The event is chaired by Illinois farm women Mary Mackinson Faber (Pontiac) & Katie Pratt (Dixon).

The IHD was created as one more outlet at which consumers can network with Illinois farmers and learn more about farming and food production.

“We wanted to create an atmosphere in which people can talk and ask questions about hot topics in food,” said Pratt.

She said they seek to foster trusted relationships between consumers and farmers and to highlight Illinois’ number one industry, agriculture.

Thomas & Breann Titus served as hosts for the Second Illinois Harvest Dinner.

Faber and Pratt partnered with Thomas and Breann Titus to bring the dinner to central Illinois.  Titus is currently serving as a Face of Farming & Ranching for the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance. In addition the family was recently named as Pork Producers Family of the Year from the Illinois Pork Producers Association.

Dale Hadden, director with Illinois Farm Bureau & Illinois farmer, talks to guests about the upcoming harvest, while Sean Arians, farmer from central Illinois shows off the technology that will guide this combine through the fields.

Guests toured the Titus farm and learned more about raising pigs.  In addition, guests climbed into the combine and tractor to check out the farmer’s view and learned more about technology and its application in agriculture.

Michele Aavang, a Wodstock IL farmer visiting with guests.

Several Illinois farmers were also on hand to talk to guests about corn and soybean production, dairy farming, specialty crops and the diversity and strength of Illinois agriculture.

The Pontiac FFA Chapter guided by advisor Jesse Faber, built raised garden beds in which they planted sweet corn, popcorn, wheat, pumpkins, horseradish, green beans and peas.  The garden beds were on display at the dinner, and FFA members were on hand to explain the significance of each crop to Illinois’ agriculture community.

“Many people see Illinois strictly as a corn and soybean state, but we grow 85 percent of the world’s horseradish,” said Pratt.

The dinner was prepared by Executive Chef Vince Swanson of Cracked Pepper (Peoria, Ill).

Appetizers included bacon jam and brie crostinis, horseradish infused deviled eggs, strawberry bruschetta with balsamic reduction, flatbread with buffalo chicken and ranch flavored popcorn.  The dinner menu included fresh vegetable salad, bone in bourbon glazed pork chops, cheesy polenta with elotes, green beans with bacon and onion and pumpkin bars and apple pies for dessert.

Chef Swanson met with dinner guests to discuss his menu selection and thoughts about food and farming.

THANK YOU to our Agriculture Builder Sponsors!

“We are so grateful to all the businesses, organizations and individuals who supported this event,” said Faber.

Sponsors contributed at one of three levels of contributions – Illinois Agriculture Builder, Conversation Cultivator and Sprout Starter.  Contributing at the top level of sponsorship as Illinois Agriculture Builders were Farm Credit of Illinois, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Agri-Women, and Wyffels Hybrids.  Conversation Cultivator sponsors included Carthage Vet Service, Illinois Corn Growers, Illinois Farm Bureau, COUNTRY Financials & GROWMARK, Inc., Illinois Pork Producers Association, JBS United, Midwest Dairy, Pilot Knob Comforts and Prairie Farms

Hope Danielson and Melanie Kluzek, registered dietitians with County Market, inspect jars of M&Ms.

The jars illustrate how much estrogen is present in potatoes (225 nanograms) compared to a three ounce steak from a steer treated with growth promoting hormones (1.9 nanograms).

Faber said the group plans to follow-up with the IHD guests to learn if they met their goals for the event.  “Early respondents to our evaluation rated the evening as excellent and indicated they have more confidence in Illinois agriculture,”she said.

Photo credit: Erin Ehnle Brown, Grand Vale Co.

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It’s June Dairy Month, making it the perfect time to celebrate dairy farm families (like ours) that provide safe, wholesome, sustainable dairy foods for you to enjoy. The observance was created in 1937 as a way to help distribute extra milk when cows started on pasture in the summer months. June Dairy Month is also a great time to talk about the many health benefits that dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt deliver. Loaded with 9 essential nutrients like calcium, potassium, protein and phosphorus, dairy foods contribute significant nutrition to everyone’s diet.

While our Dairy Month celebration only spans 30 days, our dedication to “hands-on” work runs year-round. Dairy farmers are committed to producing safe, high-quality milk and dairy products 365 days a year. That commitment to quality means taking excellent care of our animals and the land. It is also more than just simply milking our cows.

Dairy farms are focused on everything from the feed a cow will consume to water conservation to the development of renewable energy sources.

