CCFB News» July 2026

Hi everyone! My name is Libby Heenan, and I’m excited to be back as Cook County’s Ag in the Classroom Intern. I was born and raised in Chicago with no background in agriculture. Being from the city, it was easy to overlook agriculture, something that isn’t really celebrated like it is in rural communities. I had the opportunity to attend The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHSAS), and it showed me the importance of agriculture everywhere, not just in those communities where farming is more visible.

I was able to get very involved with their FFA chapter and animal science program, even getting my own Jersey Heifer, Biscuit, who still lives at the school. I am currently a senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying agricultural education. The Spring 2026 semester was my last in-person semester in Nebraska, and this upcoming Fall 2026 semester, I will be back in Cook County, student teaching at Rich Township High School.

I think the irony of all of this is that I did not want to go to that high school at all. I grew up a couple of blocks from the school, and all the neighborhood kids called it the “dirty farm school.” To be fair, at the time I was a 13-year-old city girl who just wanted to go to one of the schools my friends were attending. My parents couldn’t afford to send me to private school, and I did not test into any of CPS’s select enrollment schools, so off to the farm school I went.

To say it changed my life is truly an understatement. I got to experience so many different opportunities, from conferences and conventions to competing in agriculturally related events. I also learned so much about agriculture and its impact on our everyday lives. Agriculture is the reason our society is the way it is. Without it, we would still probably be hunters and gatherers. That experience showed me that agriculture is much more than farming, it's a part of every community and every person’s daily life, whether they realize it or not.

Agriculture is all around us, no matter where you’re from. It has an impact on all of our lives. From the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the cars we drive, agriculture has an everlasting influence on how we live our lives. There are so many ways to get involved and learn more about agriculture, even in a very urban area. If you’re looking to learn, volunteer, or just have a good time in agriculture this summer, the Farm Bureau has so many different events and programs that they put on, and they also have a lot of other farms and ag-related businesses that they work with to continue promoting agriculture. If you come out this summer, you might even get to meet me! I’m incredibly grateful that agriculture gave me a place to grow, and I hope this summer I can help others discover the same opportunities and connections that changed my life.