ilfb partners spring 2010

TRUE BLUE FLOWERS

AHEAD OF THE CURVEIllinois farmers lead the nation in no-till farming

A BRUNCH AMONG FRIENDS

More springtime recipes online

SPRING 2010

ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS ILFBPARTNERS.COM

®ILLINOIS FARM BUREAUILLINOIS FARM BUREAU®®

HONEY, What’s Going On?Here’s the buzz on beekeeping

USEFUL KNOWLEDGEI enjoy reading your magazine because it

has a variety of topics, and it covers some little known areas of Illinois. Our family traveled to Jackson Hole last year, where we were thrilled to see an eagle on a river trip, but I thought it was one of the few places where eagles could be found. Thanks to your Winter [2009-2010] issue, I now know we can see them in Illinois, too.

We also look forward to making the specialty popcorn as gifts for our children’s teachers.

Suzanne ReadeChicago

A POPCORN PROBLEMI was reading your recipes for popcorn in

your quarterly magazine [Winter 2009-2010].

I was wondering if you could answer a question for me? After I pop popcorn on the stove and I then put hot butter on it, the popcorn becomes soggy. Is there a way to have buttered popcorn without making it soggy? Any help would be appreciated.

Bobbivia e-mail

Editors Note: Thanks for your note, Bobbi. After some popcorn-buttering research, we learned that the high water content in butter is what can contribute to the sogginess. Some online resources suggest to spread your popcorn out on wax paper after buttering or roast in the oven for 15 minutes at 250 degrees to help dry it out but maintain the butter flavor. We’re hoping other readers may have suggestions, too. To give your own popcorn tips, visit ilfbpartners.com and click on the Popcorn Made Pretty article.

CELESTE HUTTES As a freelance

writer, Celeste Huttes learns about people and places all over the country, but she says she enjoys writing about Illinois because it’s home.

A native of Pana, Huttes now lives in Forsyth and is a graduate of Millikin University in Decatur.

QWhat do you enjoy most about living in Illinois?

ANSWER I enjoy the friendly, down-to-earth people who live in Illinois and a pace that feels a little less hectic than it might elsewhere.

QOne of our stories in this issue focuses on a historic shopping

district in Galesburg. What are some of your favorite one-of-a-kind places to shop in Illinois?

ANSWER Merchant Street in Decatur has a special kind of charm and unique finds. I also have a few favorite shops in Shelbyville – Late Bloomer on Main and Neistradt’s Garden Shop.

QWhat is your favorite Illinois attraction to visit in the springtime?

ANSWER I love Allerton Park in Monticello – it’s like a hidden treasure. I also enjoy charming little river towns such as Grafton.

QAs the weather warms, what is one of your favorite spring dishes to

make for family and friends?

ANSWER Truth be told, my family and friends know better than to seek creative cuisine in my kitchen. But I can bake a mean chocolate chip cookie, and I enjoy experimenting with recipes where chocolate is the main ingredient!

“I enjoy the friendly, down-to-earth people in Illinois, and a pace that feels a little less hectic than it might elsewhere.”

Our Featured Reader

WRITE TO US E-mail us at [email protected]. We welcome any feedback, ideas, gardening questions or requests to become our featured reader.

LETTERS

Forsyth

2 Illinois Farm Bureau

Every Issue5 PRAIRIE STATE PERSPECTIVEJump in a puddle this spring

6 ALMANACTune in to America’s Heartland

17 COUNTRY WISDOMImportance of establishing an investment plan

20 RECIPESEnjoy a colorful spring brunch

24 GARDENINGFlowers that are truly blue

30 PHOTO CONTESTResults from the 2009 Illinois Farm Bureau Photo Contest

ON THE COVER Photo by Antony BoshierDan and Janet Hart, beekeepers from Brimfield

Features

8 Honey, What’s Going On?Here’s the buzz on beekeeping in Illinois

12 Days Gone ByIngenuity, local ownership thrive in Galesburg’s Seminary Street District

18 Ahead of the CurveIllinois farmers lead the nation in no-till farming

26 Travel Illinois: Arcola and ArthurSavor life at a slower pace in Illinois Amish Country

26

24

MORE ONLINEWatch videos, read stories and browse photos at ilfbpartners.com.

