BY DANIEL GRANT
Illinois Farm Bureau recognized all the County Awards of Excellence (CAE) program recipients at its Annual Meeting in Chicago. CAE encompasses awards previously distributed for “Most Outstanding Program” along with the New Horizon, Liberty Bell and Pinnacle awards.
“This is our first year of the revised County Awards of Excellence program, and we were amazed by the quality of programs submitted for the 2019-2021 awards program,” said Emily Zelhart, Illinois Farm Bureau senior training and development coordinator. “Close to 700 outstanding applications were received for the 10 CAE areas and the New Horizon, Liberty Bell and Pinnacle awards. This is a credit to the fantastic work of our county Farm Bureaus.”
The following report provides a brief synopsis of one award-winning program in each of the 10 categories. In most cases, numerous volunteers were responsible for each of the program’s success.
ADVOCACY
Legislative Reception, Kankakee County
The Kankakee County Farm Bureau partnered with the local Chamber of Commerce for a legislative reception brought together many FB leaders with many other community leaders, with a total attendance of 176. Each of the seven state and federal legislative offices that represent the county participated in the event.
The goal was to educate legislators on FB priority issues and give members a forum to interact and build relationships with state and federal elected officials. With great attendance and discussion, along with participation from each legislative office, the event helped further the Farm Bureau advocacy mission.
AG LITERACY
Junior Vet University, Whiteside County
Junior Vet University (JVU) is a one-day camp that allows kids to experience a day in the life of a veterinarian. The idea came from years of hearing kids at summer Farm Camps talk about wanting to be a vet when they grew up and subsequently providing a glimpse into the profession. JVU is intended for children ages 10-13 years old. Farm Bureau partnered with the local community college to host JVU on their campus.
The day of JVU, campers rotated between 10 stations, which included topics such as horse care, suturing, dog CPR and first aid.
FOUDATIONS & FUNDRAISING
Easter Egg Sales, Fulton County
Fulton County Farm Bureau “borrowed” an idea gleaned on Facebook for a fundraiser. The focus was adapted to raise money for the Ag in the Classroom programs using an offer to fill Easter eggs for individuals. The program targeted busy moms.
About two weeks before Easter (March 2021), event organizers promoted the sales on the Farm Bureau Facebook page, AITC Facebook page and on parent pages of local schools. Egg pick-up occurred on Good Friday. Organizers included some AITC and farm-themed stickers that would fit in the eggs.
There were so many orders, organizers had to make candy and egg “runs” multiple times while filling them and put out a call for other volunteers to bring eggs they weren’t using when supplies at local stores ran short. The egg orders were filled using the IFB fabric grocery sacks on hand. Sales totaled $1,220.
ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH
#FarmerFriday Social Media Campaign, Jefferson County
To celebrate the county FB’s centennial in 2020, while sticking with social distancing and no in-person gatherings, Jefferson County Farm Bureau began a #FarmerFriday campaign on its Facebook page. Organizers compiled a list of all farmer members who had been members for 50 years or more and did phone interviews with them asking questions about their life, ag experience and time in Farm Bureau.
Answers to the questions, along with a photo of each member, were posted to the county FB Facebook page each Friday with the hashtag #FarmerFriday. These posts were very popular, being shared by the members’ family and friends. Through this campaign, the FB connected with many of its members directly by interviewing them and reached more than 18,000 on social media through shares and likes. The stories and history collected from these posts in a centennial booklet.
FARM INCOME & DEVELOPMENT
Nutrient Stewardship Field Day, Sangamon County
Sangamon County Farm Bureau partnered with a municipal water company, as well as other local partners, to host a Nutrient Stewardship Field Day in the local watershed. Partners for this field day shared technical information about cover crops, as well as updates on Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and IEPA 319 Grant efforts in the area.
About 30 local farmers and stakeholders attended the event to learn how to use cover crops to provide many benefits including holding nitrogen in the field and out of the lake. They also learned about numerous potential funding opportunities that could help offset their costs for utilizing these practices.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Farm Injury Training, Winnebago-Boone counties
Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau partnered with a local nursing college to provide farm safety training for the graduating classes each spring and fall.
Last spring, 41 students and four faculty members attended the training on a farm to learn about methane gas poisoning, injuries from livestock, dangers of augers, chemicals, mental health and suicide rates and participated in a grain bin rescue simulation. Students also had the opportunity to get inside the Lifeline helicopter and learn about medical transport and flight nursing.
The event was covered by two of the local TV stations and social media. This program helped reach the goal to develop agricultural educational outreach that would use various media and programming modes.
LOCAL AFFAIRS
Public Planting & Demonstration Project for Stormwater, Kane County
A unique rain garden owes its origin to the local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), County Division of Environmental & Water Resources (EWR) and the Kane County Farm Bureau, which extends thanks to the County Board for approving an ‘ag-friendly’ stormwater ordinance.
Kane County Farm Bureau was approached by SWCD about installing a rain garden on its property to filter run-off and as a demonstration project for local farmers and the public. No suitable (visible) public space could be found, nor was the practice at that time recognized by the county as an approved practice in lieu of stormwater detention.
After county board passage of a revised stormwater ordinance with farmer-friendly water quality provisions advocated by Farm Bureau, FB undertook a project to rebuild its parking lot, with a design to accommodate the desire for a demonstration area for approved stormwater practices for farmers in a high-traffic location. As protection for pollinators had also become an issue, it was determined to make the water quality improvement one that would have the dual benefit of attracting pollinator species. About 25 volunteers assisted with installation of the 1,000 square-foot garden.
MEMBERSHIP VALUE
Membership Benefit Commercial, Clay County
Clay County Farm Bureau updated its local membership benefit brochure in 2021 and added several new benefits. To promote the new brochure, organizers worked with the local high school’s video editing class and students to create a commercial detailing the benefits and promoting Farm Bureau membership. To maximize exposure, the video was aired on three local TV channels ran by the local telephone co-op and the school’s TV channel. It was also aired regularly on Facebook and continues to be shared.
To date, more than 2,200 people saw this commercial based on the TV channel’s documented viewers and Facebook views and shares. It’s also used as promotional advertising for membership benefit awareness at events.
MULTI-COUNTY
Carbon Conference, Gallatin County
Gallatin County Farm Bureau teamed up with the local FS and community college and FBs in Crawford, Edwards, Hamilton, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne and White counties to host a conference dedicated to teaching members and the community about the carbon market. This event was held at two locations because of the large area of counties who participated and attracted 124 attendees.
CCA credits were provided for those participating in the Certified Crop Advisor program. Speakers for both events highlighted the legal, economic and agronomic side of the carbon market. This event resulted in two front- page articles in FarmWeek, reaching more than 70,000 people. It also allowed us to increase our effectiveness as an advocate for farmers and help members build their farming practices.
YOUNG LEADER/YOUNG FARMER EFFORTS
Bicycle Safety Night, Richland County
The Richland County Farm Bureau Young Leaders wanted to get all ages involved in a fun activity out of the classrooms, so they hosted a bicycle safety night at the county fairgrounds. Bicycle safety is relevant all throughout the county and is important for our youth.
This program was made possible through a large grant from Cargill Cares. With the grant, the Young Leaders were able to provide individual meals made by a local food truck, purchase six $100 gift certificates to a local bicycle business where the winners could pick out a new bike, helmet, safety gear and more.
All participants received bicycle lights, a T-shirt, snacks and other goodies. More than 200 children and adults attended the event, but this program reached about 10,000 people. Young Leaders had each family fill out a survey at the end of the program to give feedback — and it was all positive.
This story was provided by FarmWeekNow.com.