Only one week left until we stuff ourselves with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. With the approaching holiday you may be studying turkeys or Thanksgiving in your classroom.

University of Illinois Extension has a great website called "Turkey for the Holidays". This website if full of information including cooking techniques, turkey safety, turkey fun, Thanksgiving links, holiday hotlines and much more!!

Visit the website at http://urbanext.illinois.edu/turkey/.

Here are a few fun facts about Thanksgiving.

• Minnesota is the top turkey producing state.
• Thanksgiving was made an official national holiday by Congress in 1941.
• The largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 2,020 pounds and was a little over 12 feet long.
• The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in 1924.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Last week a new website was unveiled that gives a lot of information on the history of Illinois Agriculture. This website allows you to see and hear the history by the people who lived it. Illinois State Museum launched the Audio-Video Barn website (http://avbarn.museum.state.il.us), featuring 300 hours of interviews with more than 130 people involved with agriculture in Illinois over the past 129 years. The website is the culmination of a two-year Oral History of Illinois Agriculture project led by the Illinois State Museum and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

The interviews tell the story of Illinois agriculture from the people who know it best – grain farmers, beekeepers, elk ranchers, 4-H kids, college professors, broadcasters and pumpkin growers, among others, from every corner of the state.

Teachers can find lessons to go along with some of the stories on the website as well. I encourage you to visit the website and take a look around. There is a lot to see and learn.

The Ford-Iroquois Ag in the Classroom Partnership now has its own website. Check it out at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/fordiroquois/agclassroom/index.html. Here you will find a wealth of information. Here is a look at what you will find:

- A link to the this blog can be found on the left side.

- The AITC Usage Survey is also located on the left hand side to record the programs/resources you use.

- Under program links you will find links to the Illinois Ag in the Classroom page as well as other great website resources. This page will continue to change, so check back often!

- The Forms and Downloads section will contain the list of kits available as well as copies of the current and past Ag Awareness Express newsletters.

Now all the information you need for Ag in the Classroom is right at your fingertips. New information will be added to this site monthly, so check back for new things.

University of Illinois Extension offers some great online curricula through the Schools Online website. Take a look at the different programs available.

The Great Plant Escape - urbanext.illinois.edu/gpe - The Great Plant Escape helps students learn the mysteries of plant life. Students learn the basics of composting, germination, seeds, and soils. This site is also available in Spanish.

Out on a Limb - urbanext.illinois.edu/conflict - This site teaches youth how to better manage conflicts and challenges they face every day. Also available in Spanish.

The Adventures of Herman - urbanext.illinois.edu/worms - Learn about worm anatomy, the history of worms, and why worms are so important to us. Build a worm bin for recycling food scraps. Also in Spanish.

Shake, Rattle, and Slide - urbanext.illinois.edu/earth - Shake, Rattle, and Slide shows students how forces on and inside the earth work to shape our world. Learn about earthquakes, volcanoes, and glaciers.

The All-Star River Explorers - urbanext.illinois.edu/rivers - What's an oxbow lake and how do rivers form? That's what students will learn as well as the basics of hydrology. There is also a special section on our early river explorers.

Trees Are Terrific - urbanext.illinois.edu/trees1 - Students in K-2 can learn the low-down on trees and why we need them. In Exploring the Secret Life of Trees (urbanext.illinois.edu/trees2) 3-5 graders can learn about roots, parts of the trunk, and tree care. Also in Spanish. Dr. Arbor Talks Trees (urbanext.illiois.edu/trees3) is for 6-8 grades and helps students identify trees using a key.

Walk in the Woods - urbanext.illinois.edu/woods - Explore the environment and all the things you can find in the woods. Also in Spanish.

Riding the Winds with Kalani - urbanext.illinois.edu/kalani - Help 5-8 year olds learn about temperature, clouds, seasons, winds, precipitation and violent storms.

Let's Talk About Insects - urbanext.illinois.edu/insects - Learn ant anatomy, where to look for bugs, and why insects are so important to us. Also in Spanish.

The Great Corn Adventure - urbanext.illinois.edu/corn - Zea Mays introduces students to the history of corn and its many suprising uses. And we learn all about a year in the life of an ear. Also in Spanish.

My First Garden - urbanext.illinois.edu/firstgarden - Learn the basics of gardening. Also in Spanish.

Fresh From the World...Where Your Food Comes From - urbanext.illinois.edu/food - Explore 15 popular foods and see where in the world they come from.

This week is National Farm Safety and Health Week. Did you know that farming is ranked as one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. While I encourage farmers to use this week to reflect on their farm practices and review their emergency action plans, I also encourage the nonfarmer to review safety practices of sharing the road with this big equipment.

I would like to share with you an article written by Vera Bunting, Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services that is geared toward the motorist who is sharing the road with these farmers.

