AG Mag Northern Illinois
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AG Mag Northern Illinois
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Publisher Jennifer Heintzelman Rusty Schrader Published by Sauk Valley Media
COVERSTORY
113 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-2222 Have a story ideas for Ag Mag? Let us know ... Call 815-632-2531 or e-mail news@saukvalley.com Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Northern Illinois Ag Mag may be reproduced without the written consent ofthe publisher. Adcontent isnot theresponsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine isbelievedtobeaccurate;however,SaukValleyMedia cannotanddoesnotguaranteeitsaccuracy.SaukValley Mediacannotandwillnotbeheldliableforthequality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.
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AG Mag Northern Illinois
SPRING 2021
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a state program has brought farming into the classroom, where experts in their field have been helping kids dig deeper into the world of agriculture, teaching them what it takes to get crops in the ground, food on our plates, and a job in their future
Teachers pretty much have a handle on how to teach a class the ABC’s, but it can be whole different challenge when the ABC’s stand for Animals, Barns and Crops – especially when some of those students may have never even set foot on a farm. That’s where Ag in the Classroom comes in. For the past four decades, the program has been teaching students from all walks of life about the journey from farm to plate, as well as encouraging future generations to ILLI N OI S play a role in that journey. ERN A TH Whether it’s food on their plate, medicine they take, or a whole host of other everyday products, knowing how these things are created and the role farming plays gives children a better understanding of just how important agriculture is to their everyday lives. COVERSTORY Now in its 40th year, the Ag in the Classroom program has seen many changes – and not just in the agriculture field itself, but also how students are educated about how agriculture works with the economy and society. What started with books has given way to internet-based learning, but the mission is the same: to show school-aged children how important agriculture is to their daily lives. Each of Illinois’ 102 counties has an Ag in the Classroom coordinator. Diane Baker is the Whiteside County Farm Bureau’s agriculture literacy coordinator, and serves as the county coordinator for Ag in the Classroom. NO
For four decades,
CODY CUTTER | FOR NORTHERN ILLINOIS AG MAG
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FIELD DAY cont’d from page 5 “Ag in the Classroom is geared to all youth,” Baker said. “Every one of us depends on agriculture every day for food, fiber and fuel. It is essential that we all understand where our food comes from, how farmers focus on safety for our food and the environment in every choice they make, and the importance for all of us to have factual and credible sources in understanding agriculture practices today and into the future.” One of those credible sources, and a project she’s undertaken recently, is using the state program’s Ag Mag idea to teach students about local produce and commodities. Not to be confused with the magazine you’re holding in your hand, the state program’s Ag Mags are 4-page publications geared toward kids that teach about the various aspects of agriculture. They feature short articles, graphics and photos, and classroom activities. The printed magazines are free to Illinois teachers, and can also be viewed online (go to agintheclassroom.org/ TeacherResources/AgMags.shtml). The publications cover a range of ag topics, from A to W, apples to wheat.
FIELD DAY cont’d on page 10 Diane Baker, the Whiteside County coordinator for Ag in the Classroom, pulls up a YouTube video used for her Ag in the Classroom lessons. Baker has embraced technology to help reach students during the coronavirus pandemic. She’s creating new ag-related videos once a week during the school year to use as teaching tools. She’s also been meeting with students via video calls to continue her classes. Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@shawmedia.com
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teaching tools Ag in the Classroom introduces students to the world of agriculture through a variety of methods, seen on these facing pages, including hands-on lessons that put commodities such as corn, soybeans, hay and silage into students’ hands, giving them something they can touch, feel and smell. The program also uses classroom projects, a newspaper, field trips – and during the pandemic, remote learning. Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@shawmedia.com
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Ag in the Classroom teaches students about various aspects of agriculture, including farm equipment. Students learned about tractors and had a chance to create and color their own. The state’s Ag in the Classroom program’s Ag Mags are 4-page publications geared toward kids that teach about the various aspects of agriculture. They feature short articles, graphics and photos, and classroom activities. The printed magazines are free to Illinois teachers, and can also be found at agintheclassroom.org/TeacherResources/AgMags.shtml. The publications cover a range of ag topics, from A to W, apples to wheat.
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FIELD DAY cont’d from page 7 While she typically uses the state publications as a take-home piece, she wanted to give students a home field advantage so they could learn more about local producers. Baker’s Ag Mag project features a focus on local farming – for example, using Selmi’s Greenhouse to teach more about pumpkin growing in the state, a recent topic of the state’s Ag Mag. Together with state-produced publications the Ag Mags have been an excellent teaching tool to get students more interested in agriculture, Baker said. She said the Whiteside County Ag Mag features six producers from the area’s (Christmas trees, sheep, alpaca, honey/pollinators, Selmi’s Garden Center, and dairy), as well as highlights of major commodities (corn, soybeans, beef and swine). She said she’s very excited to use this resource to teach about local agriculture. Ag in the Classroom is meant to open the world of agriculture to everyone, said Katie Pratt, who runs Lee County’s program from the county farm bureau. Students can learn about how agriculture incorporates concepts such as environmental stewardship, food science, animal and plant science, history and social justice, she said.
