Farm Family Life

While Crab Imperial is often served as a luxe appetizer, it can also be the star of a special-occasion meal.

Sometimes screening tests make a great deal of sense; other times they don’t. It all depends on how likely it is that a person would have the condition in question.

Farming practices in America have been under public scrutiny for well over a century, but the intensity and focus of that scrutiny have evolved significantly over time.

A wise-old rancher told me last year, “I can lead you to knowledge, but I can’t make you think.”

June is the beginning of grilling season and that’s been great for beef demand. If more of you would try lamb chops or lamb kabobs on the grill maybe we could see similar results in the lamb market.

After 17 wonderful years, we’ve made the heartfelt decision to sell Illinois Wool & Fiber Mill and The Complete Sheep Shoppe.

Some of us are new to retirement and the questions quickly become: Now what? What do I do with my days?

Forget store-bought hummus — this easy recipe creates the creamiest, fluffiest, most velvety hummus you’ve ever tasted.

In general, screening for blockages in the carotid arteries that provide blood flow to the brain is not recommended, but occasionally I do see people who get the diagnosis made as part of a study or as a result of a diagnostic test that was performed for some other reason.

Today marks seven days since I’ve watched the television news. For a news junkie, that’s a very long time. But I feel much better for having taken a break.

Swartz Farms is transitioning into summer mode after a timely planting season.

Although I don’t think olive oil is a cure for all ailments, there are certainly health benefits when using olive oil compared to most oils.

Spatterware and spongeware pottery are often grouped together, with the names used interchangeably. While they look similar, with color applied in patches of tiny dots instead of brush strokes, they are different techniques.

The price increases we might see because of the expected tariffs make this a good time to get used to hunting for senior discounts on all the goods and services we need and want.

Compeer Financial, through its Fund for Rural America, announced a transformative gift of $500,000 to the Children’s Discovery Museum in Normal in support of its upcoming exhibit, “From the Farm to a Healthy Me.”

Leadership and impact occurs in the small moments. And present happiness is not the way you should evaluate your current day, week or month.

Four FFA students were named Stars over Indiana for their exceptional Supervised Agricultural Experiences.

A new, free guide for creating accessible farm shops was published by the National AgrAbility Project.

This is the second in a series of columns featuring conversations with state Farm Bureau presidents about current issues in agriculture.

Four members with outstanding projects that include cattle, flowers, sheep, auctioneering and hay production were presented the prestigious star awards during the 97th Illinois FFA State Convention.

Ninety-nine people from 19 countries graduated from the Soybean Oil Masters program this year, an event designed by the U.S. Soybean Export Council and the Indiana Soybean Alliance.

Beck’s announced that it is extending its partnership with the National Tractor Pullers Association through 2027.

When the Make America Healthy Again Commission released its report, it raised concerns across the agriculture community.

Come see the workings of agricultural sites in the I&M Canal National Heritage Area while discovering the rich history of the region.

Opportunities and market diversity for soybean farmers were on full display during a recent tour of the Incobrasa Industries.

It took just short of four weeks for Dan Parker to finally get the last seed in the ground.

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.

Earlier this winter while attending a farm show sponsored by a local radio station that carries Brownfield programming, a listener shared with me a poem, “Sermons We See,” by Edgar A. Guest.

When you’re 8 or 9 years old, you don’t see the world as you will as a 50- or 60-year-old. Much of what seems perfectly ordinary to a child often becomes quite extraordinary with the passing of time.

Father’s Day is a good time to remember that many design firms of the 19th and 20th centuries were family businesses.

Clay Geyer is balancing working on the farm, promoting corn-husking competitions and much more this summer.

A beautiful day presented itself at Eby Field as the sun gradually peaked down through the clouds on the legacy of one man’s dream.

Sidedressing anhydrous ammonia and herbicide applications are the focus for the Henert family now that they are almost done with planting.

Although Illinois Farm Bureau has worked to provide mental health and awareness resources to its members for several years, the statewide group is focused on expanding that commitment.

Women involved in the agricultural industry are generally expected to live a triple-duty lifestyle that can lead to depression and anxiety.

A shortage of mental health providers is one of the factors that makes it difficult for those living in rural areas to get the help they need.

The Dave and Donna Scanlon family was proud to receive the Hoosier Homestead Award in recognition of more than 100 years of agricultural heritage.

The Star in Agricultural Placement award will be presented during the Stars Over Illinois ceremony on Wednesday, June11.

These days, it seems we’re hearing more and more talk about “big ag.”

As planting season rolls on, southern Indiana From the Fields contributor Mindy Orschell shared an update on farm life with AgriNews.

Farm dogs take on important jobs, pitching in and lifting spirits. That’s why Farm Bureau is a proud partner with Nestlé Purina PetCare on the Farm Dog of the Year contest for the eighth year in a row.

Although most people think that asthma causes wheezing, cough is a very common symptom of asthma.

The phrase, “Stop, Look, Listen,” comes from the 1800s, specifically from the advent of railroads.

Convenience versus safety — sometimes it’s impossible to have both when it comes to tech devices.

For several years, I have used this column to offer up some nuggets of advice for those newly minted graduates and others willing to accept it.

The Riskedal family uses regenerative agricultural practices on their farm where they grow corn, soybeans and wheat along with feeding cattle for a freezer beef enterprise.

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce is the independent voice for businesses across the state.

Farmer Dan Glessing isn’t ready to get too upset over President Donald Trump’s trade wars.

I’ve sat in my fair share of coffee shops, airplane terminals, restaurants, FFA chapters and convention halls this year, and it has continued to remind me that we find joy in the people around us.

This is the first in a series of columns featuring conversations with state Farm Bureau presidents about current issues in agriculture.