Be Alert, Be Aware, Be Alive

As we all know, spring and fall are very busy times for farmers. When driving down the rural roads of central Illinois, you will encounter farm equipment. Farmers are allowed to operate their equipment on public roadways, just as the public is allowed to drive their vehicles on the public roadways.

BE ALERT – Upon seeing farm equipment, SLOW DOWN. Most farm vehicles travel 25 mph or less, so it takes only 5 seconds to close a gap the length of a football field if the driver of the vehicle is traveling 55 mph. Even though farmers take safety precautions to ensure that their machinery is easily visible, motorists should take initiative and drive carefully, and not assume that they are visible to the farmer. If motorists are too close behind some of the farm vehicles, they are obscured from the farmer's view.

BE AWARE – Farmers use large pieces of equipment. As farmers continue to increase their size of farms, so does the equipment size as a rule. Most equipment is larger than the travel lanes, and drivers of vehicles cannot pass safely at fast speeds. Stop and let the equipment pass, then continue on your way. Do not assume if the farmer pulls to the right side of the road, that they are going to make a right-hand turn. Due to the size of equipment, the farmer must move to the right before making a wide left turn. When meeting farm vehicles at or on a bridge, the motorist needs to give the farmer enough room to completely exit the bridge before they begin to cross the bridge. There is not enough room for both.

BE ALIVE – Be patient! Farmers will attempt to pull off the side of the road at the first opportunity so you can pass. Steep ditches, soft shoulders or being wet could cause a farm vehicle to tip over when pulling over to the side to allow drivers to pass. So that the farmer is able to see your vehicle or if the farmer has come to a stop quickly, DO NOT FOLLOW TOO CLOSELY!

Remember farmers are not operating equipment on rural roads to slow you down intentionally. They also have a job to do and are working to provide a safe food supply for everyone. When possible, farmers will pull off the road at the first safe opportunity so you can pass. Rural Road Rage can be negated if everyone takes the responsibility to have extra patience, careful driving habits, and use high-visibility markings and lighting. A collision with a slow-moving vehicle versus a fast-moving vehicle will more than likely be a fatal accident. So please: BE ALERT, BE AWARE, and BE ALIVE.

Fall is upon us. Soon the farmers will be out in the fields harvesting the corn and soybeans. Fall is my favorite time of the year. Cool crisp air, warm apple cider, brightly colored leaves, and bumpy rides in the combine are among my favorites in the fall. Here are some wonderful books to help you celebrate the season of fall.

Corn Belt Harvest by Raymond Bial

Autumn Across America by Seymour Simon

Farming by Gail Gibbons

From Seed to Pumpkin by Jan Kottke

Harvest Year by Cris Peterson

Harvest by Kris Waldherr

Picking Apples and Pumpkins by Amy & Richard Hutchings

Happy Reading!!!

Still not sure what Agriculture in the Classroom is all about? Come find out more! We will be having an introductory workshop on Tuesday, September 29 from 4:30-6:30 at the Ford-Iroquois Extension office in Onarga. You will learn about the Ag in the Classroom program as well as experience some of the activities you can do with students and other youth. Come and check out the kits and resources that are available. There is no cost to attend. Two CPDUs will be offered teachers in attendance. Door prizes will be awarded. If you are interested in attending please register by e-mailing me at alchandl@illinois.edu or call 815-268-4051.

Weather can sometimes be difficult for youth to understand. This is now made a little easier with a new website from the University of Illinois.

The new Tree House Weather Kids website helps young people understand things like why the weather changes, how we predict the weather, and how weather can cause distruction (hurricanes, tornadoes, etc).

The website is geared towards youth in 5th-8th grades.

Visit the website at http://urbanext.illinois.edu/treehouse

We teach agriculture because it is essential for life. We need the food, fiber, and fuel from agriculture to survive. One of the biggest things I hear from teachers is "I teach geography, language arts, etc. How does Agriculture fit into that?" I would like to share with you something that I found on South Dakota Ag in the Classroom page. This illustrates that agriculture does fit into all of the different areas we teach. It is possible to make it part of our curriculum.

Why Educate About Agriculture?

You teach geography. Travel the world by discovering how climate, altitude, soil types and other elements influence the food and fiber systems that provide students with almost everything that they eat, wear, and use on a daily basis.

Your students are exploring careers. Agriculture is a world of opportunity. As one of the nation's largest employers, agriculture offers a vast and exciting selection of careers. There are approximately 22 million people who work in agricultural related fields.

You teach science and technology. Agriculture has changed science and technology in major ways over the past 100 years. Just think of the possibilities for science fair projects.

You teach business and economics. Agriculture is a significant industry in both national and international economies. Examine how agriculture effects supply and demand on pricing and products.

You teach history. Agriculture has had significant impact on the history and heritage of world civilizations. From ancient Egypt to colonial times, agriculture tells the story of how civilizations emerged.

You teach language arts. Explore creative writing by displaying some printed advertisements for nutritious foods. After the students read them, guide them in identifying and describing the features of the advertisements. Challenge each student to choose a food and create their own advertisement.

