Cook County Farm Bureau 2024 Year in Review
Cook County Farm Bureau 2024 Year in Review
The year 2024 featured plenty of “moments and headlines” for members and the organization. The Cook County Farm Bureau is proud to have provided another year full of service in 20244 to members. Here’s a brief recap of some the highlights…
January
- The organization mourned the passing of Mr. Jim Gutzmer, long time director and past president, as well as the passing of member and former Women’s Committee member, Emily Stelter.
- We celebrated member Steve Archer’s recognition as Farmer Veteran of the Year presented at the Illinois Specialty Growers’ “Everything Local Conference.”
February
- Farm Bureau sponsored a Zoom Book Club in 2024, participants engaged in conversations regarding generation’s relationship with food, cooking, and agriculture. The 2025 Zoom Book Club will begin in late January for interested members.
March
- Wayne Kolweier, AITC Presenter, taught Prospect High school freshmen that food does not originate from the grocery store and that farms are the source.
- COUNTRY Financial® representatives and Cook County Farm Bureau® leaders donated fresh and nonperishable food items to the Schaumburg Barn as part of this year’s Food Checkout Day. The Schaumburg Barn serves seniors and individuals with disabilities. The Schaumburg Barn was selected by Chicago Northwest COUNTRY Financial Representatives.
- Cook County Farm Bureau Young Leaders Committee hosted a hygiene product drive in conjunction with Food Checkout Day.
- Cook County Farm Bureau was saddened with the passing of longtime director, Michael Horcher.
April
- At Ag Day north, Special Education Consultant Vivian Palicki, along with Illinois Bee Rescue, taught about bees, pollination, and honey production held April 17 at Historic Wagner Farm in Glenview.
May
- Lt. Governor Julianna Stratton joined Cook County Farm Bureau members, Michael Howard (pictured center) and Ameila Howard (pictured right) in Springfield.
June
- Cook County farmer and Farm Bureau member Natasha Nicholes (sitting on her heels) visited with zoo goers during Cook County Farm Bureau’s pollinator partnership with Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago.
July
- Cook County Farm Bureau Young Leaders hosted and participated in a variety of activities including Young Leader Conference, hosting a hygiene product drive for families in need, a summer outing to Top Golf, participating in the District and State Discussion Meet, and hosting a virtual discussion with Wake County (North Carolina) Young Farmers. The Young Leader Committee is open to leaders ages 18-35 who are interested in agriculture.
- Carmen Trotta, the recipient of CCFB’s Howard Paarlberg Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship, chooses the winning 50/50 raffle ticket with Bona Heinsohn, CCFB staff, and Luke Allen, Emcee. The raffle was won by Cathy Leahy.
- Cook County Farm Bureau along with partners engaged in a Field Days program focused on specialty growers and those interested in composting and nutrient reuse as part of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. In addition to the Field Days, the Farm Bureau also sponsored struvite (phosphorus source) research on specialty crop fields in Cook County.
- Respond Now Community Garden is a much-needed green space nestled in the center of a blighted cross street in Chicago Heights. This food production garden supports the attached organization’s food pantryFood Pantry, serving many local families with fresh produce including collard greens, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, squash, and more.
August
- Cook County Farm Bureau board member Todd Price pulled a hayrack float down King Dr. in Chicago to showcase urban agriculture at the Bud Billiken parade. Cook County Farm Bureau helpshelp sponsor the float along with other Illinois Agri-Food Alliance collaborators.
- Farm Bureau worked with the Cook County Assessor’s Office to revise and modernize the annual farmland affidavit, which is required for property owners to receive the special tax designation. While modernizing and simplifying the tax designation process is beneficial to all farmers, the reduction in minimum acreage benefits primarily urban and small-scale farmers within Cook County.
- Cook County leadership and staff and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District staff toured Windy City Mushroom in the Ford City neighborhood of Chicago as part of this year’s Cook County Idea Exchange.
September
- The results from the August Farm Crawl for consumers were provided to members. Zach Grant and Sarah Batka, University of Illinois small farm educators in Cook County, showed the South Suburban Cook Farm in Matteson as a part of the 2024 farm crawl sponsored by the Commodities/Marketing team.
- Cook CFB has been working in partnership with Lee County Farm Bureau (Lee CFB), IFB, and Niles Township to convert wasted green space owned by Niles Township into a pollinator rain garden. This garden will increase pollinator habitat in northern Cook County.
- Resolution 24-0817 supported urban agriculture and called on other local units of government to apply for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) programs to expand and support urban agriculture opportunities. Resolution 24-0817 was an initiative of Cook CFB intended to expand urban agriculture opportunities in Cook County.
October
- The 24th Giant Pumpkin and Local Honey Contest was held with member Mark Mourlas bringing in a record pumpkin of 1,424 lbs.
November
- 27 people attended Cook County Farm Bureau’s HOLIDAY Barn Quilt Painting event. The attendees learned about barn quilt designs and were able to create and paint their own barn quilt pattern to hang or display indoors. Barn quilts, which are designed using quilt block patterns, are typically painted and displayed on the side of a barn or other structure.
- Congressman Sean Casten (6th district) joined the Biernacki family at their Tinley Park Greenhouse, Ted’s Greenhouse, for a tour and discussion about farming and the greenhouse industry in Cook County and Illinois.
December
- The Cook County Farm Bureau was recognized at the Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting with many awards including the Pinnacle Award for top County Farm Bureaus and the New Horizon Award for County Farm Bureau’s new and innovative projects (Future Forward initiative).
Other:
- The Shop Local Directory, published in May (available through the Cook County Farm Bureau website), expanded for better information and to allow local agricultural businesses to conduct e-commerce through it.
- The Master Gardner Resource Center and help desk served members from April through November by providing advice regarding soil test results, soil amendments, growing plants guidance, and researching related issues.
- Connected over 28,629 local students with food and farming through our Agricultural Literacy/Ag in the Classroom program. In addition to in-school programming, Farm Bureau offered numerous educational opportunities for teachers, administrators, and parents.
- Provided college-aged students pursuing agricultural or mental health-related degrees with financial support through the Cook County Farm Bureau® Foundation. Over $30,000 was provided to Cook County students.