Central Illinois Farm Beginnings

On-Farm Field Days

Central Illinois Farm Beginnings offers a series of On-Farm Field Days throughout the spring to provide students with the practical knowledge and training required to begin farming sustainably. These On-Farm Field Days are hosted by successful Central Illinois farmers on their farms, allowing students to gain knowledge while also establishing new connections within the sustainable farming community.

The following is the final 2010 CIFB On-Farm Field Day Schedule. All Field Days listed are open to the public. There is a fee of $15 per event for registrants who have not been enrolled in CIFB.

Online registration for CIFB Field Days will open in February 2010.

Field Day #1: Developing Value-Added Products and Navigating Food Rules
Date/Time: Saturday, April 10, 1:30-3:30 p.m
Host Farms: Teresa’s Aronia Acres, Congerville and Teresa’s Fruits and Herbs, Eureka
Presenters: Teresa Santiago, Teresa’s Fruit & Herbs and Sunny Lane Berry Farm, Terra Brockman, The Land Connection
Description: Teresa will conduct a tour of her aronia bushes and talk about how and why she expanded from a fresh-pick only business to one that also provides value-added products. We will also tour Teresa’s fruit and herb farm in Eureka, where she grows over 70 different kinds of fruit. Terra and Teresa will discuss the specific food rules Teresa had to navigate, and the barriers she overcame in order to provide value-added aronia products to consumers.

Field Day #2: Equipment for Small Farmers
Date/Time: Saturday, May 22, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Host Farms: Spence Farm, Fairbury
Presenters: Marty and Kris Travis, Spence Farm
Description: Learn how implements can contribute to satisfying, sustainable small-scale farming and help you achieve your goals. Information about the function and use of tractors and various implements will be demonstrated, including a bale mulcher, crop cart, tractor tiller, converted horse drawn cultivators, and a potato planter. Marty and Kris will share how you can set up a small farm inexpensively using some older style equipment, but also be innovative with some of the newer stuff.

Field Day #3: Evaluating Soil Quality and Soil Maps
Date/Time: Saturday, May 21, 1:30-4:00 p.m.
Host Farms: Prairie Fruits Farm, Champaign
Presenters: Leslie Cooperband and Wes Jarrell, Prairie Fruits Farm and Roger Windhorn, USDA NRCS
Description: This hands-on workshop will demonstrate how to collect soil samples for soil testing, and how to measure simple soil quality indicators such as soil structure (tilth), water infiltration and soil penetration resistance. We will review soil test results and how to interpret findings. We will also discuss how to use county soils maps developed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), particularly when considering land for purchase or lease.

Field Day #4: Rotational Grazing and Fencing
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 16, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Host Farms: Indian Creek Farms, Jacksonville
Presenters: Jim and Mary Burrus, Indian Creek Farms
Description: Learn about the production of certified organic beef and poultry. Jim and Mary will discuss how they started a management intensive grazing system and why they made the decision to be certified organic. They will also share how they market their products.

Field Day #5: Cover Crops
Date/Time: Saturday, July 24, 1:30-4:00 p.m.
Host Farms: PrairiErth Farm, Atlanta
Presenters: Dr. Joel Gruver, Western Illinois University and Dave Bishop, PrairiErth Farm
Description: Learn more about how and why cover crops work and how you can build cover crops into your farming operation. Dave Bishop will share how cover crops are used extensively at PrairiErth Farm, both in row crop and vegetable production. Dr. Joel Gruver will discuss the benefits of cover crops and how to select the best cover crops for your farm. He will also share information about cover crop research at the Allison Farm as well as information about the Cover Crop Innovators group.

Field Day #6: Farmland Access
Date/Time: Saturday, August 14, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Host Farms: Pleasant Ridge Farm, Forrest
Presenters: David Miller, Organic Farmland Management, LLC and Harold Wilken, Jamie’s Farm
Description:  Learn about opportunities for purchasing and renting farmland. Dave and Harold will share information about various lease arrangements and will also discuss transitioning from conventional to organic.


Central Illinois Farm Beginnings is coordinated and co-facilitated by The Land Connection and the University of Illinois Extension and is a member of the National Farm Beginnings Collaborative.