ILLINOIS FARM FAMILIES HAPPENINGS

Feb 20, 2012  |  Today's News

Illinois corn farmers have told us that improving the public perception of agriculture should be among our top priorities. That's why the Illinois Corn Marketing Board is among the initial coalition that formed Illinois Farm Families. We're partnered with the Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Pork Producers Association, and the Illinois Farm Bureau proving that the Ag groups can work together to leverage our investments. 

 

Ladies Night Out

Illinois Farm Families is sending two of our Field Moms (Amy Hansmann and Amy Rossi) and two of our Farm Moms (Emily Webel and Holly Spangler) to a special event in Chicago on February 29. Sponsored by the American Heart Association, the Go Red for Women event draws women from the greater Chicagoland area. Both our Field Moms and Farm Moms will have the chance to meet and mingle with some of the city’s top mommy bloggers and influentials.

 

Field Moms Tour Approaching

Our next Field Moms Tour will be held on Saturday, March 10, in Maple Park, IL, at Chris Gould’s farm.  Chris attended the Moms Meetup in Chicago and is featured on the WatchUsGrow.org website.  Gould Farm is a family-owned and operated grain and livestock farm located exactly 50 miles west of the Loop, and situated roughly between St. Charles and DeKalb.  The Field Moms will get to see how a pig is raised from start to finish.  The baby calves at Drendels’ Dairy farm were cute, but we can’t wait to give them a chance to hold a baby pig in their arms. 

Bloggers

The Illinois Farm Families blog is one avenue where many of our Illinois farmers are sharing information with consumers and offering a behind-the-scenes look at their farms.  If you would like to submit a blog post about one of the following topics, let us know. Suggested topics are: What I learned from working on the farm; What a farmer does in the winter; Not taking the internet for granted; Growing up on a farm; Family farming traditions; and Your farm’s history.  A special thanks goes out to our newest bloggers; Stacy Schutz, Kate Hagenbuch, Doug Anderson, John Kiefner, Cindy Monier, Jessica Zobrist, Bill Johnson, and Lance Taraochione.

IFF Volunteers have been spreading the message with others.

This past winter, numerous presentations have been given by Emily Webel, Holly Spangler, Mike Martz, and Deb Moore.  THANK YOU!

 

Fall/Winter Photos

We are looking for some new photos to post on WatchUsGrow .org.  If you have a family photo with a winter/spring farm scene and wouldn’t mind sharing, please send it digitally (300 dots per inch (dpi)) to Carla Mudd at cmudd@ilfb.org.  When you send your photo, please let us know who’s in the picture and where it was taken.  We will need your name and contact information. 

IFF is recognized with a Best of NAMA Award

The Illinois Farm Families® brand took first place at the Region IV Best of National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Awards in the category for corporate identity.  NAMA is the premier association for agri-marketing and agri-business professionals.  The competition celebrates the best work in agricultural communications. Our entry will advance to national NAMA competition this spring.

About Illinois Farm Families

Illinois Farm Families are Illinois farmers who support Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Soybean Association, and Illinois Beef Association. We are committed to having conversations with consumers, answering their questions about food, farmers, and farming, and sharing what really happens on today’s Illinois family farms. More than 94 percent of Illinois farms are family owned and operated. We are passionate about showing consumers how we grow safe, healthy food for their families and ours.

Funded in part by the Illinois soybean checkoff, Illinois corn checkoff, Illinois pork checkoff, Illinois beef checkoff, and the Illinois Farm Bureau.