FIELD DAY cont’d on page 11 Melinda Charbonneau, Ag in the Classroom coordinator for Ogle and Carroll counties for 13 years, recently received an Advocacy Award from the Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education. She earned the honor for outstanding effort and dedication in the programming she provides for K-8 students. Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@shawmedia.com
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FIELD DAY cont’d from page 10 “Ag in the Classroom relies heavily on hands-on, experiential learning. That’s what makes this program so exciting for students and teachers. Ag in the Classroom lessons are relevant to a student’s daily life and the activities almost always involve diving deeper into that.” The program also goes beyond the classroom, into the workforce. One of the things Melinda Charbonneau teaches her students in Carroll and Ogle counties is that anyone can have a career in agriculture – and not just on a farm. “My goal is also to show that there are many careers in agriculture in various areas of interests, and you don’t have to live on a farm to have a career in agriculture,” said Charbonneau, who works out of the University of Illinois Extension in Oregon. “The hope is as they learn more about agriculture they will be better consumers as well.” Ag in the Classroom has been in Lee and Whiteside counties for about 20 years, Charbonneau started the program for both Carroll and Ogle 13 years ago. Pratt took over her county’s program 8 years ago, and Baker is in her third year in her role – and while they’re all seasoned pros at their job, last year put them to the test with finding new ways to educate students. The coronavirus pandemic uprooted many traditional ways of teaching, especially in Ag in the Classroom, where hands-on teaching plays such an important role. For Pratt, demonstrations such as growing plants, popping popcorn and extracting DNA from strawberries have been some of the more fun, hands-on lessons students have enjoyed. These days, though, more hands have been on keyboards, as schools switched to computer-based
remote learning. “I still find the most successful lessons involve the basics: seeds, soil and maybe water,” Pratt said. “Those types of lessons and activities usually have the most impact.” The new reality has had Pratt and her fellow educators finding ways to teach online, and reach beyond their home turf to do it. For one lesson, Pratt taught students about sugar beets after she connected with a North Dakota farmer who raises them. “All of these things help me bring lessons alive,” Pratt said. Baker has given lessons on how to make butter and cottage cheese, planting seeds and monitoring their growth, dissecting soybeans, comparing raw fleece from sheep and alpaca, and taste testing different varieties of apples. With all things viral this year, the supplies are being dropped off to schools and Baker will demonstrate them via either Zoom or Google Meet. “The pandemic has certainly changed how we do things,” Baker said, “but it has also caused us to do a lot more video work and to think creatively about how we reach students and their families.” One big change with the coronavirus is the absence of field trips and the personal experience that comes with them. Most now are done virtually. Along with several county farm and environmental organizations, Lee County’s Ag in the Classroom program hosts an annual Ag Expo each April, where fifthgrade students spend a day at the county 4-H Fairgrounds to learn about several agriculture-related topics. As many as 50 volunteers present a variety of topics, from plants to animals.
I still find the most successful lessons involve the basics: seeds, soil and maybe water. Those types of lessons and activities usually have the most impact. Katie Pratt Lee County Agriculture in theClassroomcoordinator
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Get involved To learn more about the Ag in the Classroom for your county, contact: CARROLL AND OGLE COUNTIES Melissa Charbonneau, charbm@ illinois.edu, 815-732-2191, Online: oglefb.org/ag-in-the-classroom. html, carrollcfb.org/ag-in-theclassroom/, find Ogle-Carroll Ag In The Classroom on Facebook LEE COUNTY Katie Pratt, aitc.leecfb@comcast.net, 815-719-0405; Online: lcfbfoundation.org/ag-in-theclassroom.html, find Lee County Ag in the Classroom on Facebook WHITESIDE COUNTY Diane Baker, aitcwhiteside@gmail.com, 815-631-6981; Online: wcfbfoundation.org/agriculture-inthe-classroom.html, find Whiteside County Ag in the Classroom on Facebook and YouTube Learn more about Agriculture in the Classroom: Page 13
Every now and again, Pratt will run into a former student who remembers her from those ag demonstrations from years past, and it makes her proud to do what she does. “Some of my most memorable experiences have happened in the classroom when a student remembers something he or she learned the last time I was in the classroom, or when a third-grader says, ‘In first grade, you taught us this,’” she said. “It is rewarding to know that the students are retaining this information and hopefully applying it to other pieces of their life.” Whiteside has an annual week-long traveling farm camp that stops in different communities throughout the county, complete with a hands-on learning experience. This year, the camp went virtual, with videos posted over a 10-week period on the Whiteside County Ag in the Classroom YouTube page. While those virtual field trips lack the in-person impact, they’ve also opened up greater possibilities. Without a classroom corral of kids to look after, its easier for teachers to connect with other places they might not have been able to tour in person, but can be toured virtually, courtesy of presenters who can hold a camera in hand to show students places they otherwise would not see. That way, they’re able to discover more, Charbonneau said. “It has been fun to interact with the farmers and the students through their chat questions,” she said. “The tours have offered an experience the students may have not gotten otherwise.” All their hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed, either. YOUR LOCAL
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DEALER
