CCFB News» April 2026

When I think of Earth Day, I think of celebrating sunny days, warm weather, leafy trees, green grass, squirrels, and whales. I typically don’t think of all that is needed to make the Earth better: rainy days to make trees leafy and grass green, soil science to not only know how to grow better, but also make what we grow better, and combatting the negative impacts of litter and pollution.

When planning Membership Appreciation Week, our office staff discussed ways for the Farm Bureau to give back to members and get more involved in our community. My first thought was an event to celebrate Earth Day on April 22. I thought of celebrating Earth Day with an Earth Day Party, similar to a birthday party, with handouts, activities, and agricultural education. The Cook County Farm Bureau Earth Day Party will be held from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 at the Farm Bureau in Countryside. For more information, view the calendar of upcoming events on the last page of the Co-Operator.

After all, it only makes sense for the Farm Bureau to celebrate Earth Day. Farmers are the unsung heroes of the holiday! They are caretakers of the land and animals, helping to feed the world’s growing population, and working to leave the earth a better place for not only the next generation, but all generations to come.

When our Agriculture in the Classroom Program teaches elementary-aged students about sustainability, we describe sustainability as taking good care of planet Earth, including plants, animals, soil, water, the atmosphere, and all of its natural resources. Sustainable agriculture is often described as a three-legged milking stool, with the legs representing environmental, social, and economic responsibility. When all three legs have equal length, the stool is nearly impossible to tip over. Agriculture is involved with all three legs of sustainability, from the farm to the supply chain to our plates. Even after food is eaten, agriculture is involved. Learn more about vermicomposting in this month’s Agriculture Adventure for Families.

Farmers work towards sustainability by using a number of agricultural practices, including crop rotation, grazing rotation, planting cover crops, using no-till or reduced till when planting, introducing integrated pest management to have beneficial insects eat and control pests that damage crops rather than pesticides, and using livestock manure as fertilizer. Farmers also utilize technology to achieve sustainability by creating bioplastics made from corn and soy, using corn to make ethanol for gasoline, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) to grow healthier crops and raise healthier livestock.

Instead of just sitting back, complaining, and wanting to make a positive impact, we can all change the world this Earth Day. We can use reusable bags when grocery shopping, plant native seeds to help pollinators, pick up litter, recycle, and limit water, electricity, and gasoline use. Those may be only small steps, but they can make a big difference over time. Together, we can be the change we want to see in the world, and make this Earth Day – and all days on Earth – a true celebration of making the world and the Earth a better place.

Image from Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom’s Sustainability Ag Mag