CONTENTS

Spring 2010 ilfbpartners.com 3


AN OFFICIAL MEMBER PUBLICATION OF THE ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU

ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU

Publisher Dennis Vercler

Editor Dave McClelland

Associate Editor Martin Ross

Production Manager Bob Standard

Photographic Services Director Ken Kashian

President Philip Nelson

Vice President Rich Guebert Jr.

Executive Director of Operations, News & Communications Chris Magnuson

C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A

Managing Editor Kim Newsom

Associate Editor Jessy Yancey

Copy Editor Joyce Caruthers

Contributing Writers Joe Buhrmann, Kevin Litwin, Jessica Mozo, Jan Phipps, Joanie Stiers, Jessica Walker

Senior Photographer Brian McCord

Staff Photographers Jeff Adkins, Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier, J. Kyle Keener

Creative Director Keith Harris

Senior Graphic Designer Laura Gallagher

Associate Production Director Christina Carden

Ad Traffic Marcia Millar, Patricia Moisan, Raven Petty

Web Implementation Director Andy Hartley

Web Design Lead Franco Scaramuzza

Web Content Manager John Hood

Web Project Manager Yamel Ruiz

Web Design Lead Leigh Guarin

Web Production Jennifer Graves

Color Imaging Technician Alison Hunter

Integrated Media Manager Robin Robertson

Chairman Greg Thurman

President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman

Executive Vice President Ray Langen

Sr. V.P./Operations Casey Hester

Sr. V.P./Sales Carla Thurman

V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester

V.P./Editorial Director Teree Caruthers

Production Director Natasha Lorens

Photography Director Jeff Otto

Controller Chris Dudley

Accounting Moriah Domby, Diana Guzman, Maria McFarland, Lisa Owens

Advertising Sales Manager, Custom Division Beth Murphy

Distribution Director Gary Smith

Sales/Marketing Coordinator Rachel Matheis

Office Manager Shelly Grissom

Receptionist Linda Bishop

Illinois Farm Bureau Partners is produced for the Illinois Farm Bureau by Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (800) 333-8842. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

Illinois Farm Bureau Partners (USPS No. 255-380) is issued quarterly by the Illinois Agricultural Association, 1701 Towanda Ave., P.O. Box 2901, Bloomington, IL 61702. Periodicals postage paid at Bloomington, IL 61702 and additional mailing offices.

The individual membership fee of the Illinois Agricultural Association includes payment of $3 for a subscription to Illinois Farm Bureau Partners.

POSTMASTER: Send change of address notices on Form 3579 to Illinois Farm Bureau Partners, P.O. Box 2901, Bloomington, IL, 61702-2901.

Member

Magazine Publishers of America

Member

Custom Publishing Council

Please recycle this magazine

®

VOLUME 3, NO. 1

Treats to TryWe’ve added more than 25 new dishes to our recipe section. Each recipe can be printed, e-mailed or shared via social media sites.

The Birth of Spring Springtime on many Illinois farms means baby animals and planting season. Our lists of Illinois farms with spring-focused activities can help you plan a weekend excursion or a school field trip.

Wishful PlanningIt’s still cold out, but it’s never too early to plan for summer. Consider an Illinois “staycation” this year; we have travel profiles on Springfield, Chicago, Kankakee and Champaign.

| FOOD || FARM | | FINDS |

Satisfy your sweet tooth with a look at Decadence Bakery in Normal. See this and more Illinois videos at ilfbpartners.com.

Tips for unique vegetable gardening

Web Exclusive

ILLINOIS PHOTOS, VIDEOS, ARTICLES, BLOGS AND MORE

®

WATCH A VIDEO

THREE WAYS WITH CARROTS

Web-exclusive recipes to try with spring-harvested carrots.

1. Carrot and Ginger Soup

2. Marsala Carrots

3. Carrot Cake Cupcakes

EOO

ots.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joanie Stiers writes from rural Williamsfield, where her kids play in spring’s recurring car-sized barnyard puddle, which they have nicknamed “Lake Michigan.”

PRAIRIE STATE PERSPECTIVE

Ahh, how we enjoy the arrival of spring, the most anticipated season of the year for those of us now bored with hot cocoa and board games.

