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PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
4th Grade Bookmark Contest
Hundreds of entries are received each year for the Farm Bureau's Bookmark Contest. Helping students relate familiar items to their farm roots is the goal of the Women's Committee coordinated program. Winners receive a prize in keeping with the current year's theme and a classroom visit from the Kane County Farm Bureau Ag Literacy Coordinator, Suzi Myers.
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Ag Days @ Mooseheart
The Kane County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee sponsors the Annual Ag Days Expo at Mooseheart.The 24th annual AgDays took place March 18, 19 & 20, 2008.
Over 2200 4th grade students and 100 teachers from Kane County elementary schools attend this agricultural exhibit in celebration of National Agriculture Week. The exhibit includes presenters from many facets of the agriculture industry, an indoor farm zoo and an outdoor farm equipment showcase.
The students travel through 17 different stations learning about the many facets of agriculture in Kane County. They learn about ethanol, soy diesel, how plants have made adaptations to their environments, the egg and poultry industry, the ZIP (zinc, iron and protein) of beef, that pigs not only give us food, but also valuable byproducts, how to understand the new food pyramid, the many different careers in the green industry, the fun of 4-H, the 1800’s way of life, the various types of fiber, the use of GPS systems in farming today, and finally get to see and touch various types of modern farm machinery.
AgDays takes place annually at the Mooseheart Fieldhouse on Mooseheart Road near Batavia. If you would like to volunteer to chaperone groups of students through this worthwhile educational program, please let us know. Our next Ag Days event will be held in early March of 2009.
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Touch A Tractor
If you would like to get “up close and personal” with farm machinery, come to the Kane County Farm Bureau’s Touch-A-Tractor program. Touch-a-Tractor is held every year in March on the Kane County Farm Bureau lawn in St. Charles. This program was named a national award winner in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) “County Activities of Excellence” recognition program. The program was selected as one of 10 most outstanding programs in the nation by AFBF in the category of Education and Ag Promotion.
The concept is simple: We use the association’s property on Randall Road to bring a bit of the farm to the city. Displayed on the lawn is a variety of farm equipment, from modern combines and tillage equipment, to antique tractors.
There is no cost for admission, and children are allowed to see equipment up close, touch it, and talk to farmers to gain a better understanding and appreciation of agriculture and the role that farmers play in our area.
In addition to farm machinery are attractions; food vendors, kids games, a petting zoo, local direct farm marketers, a tent for visitors, agricultural demonstrations and a Bluegrass Band to entertain our guests. The Farm Bureau’s educational Foundation also holds a “Winner Choice” Tractor Raffle, drawing a winning ticket in a raffle for an antique tractor or new riding lawn mower at the conclusion of the event.
The goal of Touch a Tractor is to educate students and their families about the varietyfarm equipment and its purposes in food production. But, it is more than an educational program as it provides a tremendous opportunity for interaction between Kane County farmers and the general public. Area farmers who would like to display new farm equipment or antique tractors for the event are asked to contact the Farm Bureau at 630 584-8660.
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Kane County Fair (Zoo, Games, Raffles, Country Store, & more!)
Kane County Farm Bureau use the Kane County Fair to raise funds…and friends, for Foundation Scholarship and Agricultural Literacy programs. Some of the activities you will find include:
- Farm Zoo
Each year farm animals are brought in for children to see and pet. In the past this has included cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, goats and chicks. There are interesting facts about each animal posted on the outside of each corral so that children can learn more about each one. Kids can get up close and personal with farm animals! Free ice cream cones at 6:00 daily for the first 100 kids (12 & under) to take the Farm Zoo Quiz.
- Bucket Raffles
The Kane County Farm Bureau Foundation provides $15,000 - $25,000 per year in tuition assistance to deserving students from Kane County who are pursuing careers in agriculture and food related industries. To raise money to help fund these scholarships, the Farm Bureau sets up a “Bucket Raffle” at the Kane County Fair each year. Items are donated by local businesses and individuals, and then fair attendees can come in and look at the items offered in the raffle, purchase tickets for $1 each, and place their raffle tickets inside each bucket of the items they would like to win. Drawings are done at the conclusion of the fair, and winners not in attendance are then notified.
- Tractor Raffle
To advance agricultural education for students of all ages, the KCFB Foundation hosts an annual “Winner’s Choice” Tractor Raffle. Offering a Grand Prize of a antique farm tractor, a new Lawn Tractor or cash, these raffle boost the value of tuition assistance the Foundation offers. Raffles are kicked-off each year at the fair with the announcement of the antique tractor chosen for the raffle.