You teach mathematics. Agriculture provides an innovative and hands on twist to standard mathematical curriculum. Use agricultural statistics to help students solve mathematical problems.

The 2009-2010 school year will be starting soon. To learn more on how your student, classroom or school can become involved in Ag in the Classroom contact Aimee Chandler at 815-268-4051 or at alchandl@illinois.edu.

It is fair season around here which means our staff is buried in ribbons, trophies, projects and papers. We hope that you will take some time and visit us at the Iroquois County Fair this week. The fair kicks off on Wednesday, July 15 and runs through Monday, July 20. While there check out the various 4-H projects and wander through the livestock barns.

Don't forget to stop by the Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau building to see the great Ag in the Classroom display. You can sign up for the drawing for a "Grown in Illinois" basket as well as some other goodies. Teachers can sign up for the special "Teacher Only" drawing where you can win some great agriculture related books, a gift certificate and other goodies.

Hope to see you there!!

Well, I have arrived back to Onarga safe and sound. I joke that I came back to work to rest. It was a wonderful conference and look forward to maybe going to Baltimore, Maryland next year. I decided that I needed a little downtime on Friday evening, so I did not blog. Here is a recap of Friday and Saturday.

On Friday morning we began with breakfast at 7 a.m. These were the state breakfast. Each state had their own table. You could pick whatever table you wanted to go to where you learned about agriculture in their state. Each table tried to get you to come to their table by having lots of "goodies" for those who sat at their table. I joined the Utah table. I learned that Utah is the Bee State. They have more native bees than honeybees. Our goodies included a nutrition curriculum, honey, a Utah truffle, shelf stable milk, Goldfish (Pepridge Farms is in Utah), a bee poster, a brownie mix, and more! After learning about Utah's agriculture we heard from Dr. Jim Painter, Chair of the School of Family & Consumer Sciences at Eastern Illinois University. His documentary titled "Portion Size Me" talks about making healty fast food choices. Visit http://www.eiu.edu/~famsci/portionsizeme/PSMindex.php to see more about "Portion Size Me".

Next we had the opportunity to attend various workshops on a wide variety of topics. The first session I attended was called "Agriculture Puts the Bio into Biotech". Chris Fleming of Tennessee gave us some great activities we can do with students to teach biotechnology. We even got to extract some DNA from ourselves and see it in a dish.

The second session I went to was "An Ag Day? Why?" conducted by Mary Ann Kelsey of Oklahoma. She is a principal at a private elementary/middle school. We learned how to approach administrators and "sell" our program and resources to them.

Next came lunch. We had a great Grilled Chicken salad and mousse that was to die for. During lunch we were able to hear from the five award winning teachers from across the United States and what they are doing in their classrooms.

Following lunch we had another workshop. I attended one called "Ag Literacy in Today's Classroom". Herbert Parks of Tennessee is a Kindergarten teacher. He talked about some great books that can be used in the classroom that teach agriculture to kids. He also gave some activities to go along with them. Research shows that reading a book does little to help a student retain what is read. If you add an activity to the story, the retention is about 75%-90% greater.

We were treated with a snack in the afternoon that consisted of some St. Louis favorites including Fitz's root beer, jumbo pretzels, and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. We were also treated to hand massages using soybean lotions.

The final workshop of the day was a mini workshop (45 minutes instead of 90 minutes). During this session I learned about North Carolina Sweet Potatoes. I learned of the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commissions's CSPI (Carolina Sweet Potato Investigation) project and heard from a teacher who is using their curriculum. Her class has even adopted a sweet potato field. See their efforts at www.ncsweetpotatoes.com.

We had a free evening on Friday night. Several people went to the Cardinals came. Me being a true Cubs fan couldn't bring myself to go (that and the high heat and humidity). I opted instead for a nice relaxing meal with a few of my fellow Illinois coordinators at the Top of the Riverfront restaurant at the top of our hotel. This is a restaurant that revolves so you see the wonderful sights of the St. Louis riverfront. It takes 90 minutes to make a complete revolution. We started out in the daytime, but after 2 full revolutions we were able to see the sights in their night beauty as well.

Saturday was our final day. We began early with coffee (even I drank coffee as I was so tired at this point). I attended another mini workshop. This time I heard Emily White, a media specialist from Alabama, speak on a project done with her elementary students. Many of her students thought french fries came from McDonalds and wool sweaters came from the store. She revealed some great books that help students know where different products come from and the project she did with those students.

Our final workshop of the conference was listening to Rose Judd-Murray of Utah. She taught us how to find a plethora of resources using the National Teacher Resource Directory.

Our conference concluded with a closing brunch where we heard about plans for the 2010 conference in Baltimore, Maryland and the 2011 conference in Florida. We also heard from noted children's book author and illustrator, Gail Gibbons. She spoke on her experiences as a writer and talked about her books.