Spring is most commonly defined as the first stretch of warm temperatures in late winter. This season of rising temperatures sparks an unofficial celebration that marries a mix of traditions associated with other holidays. We buy brats and burgers for the grill, wear “costumes” of rubber boots and sweatpants, and find a new motivation to exercise and meet that weight-loss resolution set more than two months ago.

It’s sunny and 50 degrees, but based on our reactions, you’d think it’s 70. Here are 10 activities you may catch us Midwesterners attempting when the temperature reaches 12 degrees warmer than the refrigerator.

1. Act like it’s summer. Some of us seem willing to go coatless (or even risk muddy toes in sandals) in this weather, which would have Arizonians grabbing stocking caps from the back of the closet. Then we blame our final winter sniffles on the changing weather.

2. Take a walk or ride a bike. Then we feel better about eating ice cream at the local year-round parlor with indoor seating.

3. Create outdoor honey-do lists. Like Christmas, rising temperatures prompt us to write down what we want:

A clutter-free garage, spotless windows, tuned lawnmower and clean gutters.

4. Drive through puddles and saturate our shoes in ones we didn’t see. Then we grumble and set our children loose with rubber boots so that we can give the garage some undivided attention.

5. Go to the carwash, drive past and hope the lines shorten later.

6. Visit the home improvement store. We browse the growing seasonal display of f lowerpots and yard tools, and then take home a full grill tank and plenty of good intentions.

7. Surrender to the filth and wait in line at the carwash. We become satisfied to realize we are positioned behind the least dirty of vehicles. Then we learn the driver paid for liquid wax and a blow dry.

8. Drive a motorcycle, if we have one.

9. The rest of us put our hands out the window in the wind. The relaxing nature of coasting a limp hand into forced air brings back stress-free childhood memories.

10. Take a final deep breath before sunset. We slowly inhale the fresh air through our noses as if our grandmother were roasting a Thanksgiving turkey.

Ahh, how we enjoy the arrival of spring in our own interesting ways.

It’s 12 degrees warmer than the refrigerator; let’s get some ice cream

When Spring Has Sprung


Azaleas add spectacular color to your outdoor landscape. A main cause of death for azaleas is improper planting, so follow these tips for better results.

● Locate plants on a shaded location in the north, east or northwest side of a building – and a location sheltered from winter sun and winds.

● Thoroughly work the soil bed, and add peat moss and compost.

● Set the plant slightly higher than ground level, keeping 1/3 of the plant above ground. This prevents it from sitting in too much water.

Source: University of Illinois Extension

Spring ChickenNothing says spring better than bright yellow baby

chicks and tie-dyed eggs. But do you know the reason behind their connection to the spring season? Egg-laying productivity is directly related to the hours of daylight. Traditionally, the longer days of spring encourage more eggs laid and more new chicks hatched.

Consider these other facts about chickens and eggs:

● A female chicken raised for eggs is called a laying hen.

● Only fertilized eggs will hatch.

● About 6.1 billion dozen eggs are produced each year in the United States.

● Illinois is ranked 25th in the nation for egg production.

● Most eggs produced today will be at the grocery store within 72 hours.

● Each year, a person will eat approximately 250 eggs.

● Eggs contain one of the highest quality food proteins known.

For more facts about chickens and other farm

animals, visit www.agintheclassroom.org.

This Family Business is Smokin’

Hicks Bar-B-Que in Belleville has all the right ingredients for a successful business – high-quality Illinois pork, a special sauce recipe, and a family-focused attitude. Longtime competitors on the competition barbecue circuit, the Hicks family wanted to open a restaurant that focused first and foremost on local product. Their claim-to-fame smoked pork ribs all come from Illinois farms, and they smoke their brisket and pork butts over Southern Illinois applewood. And with the family’s special sauce, it’s a meal to remember.

Learn more at www.hicksbbq.com.

ALMANAC

PICTURE-PERFECT AZALEAS

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Earth Day, a global celebration of the environment, commemorates its 40th year on April 22. Learn some ways you can go green this year.

● Get your family involved in a recycling program.

● Walk, ride a bike or take the bus instead of traveling by car.

● Donate old towels and blankets to local animal shelters for bedding.

Find more ideas at www.earthday.net.

