CCFB News

Many people weren’t wild about a new piece of Illinois legislation that passed in 1990, which made sending lawn and garden waste to landfills illegal.

But first-generation farmer Carl Smits saw an opportunity. If that legislation had not passed, he may not have been hosting a field day on Aug. 28 to examine the latest research, and appropriately, talk about policies impacting farmers today.

“It wasn’t by coincidence,” Smits said of starting the farm in 1990. He saw that lawn and garden materials would make good organic matter to cut fertilizer costs for his flower, herb and vegetable farm and he could get paid for taking the materials.

Get your camera and capture moments by showcasing your best photos depicting theme of Agriculture in the Fall. Send in your photos – selfies, pictures of others, landscape, etc.

This summer, I have had the chance to experience what my rural family and friends would call the “full urban lifestyle.”

September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to prioritize mental health and support those who may be struggling.

Supported local families and partner Food Checkout Day food pantries by purchasing Cook County 4H members’ animals at the 4H auction at the Lake County Fair. Meat will be donated to the partner food pantries to support families in need.

I’d love to tell you that we’ve wrapped up another year of fairs, but I’m not entirely sure that’s the truth. Instead, let’s say we ended a chapter.

Cook County Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom program is ready to teach your students about agriculture during the 2024-2025 school year.

The 24th Annual Giant Pumpkin Contest will take place on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at Puckerville Farms in Lemont.

During my side gigs over the years as parent-teacher club president, Sunday School teacher and FFA alumni volunteer enthusiast, my home office has served as much a dumping grounds for community service projects as it has a private space for writing commentaries and paying bills.

Marching bands, dance teams, community groups, large corporations, news channels, and celebrities were among the floats at the 95th annual Bud Billiken parade in Chicago, but one of the most unique floats was a hayrack pulled by a tractor.