After that it was home to see my family who I missed dearly. This was a great conference. I was glad to be able to share these experiences with Deb Talbert, Iroquois West 1st Grade Teacher, who also had a great time. I hope that you have enjoyed this blog of my travels. Maybe next year you will want to join me in Maryland where the theme is "Pioneers of Ag...Sailing into the Future". Watch for more details.

If you have any questions about this conference please feel free to contact me at alchandl@illinois.edu or at 815-268-4051.

Wow. Day 2 is done. It has been a very exhausting day. It is 10:30 p.m. so I am going to keep this somewhat short as breakfast begins at 7 in the morning.

We started the day at 6:30 a.m. by having a great breakfast here at the hotel. It was a hot day so we loaded up with water and hit the road for our traveling tours. My tour had 44 people and we began the day at the ART Co. which is a River Terminal for ADM. After learning a little bit about the boats and what they do we got to take a tour of the Ardyth Randall tow boat. It is interesting they call it a tow boat because they actually push the barges up or down the river. A tow going up the river can take up to 15 barges (due to the locks and dams) or 25 barges going South of St. Louis (there are no locks and dams south of St. Louis). One barge will hold 65 truckloads of grain or 15 rail cars. The crew that works on the boat work 30 days on and then 30 days off. They work 6 hr. shifts around the clock. The boat we toured was a 6000 hp tow that had two 3000 hp engines.

Our second stop was Hummert International. It is a commerical distributor of horticultural supplies and equipment. Their International Headquaters are in St. Louis. They have an office, 10,000 sq. ft. showroom, warehouses, and 3, 400 sq. ft. display greenhouse all under one roof. We learned about some of the current trends in horticulture and took aways some great activities to use with students.

After a brief lunch at Creve Coeur Park we headed to our third stop at the Monsanto Chesterfield Village Research Center. How cool!!! It was so neat to see the actual research going on there to help develop new seed varieties that help increase yield, resist pests, and even provide more nutritional value. Of course no pictures were allowed, so you will only see a picture of the outside of the building with the greenhouses on the top floor. Biotechnology crops were first planted in fields in 1996. Today there are 25 countries that plant biotech crops. It takes 8-10 years and approximately 100 million dollars for a new idea to go completely through the Monsanto pipeline before being released to the public.

Our final stop on the traveling tours was Stemme Farms. Warren Stemme gave us some information on his 1100 acre, four generation farm in St. Louis County. We once again boarded the bus to head back to our home away from home.

After we arrived back at the hotel we had 30 minutes to freshen up before boarding the busses again to head to Grant's Farm. At Grant's Farm we took a tram ride through the wildlife park at the Farm and saw Grant's home as well as many FREE ROAMING animals such as buffalo, antelope, elk, deer, turkeys, and LOTS of geese. It was so neat because some of these animals were wandering around and were within arms reach of the tram. We then arrived at the main house area where we enjoyed a wonderful meal and got to sit and chat about our tours with others in the group. We also got to wander around the stables and get our picture taken with Max (a Clydesdale who was in one of the Budweiser commericals). After nightfall it finally cooled off and we boarded the busses to head back to the hotel.

Tomorrow we have State Breakfasts where you can sit at another state's table and learn about their state's programs while eating breakfast. After that we have a full day of workshops with a free evening. Enjoy the pictures of today.

If you have e-mailed me I am sorry that I haven't had a chance to check them. This has been a BUSY but fun conference so far.

Good night!

Well, day one is now done. I have been successful at connecting to the internet from my room, so I am going to post some pictures of some of today's events. In today's earlier post I mentioned the Interest Approach Fair, Roundtables.

I have to say that we are not going to starve here. They are feeding us well. Tonight's supper was a salute to The Hill. The Hill is a unique Italian neighborhood here in St. Louis. It was settled in the early 1900's by Italian immigrants. The Hill and its residents carry on their traditions in this neighborhood - even the fireplugs are painted green, white, and red in tribute to Italiy's tricolors. The meal consisted of many Italian dishes including pasta, breadsticks, and toasted ravioli. Toasted ravioli originated here in St. Louis at a restaurant called Angelo Oldani's (now called Mama Campisi's). It was an accident that turned into a great dish when an assistant dropped a ravioli in what he thought was a pot of boiling water but was oil. Mr. Oldani tried to salvage the ravioli by brushing on some grated cheese.

Also at tonight's supper we heard from Dr. Lyndon Irwin who spoke on the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Some people on tours will be traveling to the original site of the fair tomorrow.

Here are few pictures to enjoy.

I have made it to St. Louis and have experienced some of my first National Ag in the Classroom Conference. I found my way here fine. That was one of my biggest fears as I those of you who know me know I don't like traffic. The Millennium Hotel is going to be my home for the next few days. The hotel is located on the river between the Arch and Busch Stadium. I was hoping for a view of one of these two, but instead have a view of the Interstate.