Back to NatureEnjoy the simpler things in life this spring – the sounds of birds chirping,

peaceful trail walks in search of new plant life and even glimpses of newborn fawns – at the Douglas Hart Nature Center in Mattoon.

Spring is a wonderful time to visit, according to the center’s staff, although educational programs and special events run year-round.

The center, funded through grants and private support, was established in the late 1960s. Over the years, more than 65 acres of land have been transformed into prairie, forest and wetlands habitats.

Find out about upcoming events at www.dhnature.org.

Agriculture in Action Sometimes the best way to learn about agriculture is to see it in action. Now,

you might not be able to travel to Maine and see cranberry bogs firsthand, but the television program America’s Heartland can give you the inside look you crave.

In its fifth season, the show has covered more than 300 agriculture-related stories from all over the country, including Illinois. America’s Heartland airs on PBS and RFD-TV. You can also view episodes at www.americasheartland.org.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, EARTH DAY!

WATCH ONLINE

Take a tour of the Douglas Hart Nature Center at ilfbpartners.com.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

Country Mutual Insurance Company

To All Policyholders and

Members:

Notice is hereby given

that the annual meeting of

the members of Country

Mutual Insurance Company

will be held in the Illinois

Agricultural Association

Building, 1701 Towanda

Avenue, Bloomington,

Illinois on Wednesday, April

21, 2010 at 1:00 p.m., to

receive, consider, and if

approved, confirm and

ratify the reports of the

officers and of the Board of

Directors of the Company

for the year ended

December 31, 2009 to elect

20 members of the Board

of Directors to serve for a

term of one year, and for

the transaction of such

other business as may

properly come before

the meeting.

Elaine Thacker

Kathy Smith Whitman

Assistant Secretaries

With the right tools and knowledge, raising bees and producing your own honey can be a

STORY BY Joanie Stiers

LifeLifeSweet Sweet


anny Hart’s day begins with a teaspoon of pollen and ends with a spoonful of homegrown honey.

The sweet rewards of beekeeping began nearly 15 years ago for Danny and wife Janet of Brimfield, who now manage between 21 and 26 hives. The couple, named the 2005 Illinois Beekeepers of the Year by the Illinois State Beekeepers Association, started with no experience. Class time, beekeeper mentors and plenty of reading set their foundation for success.

“If you start reading about bees, it draws you in,” Janet says. “The more you read about them, the more you want to try your hand at beekeeping.”

Both urban and rural residents with about $250 and some hobby hours to spare can become beekeepers. The sale of honey and products, such as beeswax candles, pollen and body butter, can make the hobby self-sustaining or even slightly profitable.

As a bonus, beekeepers enjoy honey’s natural vitamins and minerals, as well as its stamina-boosting benefits. They experience the honeybee’s fascinating social structure. And they support mankind’s existence, as

MORE ONLINEVisit ilfbpartners.com

for additional links to Illinois beekeeping groups and websites for beginning beekeepers.

Dan and Janet Hart of Brimfield taught themselves how to become beekeepers. Now they teach others about this affordable hobby. P

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bees pollinate nearly one-third of the food supply. The Harts and other Illinois beekeepers

advise beginners to read a how-to book, talk to experienced beekeepers and take a class.

Many classes or programs are offered throughout the state, says Bill Buckley, president of the Illinois State Beekeepers Association. Visit the association’s website at www.isba.us to learn more or to find a local association that may sponsor a class.

The popularity of beginner beekeeping classes throughout the state indicates managed hives are again on the rise, says Steve Chard, apiary inspection supervisor for the Illinois Department of Agriculture. About 1,350 beekeepers managed 20,000 hives in Illinois in 2009.

Do keep in mind that there’s more to it than just buying some bees. Wannabe beekeepers within city limits should first check regulations in their communities.

Most cities allow beekeeping, so begin to educate your neighbors about the benefits of beekeeping and the docile nature of honeybees, says Buckley, a 38-year beekeeper who lives in the Chicago suburb of Willowbrook.

Sharing honey helps, too, he adds.After some education, start with two

hives, the Harts say. Each hive will hold one

colony of bees. Beekeeping suppliers, such as Illinois-based Dadant, offer kits for beginners that include everything from the hive to the head veil. Then, plan to order a package of bees for spring delivery.

