2011 WHAT A GREAT IDEA!

Project Ideas for County Farm Bureaus

County Farm Bureau annual reports submitted in the Illinois Farm Bureau PEARS (Program Evaluation and Awards Reporting System) Program provide several kinds of feedback to assist county Farm Bureaus in future program development.

This booklet features over 200 Project Ideas for county use. Each project was nominated by county Farm Bureaus for "MOST OUTSTANDING PROJECT AWARD" consideration and was placed by the evaluators in the "top 3-5" for each membership group in each program area.

PEARS Evaluators selected the "Most Outstanding Project" in each of the five membership groups for each of the eight program areas. These 40 projects, done by 27 counties, were recognized at the 2011 IAA Annual Meeting and are indicated with a * in this booklet.

To get best county use of this resource, share appropriate project ideas with County Committee Chairs. Or better yet, duplicate the entire book or parts of it for each Chair. Contact the county that did the project to get additional details.

The booklet is also available on ilfb.org. Select “Get Involved,” select “Grow Committee & Teams,” select “Ideas for Your County Farm Bureau Committee”.

TABLE OF CONTENTS (By PEARS Program Area)

Page

100. Ag Literacy 1

200. Commodities and Marketing 7

300. Health and Safety 11

400. Legislative/Political Process 17

500. Local Affairs 22

600. Communication & Promotion 27

700. Member Relations 32

800. Policy Development 36

Judges Pick 41

Disclaimer: This booklet was prepared by Illinois Farm Bureau Word Processing Department. Word Processing prepared all project summaries exactly as submitted by the county Farm Bureaus and disclaims all typographical errors, grammatical errors, or punctuation errors.

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2011 MOST OUTSTANDING PROJECTS

Program Evaluation Awards Reporting System

PEARS evaluators selected these 40 county Farm Bureau projects as 2011 MOST OUTSTANDING PROJECTS. Each project received an award certificate at the 2011 IAA Annual Meeting.

MEMBERSHIP GROUPS

Program
Areas / I / II / III / IV / V
100
Ag Literacy / aitc and ffa Partners
Calhoun County / skype from the field
Edgar County / INTERACTIVE FARM 2011
Christian County / farm in the park
Whiteside County / farmers ag mag
DeKalb County
200
Commodities &
Marketing / FUEL DAY PROMOTION
Brown County / BUY FRESH AND BUY LOCAL
Edgar County / MINI-FARM PROGRESS SHOW ADDRESSING TILLAGE CONCERNS
Hancock County / FARMER/RETAILER MEETING
Randolph County / DAIRY BREAKFAST
DeKalb County
300
Health & Safety / HOW QUICK ARE YOU?
Brown County / AGRICULTURE RESCUE, GRAIN BIN EXTRACTION, AND DEMONSTRATION DAY
Piatt County / RES-Q-TUBE DONATION & TRAINING
Wayne County / GOLF FOR AG HEALTH & SAFETY
Grundy County / COMMUNITY WELLNESS PROGRAMMING
Cook County
400
Legislative / Political Process / LEGISLATIVE DINNER
Lawrence County / ADOPT-A-LEGISLATOR FARM VISIT
Lee County / MARY'S ACRE
Warren-Henderson / A DAY IN THE COUNTRY
Whiteside County / CONGRESSIONAL STAFF AGRICULTURE TOUR
LaSalle County
500
Local Affairs / HISTORICAL FLOOD 2011
Pulaski-Alexander / LIBRARY
Franklin County / GRAIN RESCUE TUBE
Marshall-Putnam / MAYORS AND VILLAGE PRESIDENTS PROGRAM
Henry County / CHICAGO SLUDGE
LaSalle County
600
Communication & Promotion / COWS & PIGS
Edwards County / ANNUAL FARM VISIT DAY
Lee County / LOOKING FOR LINCOLN
Hancock County / LIBERTY 5K RUN/WALK
Grundy County / ADOPT AN ACRE
LaSalle County
700
Member Relations / ENGAGEMENT SURVEYS
Edwards County / PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE – WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Edgar County / VOLUNTEER M MEMBER DRIVE
Marion County / USDOT AND UCR ASSISTANCE
Effingham County / '100 X 100" MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
Kane County
800
Policy Development / POLICY DEVELOPMENT
SURVEY
Douglas County / RADIO ADVERTISING
Lee County / SERIES OF POLICY DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS WITH FARMER IMAGE FOCUS
Fulton County / DISTRICT FARM BILL
ROUNDTABLE
Rock Island County / COUNTY PRIORITIES AND POSITION STATEMENTS
Cook County