Recently, Charbonneau earned an Advocacy Award from the Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education for outstanding effort and dedication in the programming she provides for her kindergarten through eighth-grade students. Like others in her field, she’s switched from doing exclusively in-person presentations to creating educational supply bags and virtual programs. The award came as a surprise to Charbonneau. “It’s great to be acknowledged for the time and effort I put into the program but the program wouldn’t be successful without funders, office support staff, and volunteers,” Charbonneau said. “I am so blessed to have a job I enjoy going to every day.” Another decade will pass before the Ag in the Classroom program reaches the 50-year mark, and instructors will be there to make sure the program reaches its golden anniversary. Like the subject they teach, growth is key to the program’s continued success. “We are blessed at the county level to have a tremendous state staff working at Illinois Ag in the Classroom,” Pratt said. “They do the hard work of matching lessons and activities with learning standards. They introduce us to new tools to use in the classroom. They keep us posted on changes in educational philosophy and offer new ways to connect with our community. “In Illinois, the Ag in the Classroom family is diverse and strong and works closely together. We coordinators are always sharing resources, asking for assistance and celebrating each other’s wins. It is a very rewarding job because of the people I get to work with each day.” n
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THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE HISTORY of the United States, agriculture and education have been closely related. During the decades when most Americans lived on farms or in small towns, students often did farm chores before and after school. Indeed, the school year was determined by planting, cultivating, and harvesting schedules. Old school books are full of agricultural references and examples because farming and farm animals were a familiar part of nearly every child’s life. IN THE 1920S, ’30S AND ’40S, as the farm population shrank and agricultural emphasis decreased in school books and educational materials, educators focused on agriculture as an occupational specialty, rather than an integral part of every student’s life. Agriculture education was mainly offered to those few students wanting to make a career of agriculture. During this period, a small nucleus of educators and others persistently pushed for more agriculture in education. They recognized the interlocking role of farming and food and fiber production with environmental quality, including wildlife habitat, clean water and the preservation and improvement of forests. They kept interest in agriculture and the environment alive during a period when interest by the public as a whole was decreasing. DURING THE 1960S AND ’70S, as experienced agriculture, conservation and forestry organizations realized the need for quality material, many excellent films, literature and classroom aids were financed and produced by
businesses, foundations, nonprofit groups and associations, as well as state and federal agencies. There was, however, little coordination of effort or exchange of ideas among the groups and no central point for national coordination. IN 1981, at the invitation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, representatives of agricultural groups and educators came to a meeting in Washington, D.C. to discuss agricultural literacy. A national task force was selected from this group. Representation came from agriculture, business, education and governmental agencies, some of whom were already conducting educational programs in agriculture. This new task force recommended that the Department of Agriculture be the coordinator and that it sponsor regional meetings to help states organize their own programs. They also urged the Department to encourage the support of other national groups. As a result, in 1981 the USDA established Ag in the Classroom, which has the endorsement of all living former Secretaries of Agriculture, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the National Conference of State Legislatures, most state governors and the major agricultural organizations and commodity groups. Significant progress has been made through these partnerships of agriculture, business, education, government and dedicated volunteers. EACH STATE ORGANIZATION ADDRESSES AGRI-
CULTURE education in a way best suited to its own needs. For many years in Illinois, the Illinois Farm Bureau was the state contact for Ag in the Classroom. In the Fall of 2005 the Illinois Farm Bureau Agriculture in the Classroom program merged with Partners for Agricultural Literacy to form Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom. This merge combined the efforts of the Illinois Farm Bureau, Facilitating the Coordination of Agricultural Education (FCAE), University of Illinois Extension, Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, various Illinois Commodity organizations and others. Regardless of the structure, Ag in the Classroom has advanced because of a cooperative spirit among the participants. There is an AITC presence in every state and territory. Representatives from Canada have attended many USDA sponsored AITC national conferences and have now hosted two national conferences in Canada. Requests for information about Ag in the Classroom come from many countries around the world and from other organizations wanting to learn how to deliver their programs with equal success. The strength of Ag in the Classroom comes from its grassroots organization and the fact that educators are very much a part of the movement. Giant strides have been made since 1981. Ag in the Classroom is regarded as a refreshing and flexible educational program designed to supplement and enhance the teacher’s existing curriculum. – Source: agintheclassroom.org
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FACING PAGE: You won’t see as many suits and ties – or straw hats, for that matter – at Leaf River Grange meetings these days, as seen in this vintage photo of the club. Nowadays, the meetings are fewer and less formal.
Home on the [3\
CODY CUTTER
For Northern Illinois Ag Mag LEAF RIVER – Decades ago when Tom Snodgrass and Cliff Craven sought to join an organization with their fellow local farmers, they thought about the local Grange, but they couldn’t just walk in and sit down at a meeting. The Granges just weren’t like that. A lot has changed since then. Snodgrass and Craven remember waiting for that call at the Leaf River Grange, which came after a “blackball” ritual, in which members had to vote on new members by dropping marbles in a box – white for yea, black for nay. It only took a few black marbles to let anew member know he or she wasn’t welcome. These days, the blackball ballot box collects dust, as do the sages and staffs used in the initiation process, quaint reminders of a time gone by.