In the United States, there is a trend towards greater understanding the food chain. “Consumers are searching for a connection to where their food comes from,” notes St. Louis District Dairy Council dietitian Monica Nyman. In just this country alone, there are about 51,000 dairy farms. According to the National Agriculture Statistics Service, in Illinois there are about 690 licensed dairy herds, ranking the state 22nd in total milk production. Dairy farms can be found in all 50 states, with 98% of them being family owned. The other 2% include farms which are university-owned (like the dairy at the University of Illinois), company-owned (like Purina and Hoard’s Dairyman) and corporately-owned (like Horizon Organics).

The special link between farmers and consumers is really the basis of what June Dairy Month is all about – celebrating and using a wonderful product that’s natural, fresh, and good for you.

As we continue the more than 75-year tradition of celebrating dairy foods this month, let’s not forget to honor the hardworking devoted dairy farmers who make it all possible. Here’s to dairy farmers—they are the real deal!

Cheers!

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Pontiac FFA Chapter at the National FFA Convention

Have you ever heard of FFA? Were you ever involved in it? The mission states: FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.  Unfortunately my high school did not offer agriculture classes or FFA.  Three years after I graduated, the Pontiac Chapter was re-chartered in 2003.  I was actively a part of 4-H as I grew up but I only had a basic understanding of what FFA was until 6 years ago.

Jesse and Miss A in her FFA jacket.

Why six years ago? 

Six years ago today, I met my favorite agriculture teacher and FFA adviser at a high school basketball game.  Flash forward to 2015, and I am honored to call that individual my husband and together we are the parents of two amazing children.  During that time, I have learned so much about this amazing organization. I have seen first-hand a few of the young adults that have proudly worn the navy blue corduroy jacket.  The vast number of talented young adults this organization helps shape is astounding.  According to their website, there are 610,240 student members in 7,665 local chapters.  Behind each of these students is an equally talented Advisor and mentor.  Pontiac Township High School is blessed to have not one but two incredible talented individuals, my husband, Jesse and Parker Bane or as their students call them, Faber and Bane.

I may be partial but together these two men truly “Go All Out”.  If you ask them, the Chapter’s success is because of their kids. The accolades this Chapter have been awarded, like the 2013 Model of Excellence winner (top chapter in the country!) and the Banker’s Plaque in 2013, 2014 and 2015 (top chapter in Illinois) are due not only to the dedication of the students however, but also because of the excellent leadership and guidance that Jesse and Parker provide.

Jesse Faber & Parker Bane – Pontiac FFA Advisors

Don’t believe me, read what what their students have to say:

We got involved to learn a little bit about agriculture and leadership, and we did; but more importantly, we were taught to set goals with a defy the odds mindset, take advantage of opportunities to build relationships, and give of ourselves until we can’t give anymore. – Jordan

They helped find the career I am pursuing and then prepared me for it by encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself constantly with leadership roles, public speaking, event planning and so much more. – Rachel

Encouraged me to pick a career that was the best fit for me and left me with skills such as leading a group, planning for large events, and how network/interact with a variety of people to get the job done well and efficiently. – Abby

Jesse and Parker taught me the importance of loving what you do, the value of staying true to your beliefs, and never forgetting where you came from. – Clay

Bane and Faber taught all of us a lot of things that will help us throughout life. They taught us people skills, time management,I know this will be surprising to people who have asked them where something is but organization, and most importantly to me the willingness to do things for other people and help other people with smiles on our faces and truely being able to enjoy it. These are things that I will be able to use for my entire life and I am thankful I was able to learn them from such incredible people. – Grace

It is because of their dedication to see a student become successful is why I want to become an agriculture educator myself. There are simply not enough caring people in the world today that have the willingness to mold young minds as Parker Bane and Jesse Faber do. – Mitch

They have shown me through there own passion with there career, family, friends & students to go after my dreams and that no dream is every to big to accomplish if you are passionate about it. – Courtney

Mr. Bane and Mr. Faber saw not only who I was, but more importantly, they saw the potential I had and together they worked with me and pushed me to achieve that potential and so much more. The most incredible part of all of it is that I was not even a student at PTHS and they still took the time out of their busy lives to invest in me and my future. These two men are prime examples of what agriculture educators do: invest in the lives of future leaders and agriculturists. – Sam

Bane and Faber have helped me greatly become the successful young adult that I am today.  They pushed me to work my hardest in FFA, in work and whatever else I was doing.  Always had my back and supported me.  Still continue to help me even as I have move on into my college career and I am very great full for all the times they pushed me to better when they knew I could. – Zac

~Mary

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