The buzz about

Illinois Agriculture

could be heard under

the 2016 Madison

County Fair Ag-

Education Tent.

Fairgoers had a six

day opportunity to:

read numerous facts about Illinois commodities

observe by-products made from pigs, cattle and corn

complete a make and take activity

acquire information about the CAREE program

and to top it off-got a pack of Illinois’ state snack-popcorn!

Hundreds walked through the newly

added tent, stopping by to interact with

the CAREE displays. Many fairgoers

asked questions about the program and Illinois agriculture

in general. Attendees came from northern and southern

Illinois; Missouri and even Napal as well as throughout the

Madison County area.

The Buzz About Illinois Agriculture

Madison County CAREE/Ag in the Classroom

September 2016

Summer CAREE Partners

Adley and Kinsley Cain made farm machinery matching games while at the Ag Event Tent.

2015-2016 CAREE Contributors Platinum Level

($1,000 and above) Cargill Cares

Hamel Mutual Insurance

Company

Hamel Seed & Farm Supply

IAA Foundation

GROWMARK

M & M Service Company

Madison County Farm Bureau

Madison County Farm

Bureau Members

Madison County Soil &

Water Conservation District

Oberbeck Grain Co

Gold Level

($750-$999)

Silver Level ($500-$749)

Farm Credit Illinois

Hamel Co-Op Grain

The BANK of Edwardsville

The Koeller Foundation

Bronze Level ($499 and below)

Doug Renoud

First Mid-Illinois Bank and

Trust

Gift of Grain

Madison County Pork Producers

Prairie Farms–Our Caps

Your Cause

Saale Farm & Grain

Tina Sheppard

Willaredt Acres, Inc.

Twelve teachers from Madison, Macoupin, and St. Clair

Counties participated in the three day “Agsploration”

sponsored by CAREE. The group toured farms and

agricultural facilities including The Family Vine, Rolling

Lawns Farm, Randy’s Country Barn, Miller Brothers Farm and Fertilizer, Rinkel

Brothers Produce and Metal Art and Mennel Milling. Guest speakers were Erin Rich of

the St. Louis Dairy council, Christopher Penn, a harvest team worker, and Laura Vollmer from Illinois Ag in the

Classroom (AITC). Teachers also viewed a video titled “Look, It’s a whatchamajger,” which is a basic introduction to

farm terminology and equipment. Mary Beil shared her experience of completing and receiving an AITC grant and its

impact on her school. CAREE offered lesson plans on

pollination, displayed agriculture kits and supplied ag

mags, along with other ag literacy materials. Attendants

kept a reflective journal and noted special events. A few

of the “wow moments” in their journals included…

There is a lot of chemistry behind growing grapes.

I was amazed at the commitment (time & money)

that is required of dairy farmers.

The number of steps involved with milling the wheat and how many companies

are associated with their mill (Mennel Milling).

I was wowed by

the variety of lessons

presented that I could

use in my classroom!

Agsploration-Summer Ag Institute

Page 2

Agsploration participants pause for a picture at Rolling Lawns Farm in Greenville.

Eric Rinkel explains what takes place on the produce farm.

These are just a few of the comments made by teachers who attended the Summer Ag

Institute 2016 held in Madison County on June 14-16.

I didn’t know...

Farmers could spray their crops (grapes and trees) with a

product to keep birds away.

The amount of work that involves growing Christmas trees.

That there was such a thing as a harvest team.

All of the dairy resources available to teachers.

That there are round barns.

Triad High School won the

competition and represented Land

Use Council 12 at the state

competition on April 27 and 28.

Triad’s team placed 4th place

overall in the state competition.

Eric Rinkel explains what takes place on the produce farm.

Land Use

Council 12

Envirothon

was held on

April 7th at the

Ballard Nature

Center.

Teams from East Alton-Wood

River and Triad were tested

on their knowledge of

aquatics, forestry, soils,

wildlife, and invasive species.

Greenhouse Days

Land Use Council 12-Envirothon

Page 3

On April 12 and 13, first grade students from Leclaire,

Hamel, Midway, Nelson, Goshen, and Glen Carbon

Elementary took part in the annual Edwardsville High

School Greenhouse Tours.

The students were able to get a tour inside the

greenhouse itself, learn about what important things

plants need to survive, and see parts of a plant up

close. After

experiencing the greenhouse, students were then walked over to the Jon Davis

Wrestling Center where Chelsea Reeves, Agriculture Literacy Coordinator for

Madison County CAREE, guided students in the creation of their own biodegradable

planter with marigold seeds inside to take home with them. It was an exciting learning

experience for first graders in the Edwardsville School District.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the

CAREE Program (Agriculture in the Class-

room), we will be visiting k-12 grade class-

rooms at least one time throughout the

school year. Teachers may pick the month/

topic they which to have their class visited.

All lesson will include a presentation and

hands-on activity. Each lesson will be corre-

lated to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.

CAREE looks forward to sharing the various agriculture resources available for use in

the classroom.

20th Anniversary Program

Student at Highland Elementary School places eggs in incubator to begin Embryology Project.

Classroom Visit Options

September-Apples

October-Pumpkins

November-Soybeans

December-Pizza

January-Poultry

February-Beef

March-Pork

April-Corn

May-Dairy

Madison County CAREE

PO BOX 10

Edwardsville, IL 62025