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GRANGE cont’d from page 15 “First, you had to be sponsored by someone,” Craven said. “Then you’d come in, march around the hall, and the members would have to vote on whether to admit them or not. There were black balls and white balls; three black balls and you’re rejected,” though he adds: “I never heard of anyone get rejected.” The roots of the national Grange movement reach back more than 150 years, to 1867, when the The National Grange of The Patrons of Husbandry was formed to advance methods of agriculture, as well as to promote the social and economic needs of farmers in the United States. Today, it’s the oldest American agricultural advocacy group with a national scope. But like many fraternal organizations across the nation, Grange membership is decreasing. Social media and growing demands for free time often get the blame for the decline; before technology took hold, people headed to social clubs instead of social media to interact with other like-minded people. Snodgrass, 75, of Oregon, has been master of the Leaf River Grange for nearly 40 years. Craven, 80, of Leaf River, has been a member for 58 years and is the Grange’s secretary; he served a short stint as master in 1970. “It’s disappointing that some of that is disappearing,” Snodgrass said. “We’re the last Grange in Ogle County, because like any other organization it’s hard to get new members. Now with all of this social media and all of that, you don’t have that social aspect like you used to.”
Though they don’t use it these days to vote on people who want to join, the Leaf River Grange still has its original ballot box, which used white and black marbles to give the thumbs up, or down, to prospective members. The black marbles didn’t get a lot of use; longtime member Wes Craven said he never heard of anyone getting rejected. Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@shawmedia.com
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GRANGE cont’d from page 16 Such was the way for farmers in Ogle County at grange halls in the various towns that dot the county map. However, the agriculture crash of the 1980s, changes in social behavior, and aging members have whittled the county’s Grange presence from hundreds of members in a handful of chapters to just
under 30 members in the only Grange left: Leaf River Grange No. 1812, now in its 100th year in operation. But for how long? “It’s been here a long time, and I’m afraid it’s going to fade away like a lot of organizations,” Snodgrass said.
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The Leaf River Grange’s first meetings were held in members’ homes before the club bought this Civil War-era building – The Lightsville Church – in 1925, where it’s operated out of ever since. The inset at top is a drawing of what the building looked like when it served as a church. Photos: Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@shawmedia.com
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GRANGE cont’d from page 18 Like any other local club, Grange members put on or help with several popular community functions, two of the county’s larger events among them: Leaf River Summer Daze and the Ogle County Fair. For many years, the Grange had a popular food stand where festival and fair-goers would flock to get their taste of good barbecue, ice cream and pies – the latter absent from recent festivals due to a shortage of good pie makers. “Back when we had a lot of members, we had good pie bakers,” Craven said. “We don’t have pies anymore, but people would still come and ask if we still got pies this year.” The Grange also awards the Leaf River Citizen of the Year, for outstanding community members, at Summer Daze. Nearly all of the money raised by the Grange goes back to community organizations and good causes, Snodgrass said. Taking care of the community has been an important function for the Grange since the very beginning, all the way back to its roots from after the end of the Civil War. The first Grange was organized in 1867 in Minnesota and grew to include state and national organizations. Around the turn of the 20th century, Ogle County had as many as five Granges before Leaf River’s began in 1921. While its name is the Leaf River Grange, it’s a short drive north of the town’s namesake river and actually sits in a small crossroads hamlet called Lightsville. The Civil War-era building where the club meets and which originally housed a church, is on East Street – a dirt road most of the year, covered by snow during the winter. When founded, Lightsville was primed for growth, but the railroad didn’t go through it; it went south to Leaf River, and Lightsville became nothing more than a speck on just a few maps. When the coal trains used to come through Leaf River, the Grange would buy a car of coal and resell it to the community, most of time only breaking even or not making a profit, Craven said. Early Grange members also were responsible for spreading electricity to rural farms and dwellings in early days. Still, there are some longtime rules still in place. Prohibition, for example, was the law when the grange started in 1921, and not even a repealed constitutional Amendment more than a decade later overrules this rule. “You’re not allowed to drink,” Craven said. “That’s one thing you still can’t do, you’re not allowed to drink in a grange hall. No fermented juices.” When it comes to preserving the history of the Grange, Craven’s all over it. A large suitcase full of meeting notes, event programs, membership logs and other important documents are kept under his watch. This includes the original hard-bound journal of written notes from the Grange’s very first meeting on Sept. 30, 1921. As membership declines, so have the number of officer ranks. The head of the Grange is the master, and its executive is the overseer. There also has been a lecturer, steward, assistant steward, ladies assistant steward, chaplain, treasurer, secretary, gatekeeper, Ceres, Pomona and Flora. Of Leaf River’s nearly 30 members, only about 10 are active for the most part. The youngest members are in their 40s, but most are around the same age as Snodgrass and Craven. One of the more unique concepts of the time when Granges began was equal membership among men, women and children – a farm-family fraternity. Women had just as much say as men did – and this was before women could even vote in the U.S. – and children 14 and older also had an equal say; those 13 and younger could be involved in a Junior Grange organization. “It’s a family-oriented organization, and that’s what they made sure this was,” Snodgrass said. “The kids has just as much rights as anyone else. That’s one of the things I like about the Grange is that it includes the women and the family.”
GRANGE cont’d on page 21
Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@shawmedia.com
The Leaf River Grange has racked up an impressive number of honors and trophies through the years.