Upon arriving I attended the Newcomers meeting. We were briefed on the conference events and given some reminders. There are 581 people here for the conference. After the conference we went to the Interest Approach Fair which was themed after The Pike at the 1904 World's Fair. Here there were 40 make and takes like an Earth Bracelet, Thankful Turkey, and Garden in a Glove.

After going up to the room to unload my loot (and boy did we get a lot of it) I went to a Roundtable discussion where I learned about some Tennessee curriculum on livestock. Here I was able to taste (yes taste!) Milo packing peanuts. They are similar to the biodegrable corn peanuts. They taste like Cheetos without the cheese. I will bring some home with me in case you want to try one!

I am now sitting in the exhibit area where Dell has sponsored a Cyber Cafe. I am not sure if I will be able to utilize Internet free of charge from my room. So if I have to blog from here I may not be able to blog as often (only 4 computers here) and you will have to wait to see pictures upon my return.

Shortly we will be enjoying supper with a salute to The Hill (Italian) and hearing from a few of our sponsors speak. The morning will begin at 6:30 a.m. with breakfast and then boarding the busses for the traveling tours.

I am learning a lot already and looking forward to bringing these ideas back and sharing them with everyone.

Wow! It is hard to believe that next week at this time I will be in St. Louis getting ready to go on our traveling tours for the National Ag in the Classroom Conference. I hope my family can survive without me for four days! I am very excited to be attending this conference. There are 570 people from across the United States and Canada attending this year. I am sure to meet some wonderful people. There are also a couple of teachers going from this area too - Deb Talbert, Iroquois West 1st Grade and Diana Kaiser, Donovan PreK. I look forward to bringing back some information and activities to share with youth, teachers and the community. Don't forget to check back here next week to see our "Agventures" from the conference.

Are you looking to have your own summer "agventure"?

How about visit the Lincoln Park Zoo where you can see the exhibit "Farm in the Zoo". You can see milking demonstrations, pet some different livestock and see the new soybean display. "Illinois Soybeans: Growing Food, Growing World" is an interactive display that just opened in the "Farm in the Zoo". It features lots of hands out activities that help you learn about how soybeans are planted, harvested, and processed. You will also learn about some of the foods and other products made from soybeans.

The Children's Discovery Museum in Bloomington, Illinois also has a wonderful ag exhibit called "AgMazing". Here you can sit in a tractor and see what happens to the grain after it is harvested. Do you know how many gallons of milk you weigh? Visit this exhibit to find out!

To learn more about the dairy industry take a trip Fair Oaks, Indiana and visit Fair Oaks Farms. See a baby calf being born, learn about the nutritional value of eating/drinking dairy products, and even taste some of them at the Cheese Factory.

Finally, for a closer agriculture experience visit the fair. The 2009 Ford County Fair will be held in Melvin July 5-11. Crescent City will host the 2009 Iroquois County Fair July 15-20. See you there!

There are only 20 days until I hit the road to head to St. Louis to the National Ag in the Classroom conference. Over 300 people will be there to learn how they can bring agriculture into their classroom and integrate it in teaching science, math, language arts, social studies, etc. Here is a little look at what we will be doing for our four fun filled days.

June 24 - Since this is my first time to the conference I will be attending the Newcomers meeting to learn all about the ins and outs of the conference. After that attendees will roam around the interest approach fair that will be set to the theme of the "World's Fair" that was once held in St. Louis. As we attend the "fair" we will be able to learn short activities to introduce different topics to our students. There will also be some round table discussions going on at this time which will allow for idea sharing. Finally that evening dinner will be a "Salute to the Hill" theme.

June 25 - This is going to be a BUSY day. The group will begin early in the morning with traveling workshop. I chose the workshop that will visit an ADM River Terminal, Hummert Greenhouses, Monsanto, and Stemme Farms. Other places on the tour agenda include a lock and dam, the St. Louis Science Center, Fitz Rootbeer, Budweiser, the National corn to Ethanol lab, and Cahokia Mounds. Once we arrive back from our tours we will be traveling to Grant's Farm for an evening meal and fun.

June 26 - Friday is a day of workshops. There are over 20 different workshops to choose from - each 1 hour 15 minutes in length. We will also hear from Jim Painter, author of Portion Size Me and The Right Foods to Eat. That evening participants will have a free evening to see the sights of St. Louis.

June 27 - Before going home we will have the chance to attend a couple of mini workshops sessions. These are 45 minute workshops. The conference will end with a closing brunch with speaker Gail Gibbons, author of many books including Corn.

Those attending also have the opportunity to participate in a pretour on June 24 that will go to Historic St. Charles. A post tour will be held on June 27 and take participants to Kimmswick.

I will attempt to blog and post pictures of the conference while I am there.

There are still a couple of scholarships still available. If you are interested in attending please contact Aimee Chandler at alchandl@illinois.edu or 815-268-4051. Visit the website to register at www.agintheclassroom.org.

