CCFB News» July 2025

For the past month or so, if anyone asks me how I’m doing, my response has been, “Keeping busy!” With two or three work events a week, some even held on the weekend, I’ve been busy.

Most people think that AITC’s busy season is during the school year, but summer is usually the most fast-paced time for us. We have programs, events, and workshops, as well as preparing for the next school year. I couldn’t do any of what I do without the help of AITC Assistant Jill Drover, who helps me brainstorm, plan, prepare, organize, and execute all aspects of our programming. She’s a vital part of our AITC program, and she helps make sure everything is ready and a little less hectic as program preparations are underway.

We’ve been busy wrapping up our Agriculture in the Classroom program for 2024-2025. We had a near-record school year, bringing agricultural education to 24,129 students in 1,075 classrooms at 208 schools. We attended more Career Days at middle and high schools than ever before, and we had great turnouts for our two third grade Ag Day field trips, Ag Leadership Academy for FFA students, and Farm Shadow Program for high school students. We also held two virtual teacher workshops via Zoom, an in-school teacher institute workshop, and two days of Summer Ag Institute for educators.

During the summer, our AITC program is busy helping with pollinator events at Lincoln Park Zoo and Brookfield Zoo, Historic Wagner Farm’s Livestock Show, and park district events. We host programs at libraries and summer camps. You can also find us handing out bookmarks at the Bud Billiken Parade.

I keep my events – and my life – organized by color coding the calendar on my desk. Different types of events have a different color, and every event has a short description on the date. For example, in-school AITC events are red, library events are purple, booth or table events are green, teacher workshops are blue, and hard deadlines are black. Personal events, such as music in the park with friends and birthdays have a shiny metallic star. I joke that when my calendar starts looking like a rainbow, I know that I have a lot going on.

Although I’m busy, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love having events to attend, places to go to, and people to meet. I thrive when I know I have something in my calendar the next week to plan and prepare for. There’s an old saying: “Make hay while the sun shines.” It’s a reminder to get things done while you can, while the weather is good, because you never know what’s around the corner.

While the weather is good and school is out of session, our AITC program is going to be making hay. Hopefully, we’ll get to see at one of our many events this summer, where you can say hello to 2025 AITC Summer Intern Libby Heenan. I also encourage you to get out and about, enjoy the summer weather, and make some hay of your own.