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There’s a lot of history inside the four walls of the Grange Hall, and though some of those pieces of the past are no longer used, they still play a valuable role: telling the history of a club stretches back 100 years. LEFT: Leaf River Grange secretary Clifford Craven (left) and Grange master Tom Snodgrass discuss the different ceremonial staffs used in formal Grange ceremonies. Many of the group’s early traditions have not been practiced in recent years. RIGHT: Snodgrass talks about some of the symbols used by the Grange organization. Among them is the ax, a symbol of perseverance; the plow, a symbol of preparing the mind for the growth of knowledge; and the sickle, symbolizing peace, prosperity, joy and reaping rewards.
BELOW: A copy of The Grange Songbook sits on an old piano inside the meeting hall at the Leaf River Grange. An certificate from the National Grange, dated Sept. 30 1921, recognizes the formation of the Leaf River Grange.
ABOVE: Leaf River Grange member Cliff Craven is the steward of the club’s history. He keeps watch over a large suitcase full of meeting notes, event programs, membership logs and other important documents, including the original hard-bound journal of written notes from the Grange’s very first meeting on Sept. 30, 1921. Photos: Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@shawmedia.com
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GRANGE cont’d from page 19 The Grange also is active in enhancing agriculture education, and is a sponsor of the Ag in the Classroom program run in the county – overseen by Craven’s daughter, Melinda Charbonneau. The Grange used to sponsor agriculture scholarships for seniors at the former Leaf River High School until it closed in 1989; these days it helps third-graders in western Ogle County by providing them with a paperback dictionary. Food and produce judging contests also were important fundraisers for the Grange, as well as the ‘42’ dominoes tournaments it used to have each Monday. “Back in the old days, that’s how people socialized,” Snodgrass said. “They got together in places like this, and a lot of the old-timers liked to play ‘42500’ and it would always be packed with people and cars would be parked all over.” It’s not just the number of Granges locally that have declined, but there are only 24 registered Granges in Illinois. St. Clair County in the Metro-East area has eight operating Granges. In northern Illinois, Boone County leads with seven. Other granges in the northern one-third of Illinois are the Galt Grange, established in 1931 in rural Whiteside County; Troy Grove Grange in LaSalle County, which has been around just as long as Galt’s; Richland Grange in Marshall County, now in its 95th year; and four Granges are in the areas of Winnebago County not included in Rockford’s city limits. Boone County’s annual fair is operated by the granges in that county. “Time marches on,” Snodgrass said. “I’m glad that I’ve been a Grange member, and am glad to have served the community and am thankful to the community to recognize us too.” And as long as there are enough members to keep it going, the Leaf River Grange will continue to serve the community. So if you’re a farmer in Ogle County and looking for something to do on the first Tuesday of each month at 8 p.m., when the coronavirus pandemic eases the Leaf River Grange welcomes anyone who has an interest in giving back and helping the community. “All they have to do is come to a meeting,” Craven said. “Just show up.” No blackball initiation needed. n
Poster: Library of Congress
This 1873 poster, titled “Gift for the Grangers,” shows scenes from a day in the life of a farm family, a Grange Club meeting, and promotes the virtues of “faith, hope, charity and fidelity,” while also reminding farmers to avoid the pitfalls of “ignorance and sloth.” The banner at left, which hangs in the Leaf River Grange Hall, promotes the clubs’ support of farm, family and fraternity.
Explore the grange life The Leaf River Grange typically meets at 8 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month, but has not had a meeting since last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Call Grange Master Tom Snodgrass at 815-291-6305 or come to a meeting when they resume for more information. Go to illinoisstategrange.org to learn more about what grange organizations are, and for a list of granges in Illinois.
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CODY CUTTER
For Northern Illinois Ag Mag
Don Meyer has been part of the Lee County farming community for more than 20 years, and now he will represent more farmers on the state level. Meyer, 58, of Walton, was named to the Illinois Farm Bureau Board of Directors in December. He will represent District 4, which consists of Lee, Bureau and LaSalle counties. The position is for a 2-year term. He will remain Lee County Farm Bureau president. Meyer has farmed in Lee County for 25 years. He and his son, Paul, operate the family farm; his wife, Paula, is the Lee County Treasurer; and his daughter, Eva, lives in Chicago and is an accountant. Meyer was one of four new directors named to the board, along with Richard Carroll of Brimfield, Larry Dallas of Tuscola and Keith Mussman of St. Anne. The board consists of 18 members from geographical districts; five incumbent directors were also approved in December for another 2-year term on the board. Also in northern Illinois, Earl Williams of Cherry Valley represents District 2, which includes Boone, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties. Jiff Kirwan represents District 3, which includes Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark and Whiteside counties. Meyer recently spoke to Northern Illinois Ag Mag about his new role, his role with the Lee County Farm Bureau, as well as current topics and future priorities.
Congratulations on joining the Illinois Farm Bureau Board of Directors. Tell us how this opportunity came to be.
I’ve been the Lee County Farm Bureau president the past 7 years. Often the Illinois Farm Bureau director has been a county farm bureau president. I’ve been blessed, and perhaps this is my opportunity to give back. “To whom much is given, much will be required.”