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100. AG LITERACY

* Calhoun, "AITC and FFA Partners" – The purpose of this program was to be a mentor to FFA students and help them financially with their Land Lab. This was a new project for them. We talked with school officials along with the Ag Advisor and FFA Alumni members to get permission to use some of the school property for the lab. The school board gave permission. FS and Monsanto came on board and donated seed and chemicals and we secured a $500 grant through the Illinois Corn Marketing Board to secure funds for signage and brochures. There were 25 FFA members, the Ag Advisor, 4 alumni members to assist the FFA members and 2 AITC and 2 WC members involved in the project. We achieved our goal as many students stated this was the biggest hands on experiences they had been involved with. Brochures and a sign directing them to the Land Lab recognized the IL Corn Marketing Board and all contributors. The brochures noting the results of the plots will be handed out to farmers this fall at our local elevator. Media was placed in our local newspaper, FFA , FFA Alumni and the FB newsletter over 40,000 distribution.

Edwards, "Teacher Visit" – The FB adopted a 2nd grade teacher and classroom to teach them about agriculture and rural America. After a visit by several members of the FB this spring, the teacher decided she wanted to visit the county. Various agricultural tours and visits we set up. Since it was also county fair week, she got to experience that highlight as well. While in our county for 4 days, Gina visited a farmer’s grain storage complex; rode in a sprayer to learn about GPS technology; visited a GROWMARK/FS cooperative; visited a meat packing plant; watched livestock shows and the livestock auction; visited the county historical society; visited a dairy farm; participated in the milk mustache contest; and ate meals with several FB families. 40 volunteers

Pulaski-Alexander, "Spring Forward for Teachers" – 8 volunteers coordinated a spring forward kickoff for AITC in the spring. Over 100 teachers were given reusable grocery bags to welcome the spring season. The teachers bags were divided by grade level taught. 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, and 5th Grade Teachers across 4 counties were given the bags. 1st Grade Bags included Who Grew My Soup Lesson Plans and Ag Mags, 3rd Grade Bags included Little Joe Book with the Lesson Plans and Ag Mags. 5th Grade Bags included the Beef Princess of Practical County with Lesson Plans and Ag Mags. Teachers were delighted with the bags and it helped to encourage the teachers during the Spring Semester. The bags were a great way to show appreciation for our teachers and to promote the AITC programs. 33.3% CFB

Pope-Hardin, "Summer Reading Program" – The annual Summer Children’s Reading Program held in July at our two local Public Libraries was a big success with 26 children attending. The program was planned by our 6 member volunteer committee and 4 other volunteers. Children listened to a book being read, and then completed the following AITC activites Seed House, Food Pyramid Bracelet, and a Stick Horse. Our goal is to encourage them to read and learn about the importance of agriculture in their lives.

Johnson, "4-H Participation Award" – Our County Farm Bureau wanted to increase participation in our County 4-H Program. Our County Extension was unable to offer premium dollars this year, so we decided to offer a participation award to 4-H participates that were dependants of our members regardless of project area. 4-H’ers were asked to submit an application for the award following the County Show. We offered up to $2000 dollars and paid out $50 to participating 4-H’ers. The program was greatly appreciated and we even signed 2 new members. Volunteers – 13, Staff - 2

Douglas, "Environmental Stewardship Day" – September 2010, 21 volunteers, 100% committee. Our Ag Literacy Committee, in cooperation with the women’s committee, FSA, U of I Extension, local SWCD personnel, Ag Literacy Coordinator and 21 volunteers conducted this program in an effort to educate 6th grade students about environmental issues. Sixth grade students from six area schools, including 13 classes and 215 students, attended our 17th Annual Environmental Stewardship Day. The event was held at a state park in the county. The program was broken into ten different stations. The stations our listed below:

• Forestry: This station showed the importance of trees in our environment as well as the proper way to protect forest land by an Extension Specialist.

