Many of us grew up in homes where words like “please,” “thank you” and “you’re welcome” were as routine as brushing your teeth. These were not just phrases. They were signs of character.

As the Indiana State Fair approaches, Jeanette Merritt is preparing for two of her favorite weeks of the year.

Incorporating cover crops into their regenerative farming system has been a learning process for the Riskedal family this spring.

We should be back in the sheep barn this year with some lambs my granddaughter is bringing for the 4-H show.

William Henert spends a significant amount of his time during this period of the growing season spraying crop protection products on the corn, soybean and seed corn crops on the northern Illinois farm.

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.

Top-performing and innovative FFA section presidents and 4-H members cultivated necessary leadership and professional skills during the Youth Education in Agriculture Committee’s recently held Premier 20 Leadership Conference.

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

On any given day, Dan Parker could be advocating for agriculture with legislators, helping his daughters with 4-H projects, supporting the local FFA chapter, selling seed, or working on the farm.

The newly named Corteva Coliseum was unveiled at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The facility features more than 150 events for more than 1 million guests each year.

If you ask most working adults about their required annual certification processes, you may get an eye roll with their response.

More than 2,400 students attended a virtual field trip to a dairy farm during National School Breakfast Week.

In an effort to elevate rural communities, Illinois Farm Bureau partnered with county Farm Bureaus to award 23 Rural Development Grants totaling $105,000 to support local projects across the state.

The Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers honored two individuals for their contributions to agriculture and the profession at the group’s recent annual meeting.

It is a new day for agriculture, said Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins.

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.

The Hayden family of Hayden Grove Farms was honored as a finalist for the 2025 Indiana Farm Family of the Year Award.

This past year marked my second full year serving as executive vice president at the American Farm Bureau Federation and it has been inspiring to see our organization flourish as we serve farmers and ranchers.

The National 4-H Council released “Beyond Ready: 2024 4‑H Impact Report,” showing the powerful impact the organization has on more than six million young people.

Two Indiana dairies, Risin’ Creek Creamery and JB’s Barnyard, received funding from the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance for value-added facilities on their farms.

CattleCon 2025 invites future agricultural leaders to San Antonio to experience the largest cattle industry event of the year, Feb. 4-6.

As we head into the holiday season, please support those who support your community. There are many reasons to shop in your local, rural communities.

Just as seasons dictate the duties of the agricultural industry, the seasons similarly determine Illinois FFA’s itinerary.

Lt. Col. Dan Rooney will be the opening general session speaker at CattleCon 2025, Feb. 4-6, in San Antonio.

Volunteers built a high tunnel with Purdue Extension in Lake County — the first phase of a new demonstration garden for the community in northern Indiana.

We hosted a farm and mill tour as part of our county’s Farm Stroll. The local University of Illinois Extension office coordinates the day with small farms and more in Boone County participating.

4-Hers around Indiana celebrated National 4-H Week Oct. 7-12. The National 4-H organization also launched the “Beyond Ready” campaign.

4-H has a greater reach than any other youth development organization — and young people need it now as much as ever before.

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.

One of the goals in FFA is to prepare members “for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.”

Jeanette Merritt’s role as the communications director for Indiana Pork combines her passion for agriculture with her professional expertise in marketing and communication.

Registration is now open for CattleCon 2025, which will be held Feb. 4-6 in San Antonio. This annual event is “where the beef industry meets” to conduct business, attend educational sessions and enjoy family fun.

National Farm Safety and Health Week will be observed Sept. 15-21 this year. The theme, “Don’t Learn Safety by Accident,” encourages people to take a proactive approach to safety education.

Sixty young livestock exhibitors vied for the title of Grand Champion Overall Master Showman during the 2024 Illinois State Fair Master Showmanship Contest.

It is that magical time of the year — August fair season. In a lot of ways, I look forward to the fair more than Christmas. 4-H has always been a big part of my family.

Sheep lovers can enjoy more than just 4-H and open sheep shows at the Indiana State Fair this summer.

The earth provides an overabundance of food, but the distribution of that food is the struggle.

Wet and hot conditions in northern Illinois are impacting crop growth, as well as providing an opportunity for increased disease pressure this year.

Midwest Dairy is rewarding five students from Illinois with $1,000 this fall at the college or university of their choice.

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

Lake County 4-H members Sebastian Rzadkosz and Avalyn Humbert built a raised garden bed at Luxe Life Senior Living and Memory Care in Crown Point.

U.S. Sens. Todd Young and Chris Coons introduced the Youth Lead Act to support agricultural youth programs, including 4-H and FFA, in rural communities.

The Illinois General Assembly approved a record $53.1 billion spending plan that included some good and bad news for agriculture-related programs.

Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America, the Farm Credit cooperative’s giving program, is supporting county fairs with grants to improve facilities and experiences offered to rural communities across the Upper Midwest.

Applications are being accepted through May 31 for a unique training course for farmers, advisers and conservation professionals that focuses on the soil health system.

This Illinois Beef Foundation announced eight young people from across the state as 2024 scholarship recipients.

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

Last month, National 4‑H Council welcomed 1,200 teens to Ignite by 4‑H in Washington — a summit for teens to find their spark and learn the skills they need to create a positive impact.

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

Recently, I was asked to describe myself without saying I was a wife or mother and that hit me a bit differently. After all, as parents, it is hard for us to see beyond that.