- Gas Grill Raffle
Each year one lucky member of the Farm Bureau wins a stainless steel gas grillat the Kane County Fair! Farm Bureau is your source for quality beef. pork and chicken and offers monthly specials to member through our publication, Kane County Farmer.
- Meat Raffles
Each day of the Kane County Fair, members can stop by and enter to win a 5 lb. box of meat at the Farm Bureau booth. Winners are chosen at the close of the fair each day.
- Country Store
Choose from agriculture books for children, farm themed crafts, reproduction farm toys, unique Illinois commodity products, Teeple Barn collectibles, Farm Bureau logo wear, giant agriculture coloring books, pork barbeque spices, and JD & Case IH farm toys
- Jurassic Pork
Every kid imagines being Indiana Jones and going on an archeological dig. Let your kids do the same at the Farm Zoo during the Kane County Fair. Children can dip their fingers and toes into a sandbox filled with corn and search for their pig or cow eraser. A real treasure!
- The Barn Loft
Almost every farm kid remembers spending days in the hayloft with their friends. Kane County Farm Bureau is recreating this experience for your kids. There will be a display of straw bales set up for your kids (ages 4-8) to play in and make some of their own memories.
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Ag in the Classroom activities
Bring the kids by from 1-3 p.m. each day of the fair for a fun, hands-on agri-learning experience brought to you by the KCFB Women’s committee and Ag-in-the-Classroom program.
John Buck Memorial Golf Outing
Agriculture and golf were John Buck’s passions. So it was only fitting that after his death from cancer in 2001, that his family and friends would keep his legacy alive by offering educational scholarships in those fields. Buck was the founder of Buck Brothers, Inc. and J.W. Turf, both of Hampshire, dealers and distributors of John Deere farm equipment and golf course maintenance equipment, respectively.
An Annual John Buck Memorial Golf Outing is held each year. The outing is sponsored by Buck Bros. Inc and J.W. Turf . Proceeds from this event are split between the Midwest Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Kane County Farm Bureau Foundation for scholarship programs. Kane County Farm Bureau Foundation administers the John Buck Memorial Scholarship Fund and selects on recipient annually for tuition assistance provided by the Fund.
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IAITC Bike Ride
The IAITC Bike Ride began in 1996 with 8 riders completing the entire route. Riders traveled from Quincy to Paris on a four day bike ride and raised $9,000. The ride has evolved over the years and is now hosting 100 riders and raising $72,900 for Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom efforts.
The 12th Annual Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) Bike Ride will be “Wheeling the Wabash River Valley” in Southeastern Illinois. Cyclists will travel paved roads, September 4-6, 2007, through five counties across the region: Edwards, Lawrence, Wabash, Wayne and White. The IAITC Bike Ride is an annual fundraiser for the Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom program; proceeds provide agricultural materials and trainings to Illinois school teachers.
Each year the annual bicycle ride moves to a new location within the state and hosts 100 cyclists. Cyclists will ride to approximately 25 schools in this five county region and provide students with a skit stressing the importance of agriculture and also includes a portion on bicycle safety. “This ride not only provides an education for the students, but also the cyclists, “said bike ride co-chair, Paul Roney. “I farm in central Illinois and this ride has allowed me to see first hand different agricultural issues facing my peers around the state.”
The 12th Annual Ride will kick off Tuesday, Sept 4, 2007, in Grayville. All routes will begin and end in Grayville. Riders can ride 1, 2, or all 3 days of the ride. Participants can choose to ride short (40 miles), medium (65 miles), or long (100 miles) routes on Day 1. Routes on Day 2 will be 30 or 80 miles long. Routes on Day 3 will be 40 or 60 miles long.
The IAA Foundation is now taking bicyclists registrations to participate in this year's event. The Ride is a cross-country ride - not a race. Participants may ride the entire route or daily segments. Riders who register by August 18 can save $20 on their registration fee and pay only $75. After August 18, the registration fee will increase to $95. Additional hotel and meal fees are charged to riders.
Riders who collect between $250 and $499 in donations receive free registration; between $500 and $999, free registration and meals; and $1,000 or more, free registration, meals, and lodging. Cyclists who raise funds are entered into a drawing for a new TREK bicycle.
The IAA Foundation and Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom believes that agriculture’s future will depend on a well educated society. This means children and adults will need to understand and appreciate agriculture’s importance. We must invest now in our children’s education because they will become our industry’s Policy Makers, Employees, Leaders and Consumers.