• Water Quality: This station showed the importance of the water cycle and the dangers of pollutants to the water as well as water conservation.

• Water Safety: A Conservation Policeman went over water and boating safety at this station.

• No-Till: The Soil Conservation Service specialists set up a station where the students learned about no-till, watersheds, hydrology, and grass waterways. Students also saw how terraces control soil erosion.

• Soils: The sixth graders were able to hear a soil conservationist explain how soils were formed and experiment with different soil type textures as well as soybean samples.

• Wildlife: A wildlife specialist discussed wildlife and examples of wildlife preservation.

• Aquaculture: Fish Specialist: This station showed the importance of the ecosystems and let students touch several fish, turtles, and salamanders.

• Vermiculture: This station showed the importance of earthworms to agriculture.

• Grain Safety: Monsanto demonstrated how to be safe around grain bins.

• AITC Skit: IAA Foundation and 50 Bike Riders

Members of the AITC Committee served as coordinators and escorted groups from station to station. The committee also served ice cream treats to the participants. We were featured on the front page of a local newspaper reaching over 10,000 people and a three county newspaper reaching over 36,000.

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100. AG LITERACY (continued)

* Edgar, "Skype From The Field" – This year the volunteers wanted to bring the students to the field; however with reduced travel funds for schools, there was no way that the schools could come to the farm. The AITC Committee got creative and decided to bring the farm to the students using a free service called Skype. The coordinator and manager worked to set up times for the classrooms to log into Skype, talk with a farmer and ride in the combine while harvesting corn and soybeans through a computer in the field and the Smartboard in the classroom. The FB Manager established the internet connection in the field and coordianted the farmers to talk with the students. The students virtually rode in the combine and tractor, helped unload grain, haulled it to the elevator, and learned more where their food comes from, as well as had the opportunity to talk with the farmers and learn the different aspects of farming. For many of the students, this was their only opportunity to ever experience farming. There were 12 farmers who helped teach the 42 classroom lessons and a total of 1,008 students who skyped with farmers.

Perry, "Teaching Garden Extravaganza" – An area school kicked off a program designed by the Heart Association called “The Teaching Garden”. Designed to get students’ hands dirty, educators and our AITC Coordinator taught children how to grow their own food. Raised gardens were created in the school yard, and students helped plant fruit and vegetables that would be harvested and included in their school menu. Over 400 students participated in this all-day event and planted a variety of veggies including: tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkins, zucchini, strawberries, lettuce, and onions.

Clay, "AITC from A to Z” Adopt a Classroom Program" – 2010-2011 School Year. The PT helps out the CFB by visiting AITC Classrooms. The Prime Timers decided to adopt two local 1st grade classrooms. For the project a new “AITC from A to Z” booklet was made to highlight each letter of the alphabet to correspond with important agriculture facts from the past and present. Example: A is for: Acres of Animals Out at the Farm or C is for: Illinois Crops of Course. Each letter has its own activities and lessons. A lined paper is handed out for story boarding which helps students learn agriculture vocabulary and helps them hone their language skills which they are tested on at the state level. New coloring sheets are made for each letter and each classroom also participates in either an in the classroom art project or a take home project that corresponds with commodities or other farm related information. Once per semester a Prime Timer volunteers to accompany the CFB Manager to the classroom to relate a specific lesson. During the past spring semester the Prime Timer talked about Life After School when they were in 1st grade. Pictures were shown and a letter was read that spoke about life on the farm 50 years ago. The Prime Timers believe this project is important for relating a positive agricultural message to young students and it keeps the past alive as those students grow older.

Washington, "FFA Commodity Challenge" – Our YL and Marketing Committees offered agriculture students with an opportunity to compete in our second “Commodity Challenge” contest. The event centered on an online, interactive commodity game, using current market prices that allowed participants to test their knowledge and practice their marketing skills without the financial risk. Through the exercise, participants traded corn, soybeans, and wheat on the cash, futures, and options markets to help them learn about the “ins and outs” of today’s commodity markets. In total, fifteen (15) students, two (2) Advisors, and one (1) FS grain merchandiser from the county tested their marketing skills against each other. At the conclusion of the event, $300 in cash prizes was awarded to the top three traders from each chapter. This year’s event experienced good growth from last year’s numbers of 1 chapter and 7 student participation.