Another option is to buy a nuc. A nuc includes several frames from a working hive; thus, it contains bees, a queen, honey, pollen, eggs and larva. Once your colony is established, register it with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, as required by law.

Various year-round hive management activities will include monitoring brood chambers, bee behavior, food supply, diseases and pests. Honey harvest can begin as early as summer. The Harts collect honey several times from June to September. Some beekeepers harvest once in the fall.

Extracting honey from the honeycomb can be as basic as a hand-crank extractor in a newspaper-lined kitchen. The Harts have graduated to a state-inspected extracting room and now share their original extractor with local beginners.

Honeybees in Illinois produce an average of 82 pounds of honey per hive, says Danny, whose goal is 100 pounds. The bees will need 50 to 60 pounds of that to last through the winter. The rest is the beekeeper’s reward, which provides plenty for a nightly spoonful.

DID YOU KNOWThe queen is a female

bee with a fully developed reproductive system, and she is larger and longer than a worker bee. She is solely responsible for all the egg laying of a colony.

Workers are female bees whose reproductive organs are undeveloped. The majority of the honeybees are worker bees and they do all the work in the colony except for laying fertile eggs.

The drone is the male honeybee, whose purpose is to fertilize the eggs.

Source: www.betterbee.com

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A Natural AttractionTHREE WAYS TO INVITE BEES INTO YOUR GARDEN

A honeybee worker visits more than 2,000 flowers on a good day. To make your flowers among them, follow these tips from Gene

E. Robinson, director of the University of Illinois Bee Research Facility.

• Yellow and blue flowers generally are most attractive to bees. Flowers that are red are least attractive to bees. The University of Illinois lists these yellow and blue flowers among bees’ favorites:

- Great Blue Lobelia- Wild Lupine- Partridge Pea - Hardy Ageratum

• Plant a sequence of flowers to deliver season-long blooms for season-long bee visits.

• Limit or eliminate the use of insecticides that are toxic to bees, especially during times of bloom.

MORE ONLINEFor more flower ideas or bee garden information, visit the University of Illinois Bee Spotter website, beespotter.mste.uiuc.edu. Click on Topics.

- Stiff Goldenrod- Showy Goldenrod- Butterfly-weed- Yellow Giant Hyssop


Days Gone By

Ingenuity, local ownership thrive in Galesburg’s Seminary Street District, reminiscent of


If you’re looking for a local way to spend your Saturday, head to Galesburg. This small town, located in west-central Illinois, is home to a commercial district that encourages patrons to enjoy acclaimed dining and specialty shopping in the absence of franchises and chains.

The originality and entrepreneurial spirit in the Seminary Street Historic Commercial District remains its distinction today after more than 30 years in downtown Galesburg.

Nearly 30 local, independently owned shops, food venues and museums line the

STORY BY Joanie StiersPHOTOGRAPHY BY J. Kyle Keener

MORE ONLINESee a listing of shops

and restaurants at seminarystreet.com.

three-block district. A partially brick-lined street and coordinated awnings and paint schemes highlight buildings that were constructed from the 1880s to 1910, setting a unique tone to a district focused on dining and shopping in a historic setting.

“You can pick any of these businesses, and you find a couple or a family behind it that’s the driving force,” says Jay Matson, who founded the district with his wife, Mary, in the 1970s. In fact, they own the Calico Cat, the district’s original store, and the Packinghouse Dining Co. Their daughter

The success of Seminary Street, Galesburg’s historic commercial district, can be linked to its commitment to maintaining small-town charm and the high reputation of local businesses like Innkeeper’s Coffee.


now operates these businesses.Though specialty districts like

Seminary Street are more common today, the concept was innovative – even risky – at its start in the 1970s. In that decade, downtown Galesburg deteriorated because a regional mall opened across town and transformed shopping habits. The Matsons’ gift shop on Seminary Street either needed to move to the new mall or accept the downtown challenge.

“The challenge back then was that the street was deserted, and the buildings were in extreme disrepair,” Matson says, adding that a fire in one building left rubble even on the sidewalk. “The opportunity was that real estate values plummeted to the point where you could purchase.”

They stayed, found investors, bought old buildings, restored them and launched three restaurants as the district’s primary attraction. The Matsons’ strategy was food first, then shops, realizing that even they would be motivated to visit offbeat neighborhoods based on restaurant recommendations.