Are you looking for something fun to do this summer? The IAA Foundation and Illinois Farm Bureau hosts three events in July and September that help fund the Illinois Ag in the Classroom program. So why not head out to one of these events to have fun and help out a good cause. For more information you may visit www.iaafoundation.org.

Pull for Agriculture Education - July 18, 2009 - World Shooting & Recreational Complex, Sparta, IL - Participate in sporting clay or trap shooting courses. Cash prizes are awarded.

Golf Outing - July 30, 2009 - Pontiac, IL - Enjoy a round of golf at wither Wolf Creek Golf Club or Elks Country Club. Participants will receive lunch and steak dinner. Prizes will be awarded and a silent auction will be held.

Country Crossroads Ag in the Classroom Bike Ride - September 8, 9, and/or 10, 2009 - For the 14th annual Illinois Ag in the Classroom Bike Ride, cyclists will travel through nine counties in Eastern Illinois - right through the country crossroads of America. The ride will begin and end each day in Mattoon, IL. Riders raise funds and also help awarness at school stops along the route, bringing the important message of agriculture to students in the state of Illinois.

Thank you to all of the teachers who helped to make our first year doing Ag in the Classroom a success. Many of you requested presentations, used Ag Mags, borrowed kits, etc. To show our appreciation for your interest in the program and educating our youth about the importance of agriculture each school building who had at least one teacher participate at some level will be getting a book entitled "All Around the Farm" for their school library. These books will be delivered later this month. In addition to the books each teacher who participated will receive a certificate. Below is a list of schools and teachers who utilized the resources during the 2008-2009 school year. For more information on how to participate next year contact Aimee at 815-268-4051.

Chebanse Elementary: Mrs. Grenhoff, Mrs. McLaughlin

Nash Middle School: Mrs. Brough, Mrs. Hitchens (CCLD)

Donovan Elementary: Mrs. Both, Mr. Loy, Mrs. Gertsch, Mrs. Legan

GCMS Middle School: Mrs. Tate, Mrs. Ricks

Cissna Park Elementary: Mr. Meyer, Mrs. Reutter, Miss Brantley, Mrs. Kollmann, Mrs. Maul

PLB Clara Peterson: Ms. Early, Ms. Krumwiede, Mrs. Horn, Ms. Cowgill, Ms. Foster, Mrs. Johnson, Ms. Jones, Mrs. Lemenager, Mrs. Kummerow

PBL Eastlawn: Mrs. Hodak, Mrs. Francisco, Mrs. Pitman, Mrs. Ross, Mrs. Swan, Ms. Reid, Mrs. Niewold

Iroquois West - Danforth: Miss Wilken

Iroquois West - Gilman: Mrs. Eggemeyer, Mrs. Bank, Mrs. Talbert, Miss Menigoz, Miss Hansen, Miss Rich

Iroquois West - Thawville: Mrs. Manahan

Iroquois West Middle School: Mrs. Koets, Mrs. Murphy

Nettie Davis - Watseka: Mrs. Stone

Wanda Kendall - Watseka: Mrs. Lundquist, Mrs. Zumwalt, Mrs. Schroeder, Ms. Germann, Mr. Hutchinson, Ms. Oster, Ms. Hilgendorf, Mr. Burke, Mr. Watson, Ms. Hasselbring

Woodland Elementary: Mrs. Loeffler, Mrs. Langellier, Mrs. Boyden, Mrs. Tuttle

Crescent City Grade School: Mrs. Wengert

Milford Grade School (East & West Campus): Mrs. Rice, Mrs. Schoolman

Spring has sprung. Spring like temperatures are finally here. Many of us are anxious to get out and start planting flowers and working in the garden.

Reading is very important. Take time to read a little each day. To help you out here are a few titles of books related to springtime happenings.

Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens

A Handful of Dirt by Raymond Bial

Oh Say Can You Seed by Bonnie Worth

Lily's Garden by Deborah Kogan Ray

In the Garden by David M. Schwartz

The Making of a Strawberry by Jana Paulson

Happy Reading!!

You are all invited to the Ford-Iroquois Ag Breakfast on May 6, 2009 in Onarga at the Ford-Iroquois Extension office. Breakfast will begin at 7:00 a.m. Following breakfast Aimee Chandler will be putting your minds to work as she challenges you to take part in some of the Ag in the Classroom activities that are done with the students in Ford and Iroquois County schools. Come find out the resources available to schools and other groups.

Cost for the breakfast is $5. Ford and Iroquois County teachers and administrators are free. The presentation will be done by 8:30 a.m. at the latest. Please preregister by noon on May 5 by calling 815-268-4051 or e-mail alchandl@illinois.edu.

Hope to see you there for this fun filled morning!

There is now a new Ag Mag available just in time for Arbor Day (April 24). The Tree Ag Mag features important dates in environmental history, parts of a tree, benefits of trees, how to plant a new tree and much more! You can also learn about different products that come from trees. Did you know that hairspray and ping pong balls can be made from trees?

