The Amish Country Tractor Cruise that was scheduled for June 19 – 20, 2020 has been cancelled for the second time in as many years. Last year, it was due to weather. This year are the risks and logistics associated with the virus. With the extended “stay at home” order until the end of May and the unknowns of what June may look like have lead to the cancellation.

On The Show next week....

4/27 am  (6:40a & 1:07p on WHOW)
Todd Hubbs – Ag Economist @ U of I

4/27 noon (12:20p & 4:35p on WHOW)
U.S. Congressman Rodney Davis

4/28 am
Jill Johnson – Ex VP of IL Beef Association

4/28 noon
Nathan Kleczewski – U of I Ext. Specialist in Field Crop Pathology on Seedilng Diseases

4/29 am
Dave Bishop – Organic Grain & Produce Farm in Logan County

4/29 noon
Kent Beadle – Dir of CHS Hedging On Markets

4/30 am
Bryan Sharp – Christian County Farmer

4/30 noon
Elliott Burgett – Macon County Grain & Produce Farmer

5/1 am
Alan Guebert – National Ag Columnist of “The Farm and Food File”

5/1 noon
Ken Franklin – Christian County Farmer

Next week on The Show...

4/20 am  (6:40a & 1:07p on WHOW)
Jennifer Tirey – Executive Director of IL Pork Producers Association

4/20 noon (12:20p & 4:35p on WHOW)
Curt Kimmel – Commodity Broker @ Bates Commodities

4/21 am
Aaron Johnson – President & CEO @ Farm Credit Illinois

4/21 noon
Illinois 17th District U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos

4/22 am
Lance Tarochione – Agronomist w/ Dekalb & Asgrow

4/22 noon
Josie Rudolphi – U of I Extension Specialist on Mental Health

4/23 am
Beth Bolger – Farm Credit Illinois on Local Grants & Scholarships

4/23 noon
Darren Moser – Clinton YMCA Acres For Kids Program 

4/24 am
Lisa Diaz – Director of Illinois 4H @ U of I

4/24 noon
Eric Gurth – Illinois NRCS on Local PCM Funding Available

Next week on The Farm Show....

4/13 am  (6:40a & 1:07p on WHOW)
Joe Camp – Manager @ Agrivisor

4/13 noon  (12:20p & 4:35p on WHOW)
Jonathan Coppess – Director of Gardener Ag Policy Institute @ U of I

4/14 am
Megan Dwyer – IL Corn Growers on Covid Farm Readiness

4/14 noon
John & Susan Adams – Logan County Farmers & 2020 Master Farmers

4/15 am
Dale Hadden – Morgan County Farmer & 2020 Master Farmer

4/15 noon
Tim Stock & Jennifer Fink – Macon Co Farm Bureau

4/16 am
Matt Kilgus – Owner of Kilgus Farmstead Dairy in Pontiac

4/16 noon
Jennifer Nelson – Horticulturist on New Gardeners 

4/17 am
Liz Moran Stelk – Executive Director of IL Stewardship Alliance

4/17 noon
Matt Montgomery – Field Agronomist W/ Pioneer

4-H clubs and FFA chapters throughout central and southern Illinois will implement valuable improvement projects in their communities with help from grants provided by Farm Credit Illinois. FCI awarded $500 grants to 50 4-H clubs and FFA chapters to deliver projects that will make their local communities a better place to live.

This is the 12th year FCI has funded community improvement grants; the total amount awarded is nearly $160,000. Examples of this year’s award-winning projects include managing community gardens, sprucing up fairgrounds and community parks, and constructing resting benches.

“Farm Credit is grateful to team-up with youth organizations and invest in the health of rural communities,” says Rod Stoll, vice president of marketplace engagement for FCI. “We are impressed by the passion and commitment of 4-H and FFA members for providing positive, tangible changes in their hometowns.”

The following 4-H clubs and FFA chapters are 2020 community improvement grant recipients:

