Left to right: Megan Ferguson, Keri Elliot, Karen James, Linda Splain, Greg Guenther, Pam Woith, Brenda Bartley, Kristi Ford, Beth Ann Polley, Jena Reed, Rhonda Brown, Doris Morehouse, Diana Parks, Kathleen Glenn, Megan Charlton, Laura Schahl, Emily Morehouse, Sue Leonard and Matthew Hagaman. They represent six area schools.

Area teachers participate in Summer Agriculture Institute [June 18, 2013]  Nineteen teachers took part in this year's Logan, Mason, Menard and Sangamon County Summer Agriculture Institute.

This is the 11th year that training of this type has been offered for teachers. They are taken to farms in each of the four counties to learn about the broad range of farms and farmers operating in the area. The training also brings teachers into the classroom to share curriculum that will help them use their new knowledge in their classrooms. The ability to teach a teacher is a way to share knowledge, not just with them, but with the hundreds of youth they will influence during their careers.

The tour began in Sangamon County, where the group visited Ramsey Grain to learn about grain elevators and the way farmers market their products. Rich Ramsey also shared information about his bees and beehives. The group moved on to Randy and Toni Krone's farm to learn more about growing Christmas trees and raising pigs.

The second day of the institute, the group moved to Logan County and started the day at the Anderson cob plant, learning about the process of turning corn cobs into usable products. Keith Birmbaum at Remington Seed hosted the next stop and gave a great explanation of the seed business. The group was even able to see bags of seed being palletized by a robot and bulk seed bags being filled. From there it was on to Gail's Pumpkin Patch, rural Beason, where Dave and Gail Sasse told about their pumpkin patch and the agritourism business. After lunch the group was hosted by Homer Hamblin at the J.H. Hawes Antique Grain Elevator in Atlanta. The day ended at the Irwin Dairy Farm, where participants enjoyed talking with the entire Irwin family, who took time away from cutting haylage to give a tour of their milking parlor and to speak about their cattle.

After a weekend break, the class resumed in Menard County. The group spent time with Doug, Dee Dee and John Gellerman, learning about their herd of Shorthorn cattle. The Gellermans talked with the visitors about raising beef cattle and also about showing cattle. The teachers moved on to learn about advances in farm machinery technology and were hosted by Kyle Winkelmann at his farm in Tallula. Winkelmann spoke about the use of GPS and mapping systems, which help farmers in many aspects of their work. Just down the road, the group stopped in to speak with Roy Seaney about his sweet corn production and produce stand as well as his beautiful greenhouse operation. After lunch, Mark Lounsberry hosted the group at the Hill Prairie Winery to explain grape growing and winemaking at his facility in Oakford.

The last day of the tour took the participants to Mason County, where they stopped first to learn about the Mahomet Aquifer, which supplies many irrigation systems in that area. Jeff Smith hosted and let the group see firsthand how an irrigation systems runs, as well as giving information about the aquifer. At the next stop, the group arrived in time to catch Del Monte employees hard at work harvesting peas, an example of the amazing diversity of crops that are planted and harvested on Mason County's irrigated ground. The group ended the tour at the Jake Wolf Fish Hatchery, where large portions of the state's fish are grown to be stocked in ponds, streams, rivers and lakes.

Teachers received 28 continuing professional development units for completing the course, went home with a new appreciation of farms and farmers, and can share this appreciation with their students for years to come.

University of Illinois Extension thanks all of the farms and farmers who took the time out of their busy schedule to host the group.

[Text from file received from Amy L. Hyde, University of Illinois Extension]