What is your role as a Illinois Farm Bureau board member? What does the board do for the state’s farming community? The Illinois Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization. This means policy is developed each year by our membership. The Illinois Farm Bureau board is responsible for advancing our membership’s policy. The board prioritizes how the organization’s resources are deployed to pursue outcomes that are consistent with our policy.
Is there anything you plan to bring to the board discussions; certain topics, anything that you feel needs addressed? The coronavirus pandemic has shown that we have some weakness in our food distribution system. The large packing plants are highly efficient with their economy of scale and just-intime inventory systems. Unfortunately, this packer concentration leaves both farmers and consumers vulnerable to plant slowdowns.
While Lee County is your primary territory, you’re also representing LaSalle and Bureau counties as well. Will it take some time for you to get acquainted with the farm communities in those counties? I do look forward to learning more about farming in LaSalle and Bureau counties. I’ve always found meeting new people and learning from others rewarding.
What were challenges big and small for the farming community you represent in terms of operations and product in
2020? Have they been overcome so far, or are these challenges more long-term? In 2020, we had farmers in Lee County nearly euthanize livestock, prices collapsed for farmers, and consumers were paying much higher prices in the store. The fundamental issue of packer consolidation hasn’t changed.
Were there any positive developments and outcomes in local farming in 2020? The most positive development for local farmers is higher commodity prices. A combination of increasing global demand and falling global supply have led grain prices to 6-year highs.
What can we expect in local farming for 2021? Any good things or challenges? As farmers we are always optimistic for the upcoming season, each spring is a fresh start. I’m sure there will be challenges with weather, markets or outside disruptions; they occur every year.
A little about yourself: How much of your life has been on a farm, and what have been the most important evolutions in farming that you’ve experienced? I’ve farmed full time for 25 years, having seen the birth and development of precision agriculture. Precision technology including global positioning, mapping and other systems have made farmers much more efficient.
What made you want to serve the county farm community through the farm bureau? The Farm Bureau gives all farmers a unified voice that’s respected across our country. I wanted to be part of that voice.
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More about Don He’s a member of the Illinois Corn Growers Association and has served as a committee member for the Lee County Farm Service Agency. He graduated from the Illinois Farm Bureau’s Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow program in 2012. He graduated from Amboy High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture science from Western Illinois University, and an MBA from Northern Illinois University. Contact Don at dmeyer@ilfb.org Go to ilfb.org for more information on the Illinois Farm Bureau
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MARTHA BLUM Shaw Media AgriNews | mblum@shawmedia.com MOUNT PULASKI — An Illinois grower has a message for his fellow farmers: Don’t expect too much out of your soil. If you do, you not only put your profits at risk, but you could be putting a weak link in the food chain. During a Jan. 11 webinar, Jeff Martin said that too often, farmers are focused on planting, picking and profits, but they overlook the importance of the place where it all starts: the soil. “The single largest issue with consistent farm profits is that we have the wrong expectations of our soils, that if we pour on inputs it will be successful,” Martin said. “Far too many people only look at soil to hold plants upright, but soil is much more than that — it’s the creatures that live in the soil.”
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SOIL cont’d from page 25 Martin is the owner and operator of Martin Family Farms and farms with his wife, Jean, and their sons, Doug and Derek, near Mount Pulaski in Logan County, about 20 miles northeast of Springfield. He spoke about the importance of soil health during a webinar organized by the Chicago Farmers, an organization that provides a forum for education and an exchange of information between members and others allied in agribusiness. His focus: Healthy soil being the key to profitable farming. “Soil health is the capacity for soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals and humans,” said Martin. “If we have a healthy soil with all the minerals to produce a healthy plant, then those minerals in the plant go into the food chain, which helps us become more healthy,” Martin said. Healthy soils help plants to be resistant to pathogens and diseases, Martin said. “One of the keys to getting soils healthy is the 17 essential nutrients
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and another 60 to 70 that are needed for plant growth,” he said. “These nutrients must be properly balanced to work in the proper way.” Farmers’ goal should be to develop a balanced nutrient cycling system. “Plant-available nutrients is how this cycle works,” he said. “Bacteria in the soil feeds on organic matter and other nutrients, and the bacteria can double their population every 10 to 15 minutes.” The protozoa feed on bacteria to keep the bacteria populations in check, which cycles the nutrients. “Bacteria has a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 5 to 1 and protozoa has a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 30 to 1, so the protozoa needs to eat six bacteria in order to fill its carbons needs; in turn, it ends up with five nitrogen,” Martin said. “Since it only needs one nitrogen to fill its nitrogen needs, it will excrete four nitrogen into the soil, which will be available to the corn plant, which is how the plant gets its nutrients.” Ratios exist for all nutrients — such as carbon-to-nitrogen, carbon-to-phosphorus and carbon-to-potassium.
