2008 Report Summary
Illinois reported widespread SARE promotional activities, including a SARE presence at over 31 different conferences and intensive support of SARE grant applicants and projects. Partners in program development and delivery included: Michigan State University, IL Stewardship Alliance, The Land Connection, Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Missouri, and other sustainable agriculture organizations. Primary activities included (1) Putting Small Acreages to Work workshops for educators; (2) a workshop, Reaping the Rewards of our SARE Investment, with recipients of SARE Producer Grants and (3) seven farm tours/field days. A total of 11 mini-grants were distributed ($10,970) in 2008 and 9 travel scholarships ($4,557) to support educator participation in sustainable agriculture professional development. Outcome evaluation results will be reported 9 months after completion of program, and outcomes for completed activities included 12 educators who answered client questions, 11 developed new contacts, 10 incorporated new materials in existing programming, 4 delivered new programming, and 4 used materials in newsletters or other media.
2009 Plan of Work Summary
Illinois 2009 Plan of Work focuses on Cover Crops, Small Farm Stewardship and Organics Initiatives. Forty educators will receive cover crop professional development training through a series of three, 90-minute, teleconferencing sessions. The Small Farm Stewardship Initiative includes (1) a two-day Illinois Living on the Land workshop; (2) eighteen Small Farms: A Renewed Opportunity and Putting Small Acreages to Work workshops; and a (3) a Sustainable Living workshop. The Illinois Professional Development Program (PDP) is collaborating with Purdue University to sponsor the Midwest Organic Production and Marketing Conference and Trade Show. Eight $500 travel scholarships and eight $1500 professional development mini-grants are available.
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Illinois State Coordinator, Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant
University of Illinois Extension
P.O. Box 410
Greenview, IL 62642-0410
Phone: (217) 968-5512
Email: cvnghgrn@uiuc.edu |
Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant has been the Extension Specialist for Small Farm and Sustainable Agriculture since 2006. In her role as Extension Specialist, Deborah provides statewide leadership for educational programming for commercial small farmers, managers and coordinators of various direct and alternative marketing channels, and non-commercial small acreage landowner. She also acts a coordinator for the University of Illinois Small Farms program, working with county and regional Extension personnel to deliver educational programming on a regional and statewide basis. She is also the co-facilitator of the Central Illinois Farm Beginnings Program. Deborah also serves as the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR SARE) Coordinator and provides support and information about the various NCR-SARE grant programs and activities. Check out her book, Reaping the Rewards of Our SARE Investment. The goal, of this publication, is to share the innovative work that Illinois NCR-SARE recipients have done over the years- answering the "so what?" question.
Illinois Organizations, Programs and Contacts
Agriculture Tourism Partners of Illinois
ATPI c/o CITDO
700 East Adams
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 525-7980
http://www.agritourismillinois.com/
Angelic Organics Learning Center
1547 Rockton Rd
Caledonia, IL 61011
815-389-8455
425-969-0317 (fax)
www.learngrowconnect.org
Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts
4285 North Walnut Street Road
Springfield, IL 62702 62707
217-744-3414
217-744-3420 (fax)
http://www.aiswcd.org
Agri-Energy Resources
21417 1950 E St.
Princeton, IL 61356-9642
815-872-1190
815-872-1928 (fax)
http://www.agrienergy.net/
Center for Agriculture in the Environment
American Farmland Trust
148 N. 3rd St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9347
815-753-9348 (fax)
www.aftresearch.org
Center for Sustainable Community
123 Crescent Lane
Stelle, IL 60919
(815) 256-2204
http://www.centerforsustainablecommunity.org/
Illinois Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Land and Water Resources
State Fairgrounds
P.O. Box 19281
Springfield, IL 62794-9281
217-785-5594
217-524-4882 (fax)
http://www.agr.state.il.us
Illinois Stewardship Alliance
P.O. Box 648
Rochester, IL 62563-0648
217-498-9707
217-498-9235 (fax)
http://www.illinoisstewardshipalliance.org
The Land Connection
1227 Dodge Ave., Suite 200
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 570-0701
http://www.thelandconnection.org
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Illinois State Office
2118 W. Park Court
Champaign, IL 61821
217-398-5267 217-353-6600
217-398-5310 217-353-6676 (fax)
http://www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/
University of Illinois Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program
Dr. Michelle Wander, Faculty Director
University of Illinois
W-225 Turner Hall
102 S. Goodwin
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-9471
mwander@uiuc.edu
http://www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/
Western Illinois Sustainable Agriculture Society
110 E. Fayette
Pittsfield, IL 62363
217-285-411
www.wisas.org
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