This Ag Mag has been provided by Illinois Ag in the Classroom, IAA Foundation, and Trees Forever.

Copies of the Ag Mag are available free of charge by contacting the Ford-Iroquois Extension office.

Happy National Agriculture Week (March 15-21)! National Agriculture Day is Friday, March 20. Why do we celebrate Ag Day? Every single person encounters agriculture many times in one day. From the food we eat to the clothes we wear to the paper and pencils we use each day we are using agriculture.

During this National Agriculture Week and Day take some time to think about what your life would be like without agriculture. Why not spread the word and tell others how important agriculture is. Why else do we celebrate? Below are some reasons taken from www.agday.org.

1) Increasd knowledge of agriculture and nutrition allows individuals to make informed personal choices about diet and health.

2) Informed citizens will be able to participate in establishing policies that will support a competitive agricultural industry in this country and abroad.

3) Employment opportunities exist across the board in agriculture. Career choices include farm production; agribusiness management and marketing; agriculture research and engineering; food science; processing and retailing; banking; education; landscape architecture; urban planning; energy; and many others.

4) Beginning in kindergarten and continuing through 12th grade, all students should receive some systematic instruction about agriculture.

5) Agriculture is too important a topic to be taught only to the small percentage of students considering careers in agriculture and pursuing vocational agricultural studies.

6) Agricultural literacy includes an understanding of agriculture's history and current economic, social, and environmental significance to all Americans. This understanding includes some knowledge of food, fiber, and renewable resource production, processing and domestic and international marketing.

For more information visit www.agday.org.

March is National Nutrition Month. Celebrate by knowing where your food comes from. University of Illinois Extension has some great websites that can help you learn about different foods. Check them out!

Fresh from the World...Where Your Food Comes From can be found at http://urbanext.illinois.edu/food/. On this interactive website you can learn that cacao is used in making chocolate or that a watermelon is 92% water. Learn about cacao, tomatoes, pineapple, bananas, peanuts, pumpkins, rice, oranges, coffee, potatoes, watermelon, apples, tea, carrots and popcorn.

Food Fun - From Apples to Zucchini gives the student (or adult) a chance to learn about fruits and vegetables from every letter in the alphabet. Visit this site at http://urbanext.illinois.edu/foodfun/ to learn what Indhlubu or Quince are. Fun facts and online coloring pages fill this nutritious website!

Sports and Nutrition can be found at http://urbanext.illinois.edu/hsnut/. Here the audience can learn about the importance of hydrating yourself, keeping energy levels up and more.

A new Ag Mag has arrived! Check out the new Specialty Crop Ag Mag now available by contacting the Ford-Iroquois Extension office. Learn about the "Illinois...Where Fresh Is!" logo program. Different farms are featured in this newspaper publication. Farms and topics include herbs, pumpkins, apples, peaches, vegetables, Christmas Trees, wheat, bees, and horseradish. Kankakee County's William Olthoff of Olthoff Farms and Dutch Valley Growers, Inc. is also featured in this latest Ag Mag.

"February 12 will mark the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln who was the 16th President of the United States. Lincoln was born in Hardin County, Kentucky but makde Springfield, Illinois his home. Throughout Lincoln's life he had a strong connection to agriculture. Raised a son of a carpenter/farmer, Lincoln understood the importance of establishing the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1861. Lincoln's meager upbringing on the territory of western expansion and the numerous years he served as a country lawyer made him a spokesman for rural life. At the time of Lincoln's presidency, over 48% of the population were farmers. With a country so dependent on agriculture and the need for reform to do away with slave labor, Lincoln established the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 1862, to ensure that young men were getting the best education related to production agriculture, Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Grant College Act into effect. The Morrill Land Grant donated public land to states and territories for colleges of agriculture and mechanical arts. The University of Illinois is Illinois' Land Grant College. Many communities throughout Illinois have connections to President Lincoln. " - from the L is for Lincoln educational packet

Take some time to celebrate President Lincoln's birthday! Here some things you can do!

- Read L is for Lincoln: An Illinois Alphabet by Kathy-Jo Wargin.

- Send a birthday card to President Lincoln - see http://www.lincoln200.net/

- Visit some of the famous Lincoln sites around Springfield like the Lincoln Home, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, Lincoln's Tomb.

For more on Lincoln and his birthday celebration you can visit www.lincoln200.net or www.lincolnbicentennial.gov.

January is National Oatmeal Month. Oatmeal is made from a small grain called oats. Oatmeal is used in so many different ways. You can eat oatmeal or sometimes it is used to make products like soap.

Eating Oatmeal

Oatmeal is good for your heart by helping reduce your bad cholesterol. It is also full of fiber. Many times we see oatmeal eaten alone or topped with fruit or milk. Oatmeal is also used in making cookies, breads, cakes and other baked goods. If you eat a granola bar there is most likely oatmeal in it.