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“Fungi in soil can double populations every 20 to 30 minutes, and beneficial nematodes feed on fungi to keep populations in check,� Martin said. “Fungi have a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 20 to 1 and nematodes 100 to 1, so a nematode eats five bacteria to fulfill its carbon requirements and only needs one nitrogen so it releases four nitrogen molecules back into the soil.� The Martins do sap testing of the plants in their fields. “We take the liquid sap from a plant and use a refractometer to get a Brix rating, which measures the sugar content in a plant,� he said. “A lot of our Brix ratings today are five to six and our goal is to get it to about 12.� For about the past six years, the Martins have been using an AgriBio Systems program on their fields to improve soil health. “After we finish harvest, the first thing we do is plant cover crops because we believe cover crops are a vital part of a soil health program,�Martin said. “Then we spray on BioMax, which is a liquid product that has bacteria and fungi. This product helps to break down organic matter and make nutrients in residue available for the crop the following year.�
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In the spring, BioMax is applied in furrow during planting. “After planting we do an application of liquid nitrogen and our chemical program, which we’re hoping we can cut back on chemicals,� Martin said. “We take sap samples to see if we need to do foliar applications and we do a foliar application of liquid nitrogen because we’ve seen good results with splitting our nitrogen applications.� Soil microbes provide many benefits, Martin said, including improved soil structure and increased water-holding capacity and water infiltration at the same time. “We can have plants immune to insects and disease if we have a healthy soil because the plant will send out through the root system what it needs to combat the problem,� Martin said. “The root system will uptake the nutrients, which will help immunity to the pathogens trying to attack the plant.� “The benefits of a soil system that works for you are higher, more consistent yields with less money spent on inputs,� he said. n
Martha Blum can be reached at 815-223-2558, ext. 117, or marthablum@shawmedia. com. Follow her on Twitter at: @AgNews_Blum.
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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CHAMPAIGN – For almost 40 years, Murray Wise has been a household name to those familiar with farmland auctions. The land auction method and technology he and several collaborators pioneered in the mid-1980s has become well known for helping sellers and buyers get what they want from their auctions, changing the way many auctioneers do business. Wise’s firm, Murray Wise Associates LLC, based in Champaign, is a leader in farmland auctions, working with both individuals and institutions who buy and sell land. The firm has used the multiparcel land auction method and technology to auction more than $762 million, or 437,000 acres, of farmland and farm-related property. “We over-divide a property and let bidders put it back together in a way that makes sense to them,” said Wise. “The winning buyers pay for what they want, and the seller walks away with a satisfactory sale.” Here’s how it works: A seller’s land put up for auction is divided into multiple tracts. Then, potential buyers are given the opportunity to bid on these individual tracts. Once bids have been placed on the individual tracts, potential buyers are given the opportunity to bid on the tracts in combinations or continue bidding on them individually. During the remainder of the auction, bids can be increased on individual tracts, or on any of the combinations of tracts that bidders create. The auction software calculates the most profitable way to sell the property, whether from bids on individual tracts or combinations of tracts.
AUCTION cont’d on page 31
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AUCTION cont’d from page 29 “The technology allows bidders greater flexibility, and we’ve seen a willingness to bid more to get what they want, because they can also ensure they don’t buy what they don’t need,” said Wise. Jim Woltz is president of Woltz and Associates, an auction and real estate company licensed in 17 states that works primarily with large commercial and private landowners. An early pioneer of the multiparcel auction system, Woltz says that he’s seen first-hand the benefits to both buyers and sellers. “Before this system, auction companies had the responsibility of putting the parcels together, but in doing so, they would wind up excluding a buyer who was willing to spend more on one particular parcel, but who was not ready to spend a larger amount on a combination that included a piece he or she didn’t want,” said Woltz. “This system allows a buyer to raise the bid on that one tract and break it back out as many times as they would like.” As software technology evolved, Wise’s team made upgrades to their system, which allowed for faster processing speeds and a more sophisticated user interface. This created greater transparency among bidders and of the auction process itself. “When we started, it took several minutes to compute and organize,” said Wise. “Now, we can instantly display thousands of ways
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BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN For the Illinois Press Association
Sarah Frey is the founder and CEO Farms in southern of Frey the author of “The Illinois, Season: How I Bu Growing – and Saved an Amilt a New Life er and, in the words ican Farm,” of York Times, the “P the New um Queen of Americ pkin a.”
KEENES, Ill. – Sarah Frey sees and appreciates the irony when she looks out at her once-small family farm that became a big player in the specialty crops industry. “This place I’d spent my entire life trying to escape from,it became my escape,” said Frey, the founder and CEO of Frey Farms in southern Illinois and, in the words of the New York Times, the “Pumpkin Queen of America.” Frey was the keynote speaker Jan.7 at the annual Illinois Specialty Crop Conference — held virtually this year, from Jan. 6-8, due to the coronavirus pandemic and hosted by the Illinois Specialty Growers Association. She described to the audience how, long before the COVID-19 pandemic saw people fleeing the congestion of cities, as a teenager she dreamt of stepping into a high-rise and ascending the elevator to her office. But before her long-planned exodus, she reflected on years growing up and working the earth with her family. Counting her parents’ children from previous marriages, she was one of 21 children. Four older brothers were at college, and Frey was the youngest child left on the farm. Her path to success was a route that she traveled with her mother delivering melons to grocery stores. “My mother had a melon route when I was a little girl, and I used to go with her on the melon route and sell melons,” Frey said.