Pulaski/Alexander 4-H Federation (Alexander County): Construct and install fencing at Cairo Community Garden
Old Ripley 4-H Club (Bond County): Provide landscaping and build raised beds at Old Ripley Church of Christ in Pocahontas
Calhoun Busy Bees 4-H Club (Calhoun County): Provide landscaping at Calhoun County Courthouse
Calhoun County Appleseeds 4-H Club (Calhoun County): Establish a rock garden at Calhoun Pool
Champaign County Livestock 4-H Club (Champaign County): Construct benches and landscape around Champaign County fairgrounds livestock buildings
Fantastic 4-Hers of Fisher (Champaign County): Construct picnic tables for Fisher Community Building
Sadorus All-Stars 4-H Club (Champaign County): Improve the toddler playground at West Side Park in Tolono
Clover 4-H Club (Christian County): Educate and help recover and replant damaged trees in Christian County
Boosters 4-H Club (Clark County): Clean-up cemeteries in Marshall and Westfield
Casey Achievers 4-H Club (Clark County): Install new flag pole at Casey welcome sign
Casey Westfield FFA Chapter (Clark County): Just a swinging: Construct swings for Casey Main Street
Clarksville Co-Eds 4-H Club (Clark County): Plant daffodils along 1-70 exit ramps in Clark County
Barnstormers 4-H Club (Coles County): Repair and paint barn gates at Coles County fairgrounds
Coles County Federation 4-H Club (Coles County): Beautify Coles County fairgrounds
Mattoon FFA Chapter (Coles County): Install garden and walking path in former ag plot in Mattoon
Edwards County FFA Chapter (Edwards County): Provide Earth Day education to students in Edwards County
Ellery Panthers 4-H Club (Edwards County): Build therapy steps for Little Prairie Christian Church Preschool in Albion
Vandalia FFA Chapter (Fayette County): Establish an outdoor learning garden at Okaw Vocational School
Paxton-Buckley-Loda FFA Chapter (Ford County): Provide resting benches at Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School
Carrollton FFA Chapter (Greene County): Color up Carrollton: Grow and plant flowers for the town square
Greenfield FFA Chapter (Greene County): Enhance Greenfield FFA community garden
Show and Grow 4-H Club (Greene County): Make blankets for St. Louis Children's Hospital patients
County Line Crew 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Renovate kitchenette at the historic Izaak Walton Cabin in McLeansboro
Funny Farmers 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Replace and repair raised beds at GIFT Garden in Dahlgren
Pioneer Country Kids 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Make repairs and improvements to Kids Kingdom play structures in McLeansboro
Piopolis Busy Bees 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Install new sign and landscaping at Old McLeansboro Cemetery
TRICO FFA Chapter (Jackson County): Build benches and update landscaping at TRICO High School's Pioneer Park
Waltonville FFA Chapter (Jefferson County): Construct outdoor classroom at Waltonville High School
All American Clovers 4-H Club (Jersey County): Beautify Jersey County Courthouse and Sheriff's office
Cloverdale 4-H Club (Logan County): Create a butterfly habitat at Lincoln College Outdoor Center
Clover Cadets 4-H Club (Macoupin County): Assemble first aid kits for Girard and Virden families
Northwestern FFA Chapter (Macoupin County): Renovate and refresh Northwestern School District sign
Northwestern Green Machines 4-H Club (Macoupin County): Beautify Palmyra Park
Joppa FFA Chapter (Massac County): Provide improvements to Joppa High School community garden
Massac County 4-H Federation Club (Massac County): Plant a row, watch COPE grow: Construct garden fencing
Athens FFA Chapter (Menard County): Expand Athens Warriors food garden at Athens High School
West Menarders Ag 4-H Club (Menard County): Spruce up Menard County fairgrounds
Sunny Side Flea Flickers 4-H Club (Moultrie County): Spruce up Bethany Main Street, Marrowbone Cemetery, and American Legion
Monticello FFA Chapter (Piatt County): Plant a children's pizza garden at Kirby Hospital in Monticello
Pope-Hardin 4-H Federation (Pope County): Construct community garden youth tunnel at Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in Simpson
Steeleville FFA Chapter (Randolph County): Build raised beds and plant fruit trees near Steeleville FFA greenhouse
West Side 4-H Club (Sangamon County): Make improvements at Sangamon County fairgrounds
Moweaqua Rustlers 4-H Club (Shelby County): Plant trees at Shelby County fairgrounds
Shelby County Cloverbuds 4-H Club (Shelby County): Provide landscaping at Shelby County 4-H Center
Shelby Showstoppers 4-H Club (Shelby County): Plant trees and a pollinator garden at Shelby County fairgrounds
Silver Spurs 4-H Club (Shelby County): Build new gates for goat barn at Shelby County fairgrounds
Town & Country 4-H'ers (Wabash County): Improve horse arena and flower beds at Mabel Courter Youth Center in Mt. Carmel
Nashville Eager Beavers 4-H Club (Washington County): Create barn quilts at Washington County fairgrounds livestock barns
Grayville Go-Getters 4-H Club (White County): Fostering multi-generational friendships: Install elevated raised beds at Meadowood Nursing Home
Mad Hatters 4-H Club (White County): Plant trees at Wabash Christian Village in Carmi
 

Projects may be delayed or subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thirty high school seniors were awarded $2,000 Farm Credit Illinois agriculture scholarships to pursue agriculture-related majors and careers.

This is the 17th year of the Farm Credit agriculture scholarship program which has awarded a total of $516,000 to 387 students since 2004 - $60,000 was awarded this year. Scholarship selections are based on a combination of academic achievement, participation and leadership in school and community organizations, and the applicant’s commitment to an agricultural career.

You can see the complete list of winners at:

https://farmcreditil.com/knowledge-center/Newsroom/2020/April/youth-named-as-2020-agriculture-scholars

As we all know, the coronavirus pandemic has seemingly effected all aspects of our lives, but did you know it's even effecting how meteorologists predict the weather?  

Farm Broadcaster Jared White has more...