4-H

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.

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.

Over the past two decades, a Livingston County farmer traveled to the capitol to meet with legislators and advocate for agriculture.

There are many reasons for choosing a career in agriculture.

The Agriculture Council of America announced March 19 will be National Agriculture Day with the theme of “Agriculture: Growing a Climate for Tomorrow.”

Ted McKinney has had many titles throughout his lengthy career in agriculture. Now he can officially add “Friend of Farmer” to that list.

The investment and protection of the next generation to enter agriculture or keep their family farm running has long been a priority at Farm Bureau.

The month of January saw Illinois FFA’s major state officers get right back into the swing of things. January kicked off with the officers spending a week at the Illinois FFA Center in Springfield.

Three superior members of the Illinois Agri-Women were honored with awards during the group’s annual meeting.

When a storm comes rolling through or tragedy strikes, farmers and ranchers are always willing to pitch in to help our family, friends or community. It’s how we are wired.

One of the best jobs I ever had was at Scott County Nursing Center when I was a senior at Winchester High School. Through the co-op class, I went to school the first half of the day and worked in the office at the nursing center the second half.

One of my annual routines to kick off a new year is to replace our big family calendar that is posted in our mudroom and begin filling it out.

AgriNews and Beck’s are proud to announce the 2024 Indiana Farm Family of the Year — the Muegge family of M5 Family Farms in Hancock County.

The Illinois FFA major state officers and hundreds of Illinois Farm Bureau members from across the state met at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago on Dec. 1 to celebrate the state’s agricultural accomplishments over the past year.

As a breed, miniature Hereford beef cattle have a lot going for them. They are compact, efficient, docile, easy to handle and mature quickly. They eat considerably less than their full-size counterparts and produce very tasty meat. But they also are really cute.

Wool season is here in northern Illinois. Those wool socks, wool blankets, sweaters, gloves and mittens are so comfortable. Wool is a remarkable natural fiber. The website www.americanwool.org has a lot of resources to help with wool promotion.

Indiana Farm Bureau honored its Young Farmers & Ag Professionals at the INFB State Convention in Fort Wayne. The event’s theme was “Grow: Planting Seeds for Our Future.”

The Livestock Production and Principles for Beginners Webinar Series returns in 2024. This monthly series addresses the needs of those who are getting started, exploring the concept of or even assists those currently raising livestock.

The Illinois agriculture industry would not be where it is today without the hard work, time and efforts put forth by passionate leaders. In appreciation of these leaders’ efforts, the Illinois Soybean Association created its annual Achievement Awards.

Growing up in a diversified agricultural environment enabled me to “bloom where I was planted” while pursuing a career in agriculture to inspire the next generation of leaders.

The Illinois Corn Growers Association thanked Rich Clemmons for over four decades of work representing agriculture in Illinois policy. Clemmons announced his retirement after supporting ICGA as a lobbyist since 2008.