in your operation, to try a flexible, creative mindset when you come across a problem. If you find yourself asking, “Why does this always happen to me?� or some other disempowering question, try to ask yourself a different question right away, like “What opportunity do I have here to create a better solution or process?�

An area of the operation that can present challenges in many ways is marketing and merchandising. What opportunities do you have within the challenges you’re experiencing around marketing? You can talk with our market advisers for ideas.

Darren Frye is president and CEO of Water Street Solutions.

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