Oatmeal Baths/Soap

Why use oatmeal in the tub or shower? Oatmeal baths are commonly used for poison ivy, insect bites, diaper rash, sunburn or dry skin. You can buy oatmeal bath products or you can make your own by grinding your oatmeal into a fine powder and then adding it to your bath.

Oatmeal is also made into cosmetics and animal feed.

So many uses from a little grain called oats!

The Ford-Iroquois Ag in the Classroom Partnership is sponsoring a National Agriculture Week poster contest for students in grades PreK through 12. The theme for the contest is "What Agriculture Means to Me." A complete listing of the rules is below. We are asking that students create posters depicting what agriculture means to them. The posters and the explanation they provide will be used to promote National Agriculture Week (March 15-21) around Ford and Iroquois Counties.

Posters are due to the Ford-Iroquois Extension Office in Onarga by February 13. Posters will then be on display for the February 27 Ford-Iroquois Extension Ag Day. Those in attendance at Ag Day will vote for the top posters in each of the grade categories. All students participating will receive a certificate. The top posters in each grade category will receive an additional prize. Winners will be notified in early March and Extension staff will make arrangements to present awards to them sometime during National Agriculture Week.

National Agriculture Week Poster Contest Rules

1) A poster should be completed by an individual student. One poster per student.

2) Size of the poster should be at least 8"x11" but no larger than 11"x15"

3) The entry can be done on either paper or poster board.

4) The entry should relate to the theme of "What Agriculture Means to Me."

5) Each entry should contain the following on the back of the poster.

• Name
• School
• Grade
• Teacher
• A minimum of three sentences explaining their poster.

6) All entries are due to the Ford-Iroquois Extension office by Friday, February 13.

7) All participants will receive a certificate of participation.

8) Prizes will be awarded to the top individuals in each age bracket:

• PreK-3^rd Grade
• 4^th-6^th Grades
• 7^th-12^th Grades

9) Those attending the 2009 Ford-Iroquois Extension Ag Day will vote on posters to decide prize winners.

10) Posters will be used in promoting National Agriculture Week in Ford and Iroquois Counties.

For more information on National Agriculture Week (March 15-21) and National Agriculture Day (March 20, 2009) you can visit the website at www.agday.org

Happy New Year! Did you make New Year's resolutions? Here are some some resolutions and some Ag solutions to help you meet them.

Resolution: Read more books.

How about reading "A Hog Ate My Homework" by Gary Metivier. In this book Willie, a second grader, is not very inspired to write his first school report. A trip to the family farm may help. Read all about his farm adventures and the lessons he learns.

Resolution: Take a fun trip with family or friends.

Visit the Children's Discovery Museum in Bloomington, Illinois and see the AgMazing exhibit. Fun learning for both adults and youth. Sit in a tractor or see the cows being milked or learn where the crops go after beging harvested. Even those who are familary with agriculture will have a great time. http://www.childrensdiscoverymuseum.net/index.asp

Resolution: Attend an educational conference.

Join teachers and others from around the United States at the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in St. Louis June 24-27. Attend workshops and make and takes; see St. Louis sites; take in a Cardinal game; and have a LOT of fun! Early bird registration opens January 12. Contact Aimee if you are interested in attending. http://www.agintheclassroom.org/060605/Conf_training/NationalAITCConference2009.htm

Best Wishes for 2009!!

As we approach the holidays here are some facts on Christmas Trees:

- Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850.

- The best selling trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Virginia pine, balsam fir and white pine.

- Christmas trees take an average of 7-10 years to mature.

- Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska.

- There are over 500 Christmas tree growers in Illinois.

- 31.3 million real Christmas trees were purchased in 2007.

Visit University of Illinois Extension's Christmas Trees and More website at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees/default.cfm for more tree facts, information on tree types, selection and care for your tree, Christmas tree fun and more.

Happy Holidays!

Pink, white, red and multicolored poinsettias are seen this time of year (there are over 100 varieties). Poinsettias are a very popular showy plant. This plant is native to Mexico and is commercially grown in all 50 states. They are also the best selling potted flowering plant in the United States.

Learn more about this popular holiday plant including history, selection, care and other facts on the University of Illinois Poinsettia Pages.

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/poinsettia/

This time of the year snow is all around us in central Illinois. This is a great time to talk about the water cycle and see how water takes on different forms (solid, liquid, vapor). Explore the water cycle and learn about evaporation, precipitation, transpiration, condensation. Check out the Riding the Winds with Kalani website at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/kalani/index.cfm to learn more.

After learning about the water cycle why not make a snowflake.

1) Draw a simple snowflake design on a piece of wax paper using a pencil.

2) Trace over the design with thick lines of glitter glue and let dry overnight.

3) Gently peel from the wax paper and allow to dry more if still wet underneath.

4) String a piece of fishing line to hang.

Craft Source: familycorner.com