Education

Delegates wrote history at the 97th Illinois FFA State Convention with the vote to add a sentinel to the FFA officer team that now includes six members.

Compeer Financial announced 22 middle and high schools across Illinois will receive up to $4,000 each to support agricultural education programs and equipment through its Agriculture Education and Classroom Equipment Grant Program.

Illinois FFA state proficiency winners are selected based on FFA members’ outstanding skills in recordkeeping, leadership and scholastic achievement.

Janna Morgan is the fifth generation of teachers in her family.

Rebekah Peterson’s students describe her teaching style as enthusiastic, hands-on and engaging.

Golden Owl Award finalist Kenna Slough was inspired to be an agricultural educator for a combination of reasons.

Students at Grant Park learned how to “bend don’t break” during a project developed by the Grant Park FFA Chapter that focused on mental health.

To McCord Snider, FFA is not just a club, organization or another group at school.

Students at the Hinckley-Big Rock Middle School are learning about a wide variety of agricultural-related topics through three new classes added to the curriculum this year.

It is great to see several tractors in the fields around northern Illinois. They are putting fertilizer down and soil finishing the fields. No planting yet, but it will not be too long.

Since 2006, the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has been on a mission to build awareness and understanding of agriculture through education.

Merck Animal Health announced it will donate $50,000 to the National Professional Agricultural Student Organization to support its newly established Educational Advancement Program.

AgriNovus hosted Gov. Mike Braun at its Quadrant event to discuss opportunities in Indiana’s food and agriculture sector, the economy and other pressing issues.

Food, feed and fuel production is a global business, but it still all comes down to finding the best solutions for individual farmers on their fields.

Members of Illinois Agri-Women gathered for their annual meeting to elect new officers, conduct association business and learn about several Illinois agricultural organizations.

As we bid farewell to February, I find myself aching for the warmth and promise of spring in the heart of middle America.

During National FFA Week, many of us recall those years we spent wearing blue and gold jackets with the FFA logo emblazoned on the back. I still have mine, a hand-me-down from my sister, hanging in a closet somewhere in this old house.

Brooke Rollins was confirmed as secretary of agriculture, placing a close ally of President Donald Trump into a key position at a time when mass deportation plans could lead to farm labor shortages and tariffs could hit exports.

The Greater Peoria Farm Show feature a variety of educational seminars, exciting promotions and daily prize drawings.

Thaddeus Bergschneider is excited about connecting FFA members to opportunities through partners during his year as the National FFA president.

Four new Illinois agriculture education teachers were recently recognized by the IAA Foundation as recipients of an Illinois Agricultural Education Teacher Grant.

Beef production spans generations in the Hanson and Kuipers family in Iroquois County where they operate a forage-based program utilizing a paddock grazing system along with growing corn, soybeans and wheat.

The Illinois Agri-Women organization has awarded five scholarships for students studying agriculture.

Indiana Farm Bureau awarded scholarships to three young women pursuing careers in agriculture.

A couple from Columbus announced a new faculty endowment fund to Vincennes University, which will support agricultural innovation and education.

Illinois Farm Bureau is accepting applications for its Illinois Veterinary Education and Training loan program.

A celebration of agriculture that crossed generations kicked off the 54th annual Illinois Agricultural Legislative Day. The event drew nearly 50 diverse agricultural organizations and about 1,000 FFA members together to meet with lawmakers.

Tim McConville, president and CEO of First State Bank, is transitioning to president and CEO of Tri-County Financial Group, the holding company of the bank.

Drivers can signal their support for Indiana Farm Bureau and ag education when they purchase the Indiana Farm Bureau special recognition license plate.

The Illinois Corn Growers Association honored several individuals for their roles in supporting farmers and the industry during the organization’s annual meeting.

The Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom program has named Amanda Stanko, a STEM and preschool teacher with Corpus Christi Catholic School in Bloomington, as the 2024 IAITC Teacher of the Year.

October is National Farm to School Month — a time to celebrate food education, school gardens and healthy, local ingredients in school lunches.

As the National FFA eastern region vice president, Gracie Murphy has met members and been involved in events across the nation, including eight state conventions.

When her father became ill several years ago, the interactions with his doctors stood out to Rock Falls native Heather Moser.

Cattle producers are the original stewards of land and livestock and are constantly striving to improve their operations through education and professional development.

Illinois Valley Community College has learned it will be the recipient of a $3.5 million U.S. Department of Economic Development Administration grant to construct a new agriculture education facility.

In an attempt to keep brain cells active this winter, I have signed up for a college course. The good news is that it’s all online and it’s free. The other good news is that it’s sponsored by a major university.

Happy September! Always seems like the summer goes by so fast. It is nice to have a little cooler evenings. Great weather to sit out on the porch and enjoy. My Shetland lambs are growing nicely. Their color patterns are really starting to be vibrant.

A new agriculture program is in the works at Grace College. The college is planning a Center for Agriculture. The school is seeking a director and program coordinator for the center.

Enthusiastic fifth-grade students from the Whitehead Elementary School learned about dairy cows, the feed the cows eat and spent time petting calves during a tour of a farm.

Agriculture teachers mentor, motivate and make a difference in the lives of their students every day. AgriNews thanks these teachers for the work they do to prepare the next generation for the future, and life.

Miss Walters is really the person who got me involved in FFA and she has a way of including you in everything to make you feel super welcome. Mrs. Stanley has definitely brought my love of horticulture to light and she really encouraged me to pursue it.

For well over a century, this Macon County city has been on the cutting-edge of innovation in processing agriculture products, and a major financial commitment sets a solid foundation for the next generation of leaders in that space.

Chris Vick has been a student, a worker, a teacher and a farm director, all at the same university. For Vick, Southern Illinois University, more precisely the SIU University Farms, isn’t just work, but also home and family.

Although it was not her first career choice, Lisa Oellerich found her calling when she started teaching agriculture and advising the Scales Mound FFA Chapter.

Elizabeth Karcher is known for her love for teaching. As an animal sciences professor at Purdue University, she has taught nearly 2,000 students. Her classes range from introduction to animal agriculture to mammary physiology.

“This is different every day. It’s always challenging and it’s very interesting. You’ve got to really be the type of individual that likes to find answers. This career path is never going to be boring.”

African swine fever, a highly contagious swine disease, is in the Dominican Republic. The disease does not infect people, but it can wipe out pork production in a region.

In the late 1990s, Prairie Central was among the first school districts in Illinois to extend FFA opportunities to junior high students.

College students graduating with a degree in agricultural education have a lot of job opportunities.