Local Ag News

The Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2023 Scholarships. This award is given to outstanding high school students who have achieved a well-rounded high school and collegiate [FULL STORY]

A local state lawmaker’s FFA legislation is winning approval in the Illinois General Assembly. The measure is sponsored by State Rep. Dan Swanson. Swanson was in the Alwood FFA Chapter while in school and just [FULL STORY]

Thirteen scholarships have been awarded by the Mercer County Farm Bureau Foundation. In addition to student scholarships, Mercer County Farm Bureau manager Jenna Preston says the foundation supports programs such as Agriculture in the Classroom [FULL STORY]

Former Sherrard teacher, Ramona McMeekan, was recently honored for 20 years of volunteer service with “Ag in the Classroom,” an initiative to teach children about agriculture through the Mercer County Farm Bureau. Connie Lord, Ag [FULL STORY]

Mercer County Ag in the Classroom’s ACE Camp was held Tuesday at the Mercer County Fairgrounds. The event involves over 200 second graders from the Sherrard and Mercer County school districts going through stations involving [FULL STORY]

Mercer County Farm Bureau manager Jenna Preston gets the title of “2023 College Basketball Bracket Expert”. She won the Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader’s Bracket Challenge—where you donate your winnings to a local cause. Preston [FULL STORY]

Local farmers continue to stock local food pantries. The Bushels for Hunger campaign involves producers from Mercer, Rock Island, and Henry counties. The program this year has generated $23,603 for the River Bend Food Bank. [FULL STORY]

A Mercer County FFA alumni group has formed, and they are hosting an event next week to coincide with the annual Mercer County High School FFA Chapter Banquet. Matt Willits is serving as president of [FULL STORY]

Illinois viewers of this Sunday’s Super Bowl will learn that 96-percent of Illinois farms are owned by family farmers. It’s an ad campaign organized by the Illinois Farm Families coalition. Chad Bell, a Mercer County [FULL STORY]

Viola area farmer Chad Bell and his family featured in a Super Bowl Sunday ad on Feb. 12. The campaign is called “We are the 96” and the spot will run on Fox affiliates in [FULL STORY]