FREY cont’d on page 34
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FREY cont’d from page 33 She moved out when she was 15, and by 16 she had an old family pickup truck and had taken over the summer delivery route. She also was attending high school and college simultaneously. “I grew the 12-store route to probably 150 grocery stores, that I was delivering fresh produce to, and I just kept getting bigger and bigger trucks,” she said. All of 19 years old, she decided to change course and buy the family farm. “My inspiration to go into business wasn’t the business side of things,” she said. “It was about having a place in the world to build a strong foundation. The sun was setting, and I stood on the ground where I’m talking to all of you today, and I made the decision I would stay and create a life here.” And what a life it is. Frey Farms, headquartered in Keenes, has facilities in eight states. Fruits and vegetables grown on its 12,000-plus acres are distributed throughout the country through Frey’s Homegrown label. It employs more than 500 seasonal workers — in addition to some people willing to invest in her success: her brothers. “They invested a lot of time into my personal development as a child – challenging me to do things I might not have done,” Frey said, like write a book about her journey. “The Growing Season: How I Built a New Life – and Saved an American Farm,” has been optioned for a series on ABC.
FREY cont’d on page 35
She’s on top of the world Though her family farm’s focus has grown well beyond just pumpkins, “America’s Pumpkin Queen” still wants people to know that there’s a lot more to pumpkins than meets the pie, and Sarah Frey wants to get the fruit on more people’s plates – and not as just dessert. “America is the only place in the world that doesn’t eat pumpkins as commonly as other countries,” Frey said. “I would like to see the season for pumpkins extended well beyond Halloween and well beyond just pumpkin pies.” She’s hoping that with more families cooking and eating at home – especially during the pandemic – the value and nutrition of pumpkin as a regular recipe ingredient will take off. “I want to encourage people to cook their pumpkin and enjoy all of the nutritious value that it has to offer,” she said. Want to know more about pumpkins? Check out the UI Extension Service’s pumpkin page on its website, https:// web.extension.illinois.edu/ pumpkins/default.cfm. SVM illustration/Rusty Schrader
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FREY cont’d from page 34 “So when we will be able to see your story on TV?” Reghela Scavuzzo, the executive director of Illinois Specialty Growers Association, asked during the virtual session. “That’s the million-dollar question,” Frey said, laughing before saying more details will be coming soon. Frey, the mother of two sons, is also in demand as a guest speaker at events. Recently, she’s appeared on national TV, including on “CBS Sunday Morning” and on Fox Business Network with Maria Bartiromo to promote her book and talk about her story. Frey said she got her nickname from the Times because she started out predominantly growing pumpkins – according to her bio, Frey Farms still sells more pumpkins than any other American producer – but the farm’s focus has expanded. In addition to growing cantaloupe, sweet corn and squash, the company’s biggest crop is watermelon. The team “follows the sun” every year, she said, starting in Florida and making its way to the Midwest. In 2014, she launched a line of juices through Sarah’s Homegrown Tsamma Watermelon Juice, which now distributes to more than 2,000 retail locations. The juice is made from fruit considered imperfect, or at least, not perfect enough for grocery stores. The juice is a prime example of Frey Farms’ core mission: to end food waste in the fresh produce industry. “When you look at a piece of ugly fruit, what do you do with it?” she said. “You make juice. To me, life is no different. Optimism is the secret to everything, waking up every day and looking for the good.” The market is ripe for more specialty crop sales, she said. “No one really thinks about the Midwest as a fruit-and-vegetable-producing region,” she said. “But consumers are hungry for and demanding fresh produce in season. They’re the
ones that make the voting decisions. They vote with their dollars, in what they’re going to buy.” Frey said to keep talent in the specialty produce industry, you have to hook kids when they’re young so they don’t, say, flee for the big city and never return to the family business. “Exposure is very important to young people,” she said. “So much of it starts with education and programs to get kids involved with.” One such example that Frey pointed out, and one that she commended, was her local school district building a greenhouse, providing a path for not just children growing up on a farm but also students who simply live in rural America. “I remember visiting the greenhouse for the first time, and it was amazing to see the joy and the pride students were taking in growing plants for their plant sale,” she said. She said a key to success in the industry is starting early, and that learning finances is just as important as learning how to work the land. “We want to go out, work with our hands, to build, grow and create,” she said. “We don’t want to be bogged down by spreadsheets and financial statements. But it’s important to understand the business side of things. It doesn’t matter whether you’re living on 40 acres or 40,000 acres.” Frey’s message – that leaving your roots doesn’t have to be the only way to find success and happiness – is one that she hopes will resonate with people, be it her fellow farmers or people who read her book. “I spent my entire childhood planning my escape, but ultimately, it’s ironic, I found that sometimes, in order to get ahead, you have to stay behind. That’s what I did. Ultimately, I dug my future out of the dirt and was able to bring my family back together and to work with me in the business,” she said.
What are specialty crops? According to the USDA, specialty crops are fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture nursery crops, and that can encompass a lot, from almonds to walnuts. Go tousda.gov/ services/ grants/ scbgp/specialty-crop to see of list of specialty crops.
Jeannine Otto of Shaw Media’s AgriNews contributed to this article.
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