Illinois Farm Girl

a mother's perspective on farm life & farm kids

10 Most Fascinating People in Farms & Food, 2014

Along with Christmas trees, holy nights and candy canes, top 10 lists are making the rounds. Even though last year was supposed to be Barbara Walters’ last 10 Most Fascinating People, she’s got a new list coming in a week. So, I thought I’d put together another list as well. Here are my thoughts on the 10 Most Fascinating People in Farms & Food, 2014. Keep in mind fascinating means interesting ...

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The Day After Turkey

What two topics dominate conversations the Friday after Thanksgiving?  Black Friday deals and leftover turkey.  Since Black Friday isn't my thing, leftover turkey is my focus and this year I think I'll take my sister-in-law's recipe for Chicken Lasagna and substitute turkey.  It was a favorite dish for the very last field meal this harvest and will become a staple in this house.  Delicious comfort ...

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What Does Big Ag Look Like?

Early this fall everyone – farmers, ranchers and eaters alike – were talking about the New York Times’ Food for Tomorrow conference, its mission to discuss eating and farming better, and the fact that not one solitary make-a-living-off-the-land farmer or rancher was listed in the speaker line-up. One Huffington Post blog captured what so many were thinking. If a group of “thought” leaders and ...

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Let’s Talk Turkey

Too often kids learn about farms from Johnny Tractor or Old McDonald.  While cute, fun and interesting to kids, rarely do those characters accurately portray life on a farm.  Thankfully, a few authors have decided to put real farms and real farmers into children's books. Cris Peterson comes to mind with her range of stories from Extra Cheese, Please to Amazing Grazing to Fantastic Farm Machines.  ...

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Flat Aggie Visits Sweet Potato Farm

I wanted to learn more about sweet potatoes so I visited North Carolina, where almost 50 percent of the sweet potatoes produced in the United States are grown. My first stop was the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission. Here’s a picture of me with my new friend, Spencer Sweet Potato. He told me all about sweet potatoes. ...

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