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IAITC Golf Outing
The IAA Foundation is hosting the 11th Annual Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Golf Outing (IAITC) to be held Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at the Wolf Creek Golf Club and Elks Country Club in Pontiac. The IAITC Golf Outing is the largest outing to benefit agriculture in the state of Illinois plays host to more than 200 golfers and annually raises over $55,000 for the cause.
Golfers of all abilities are encouraged to participate! Driving ranges will open at 9:00 a.m. with breakfast rolls and coffee. There will be a 10:30 a.m. shotgun start, with a box lunch provided by Eurest Dining Services. A social hour and auction will be held at the Elks Country Club following your round of golf. A steak fry, sponsored by COUNTRY Insurance & Financial Services, will be held at 5:30 p.m. that evening at the Elks Country Club.
Activites will be taking place on the course throughout the day including:
- Farmer/Producer Challenge -- to qualify all members of a foursome must be either farmers or producers. Team with the winning score will win a prize.
- Skins game - $20 per team, 50/50 prize money to winning team
- Special on course contests – including hole in one, chipping contest, longest putt, longest drive, closest to the pin, mulligans
The fun continues with the IAITC Ball Drop. Numbered golf balls are being sold to the general public and participants for $20 each. All the balls sold will be placed in a boom truck and dropped from the air. The numbered ball that lands closest to the hole will win a Golf Getaway to the Hilton El Conquistador Resort in Tucson, AZ, including:
- Two Night Stay for Four in 2 Rooms
- Two Rounds of golf for 2 (or 1 round of golf for 4)
- Break & dinner included each day of stay
- One spa service for each guest
Value $2400
1st-5th Prize - $100
6th-10th Prize - $50
Participants who register before July 11, 2007 will be eligible for a special Early Bird drawing. The registration fee is $130 per golfer ($520 per foursome). Those interested in the banquet only can register for $50. Online registration is now available on the IAA Foundation website: HYPERLINK "http://www.iaafoundation.org" www.iaafoundation.org.
Children are clearly our future. It is our responsibility to help them understand and recognize how important agriculture is to them everyday. Currently most of them do not understand, and certainly do not appreciate the importance of agriculture to our national security and state’s economy. The IAITC program is positioned throughout the state to meet this challenge.
For additional information, contact Lesley Walker, IAA Foundation, 309-557-2225.
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IAITC Sporting Clays
The 2007 “Pull for Agriculture Education” is a classic event with a new twist. The Illinois Farm Bureau and the IAA Foundation have traditionally hosted separate shooting events, but are combining their efforts this year. The combined event will be held July 7 & 8, at the World Shooting & Recreational Complex near Sparta.
Join hundreds of shooters from the Midwest at the world-class, state of the art, 1,600-acre World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Randolph County. “Shooters participating in the ‘Pull for Agriculture Education’ will enjoy a weekend of competition and camaraderie including trap shooting, sporting clays, games, team events, and much more,” said event co-chair Darryl Brinkmann.
Among the features at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex:
- More than 100 trap fields laid out over a three-mile-long line.
- Two championship sporting clay ranges.
- A large events center building with restaurant facilities.
- Campgrounds featuring nearly 1,000 campsites, including 280 premium sites encircling a scenic lake and equipped with water, sewer and electrical hookups.
The trap shoot will be held on July 7 only. Early Bird registrations are only $25 per shooter/100 targets, prior to June 22. Those who register after June 22nd will pay $30 per shooter/100 targets. Doubles competition is just $15 per person for 50 targets. Ammunition is not included in the registration fee. The shoot will begin at 9 a.m.
Sporting Clays competition will be held on July 7 & 8. Early Bird registrations are only $45 per shooter/100 targets, prior to June 22. Those who register after June 22nd will pay $50 per shooter/100 targets. Ammunition is not included in the registration fee. The shoot will begin at 9 a.m. each day.
The IAA Foundation and Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom believes that agriculture’s future will depend on a well educated society. This means children and adults will need to understand and appreciate agriculture’s importance. We must invest now in our children’s education because they will become our industry’s Policy Makers, Employees, Leaders and Consumers.
Children are clearly our future. It is our responsibility to help them understand and recognize how important agriculture is to them every day. Currently most of them do not understand, and certainly do not appreciate the importance of agriculture to our national security and state’s economy. The IAITC program is positioned throughout the state to meet this challenge.
For additional information, contact Lesley Walker, IAA Foundation, 309-557-2225.
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For more information, contact aitc@kanecfb.com
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