They warded off bankruptcy a few times, and Seminary Street soon became a model small district for downtown “main streets” throughout the United States. In the late 1970s, Galesburg was one of three communities chosen for the original National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Project. Media attention followed, including press from the Wall Street Journal and Chicago Tribune.

Interest grew and entrepreneurs opened more restaurants, a bakery, coffee house and roastery, pub, historic antique mall, and more than 20 specialty shops that offer toys, salon services, gifts, artwork, floor covering, menswear, jewelry and more.

The district’s restaurants consistently are noted as favorites in local dining reviews. Innkeeper’s Coffee proves a standout at the district’s north end, and the health foods business is a successful niche at Uncle Billy’s Bakery and Cornucopia.

The area also includes the Galesburg Railroad Museum and Discovery Depot Children’s Museum, both within sight of the Amtrak depot. Loft apartments are available in the center of the district.

“We all work hard and work together, and I think that’s one thing that’s really important,” says Marj Edlen, owner and designer at From The Heart, a vendor shop featuring gifts and local artisans.

Edlen also designs heirloom teddy bears and Father Christmas figurines from vintage furs and clothing. She has shipped more than 10,000 heirloom bears to all 50 states and nine foreign countries from her business home on Seminary Street.

Matson credits ingenuity like this, as well as the unity of the owners, for the success of the Seminary Street Historic Commercial District.

She explains, “The glue that holds it together is that we have a whole bunch of independent owner-operators working together.”

In one trip to Galesburg, visitors can purchase glass decorations at the Calico Cat gift store, enjoy a glass of wine at Chez Willy’s Restaurant & Wines or wind down with a steaming cup of joe and a pastry at Innkeeper’s Coffee.


Trash or Treasure

MORE ONLINEHave other “antiquing”

tips to share? Visit the online version of this story at ilfbpartners.com and add your tips to the comments section.

With antiquing, knowledge is power.And Laura Gibbs-Kirven started her

education early. She learned to bid at antique auctions when in the sixth grade.

She now is a certified personal property appraiser and president of the Galesburg Antiques Mall Co., which offers 30,000 square feet of antiques in the Seminary Street Historic Commercial District.

She offers these tips to beginning antique shoppers.

• Shop reputable places.

• Collect only what you like and only enough to display and enjoy.

• Examine condition. Feel for cracks and chips. Even chipped glass can deem something almost worthless.

• Ask staff to evaluate an antique.

• Take care of your purchases. For example,

protect fine furniture in winter to prevent drying.

• Some good investments include fine furniture, Americana pieces, Roseville pottery, Indian artifacts and fine quilts.

• If you want value for your money, consider exquisite textiles or fine jewelry. Often a textile that took 100 hours to complete may cost only $30. Used gold and diamonds can cost much less than new at jewelry stores.

Still don’t know where to start?An easy way to start your antiquing

project is to complete your grandmother’s partial set of dishes or revisit your childhood and try to furnish that old dollhouse in mom’s basement. For many men, antique collections revolve around other interests. Duck decoys and old tools are some favorites among men.

– Joanie Stiers

Tips for a smart start to antique shopping


COUNTRY® WISDOM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joe Buhrmann is a Certified Financial Planner™ certificant and the Manager of Financial Security Field Support for COUNTRY Financial. Visit COUNTRY on the web at www.countryfinancial.com.

TIME FLIES QUICKLYIn a year and half, my oldest will be heading off to

college. In the blink of an eye, we’ve gone from gumdrops to flip-flops to laptops. I have some of the same queasiness many other parents face as their children head to college. Retirement? College? How are we going to pay for it all? I know that we’re better off than most, though, because we have a plan.

The benefit of sitting down with a trusted adviser to plan out your future – whether it’s retirement, a college education or planning for that great lake house you’ve always wanted – has always been sound.

Studies continue to show that those who put together a plan are much more likely to attain their goals and end up more financially secure.

A recent study by the Financial Planning Association, The Value of Financial Planning, shows that 78 percent of those with a financial plan feel well prepared for retirement. Put that in perspective with those without professional support, 46 percent of whom feel prepared for retirement.

MONEY CAN’T BUY EVERYTHINGHow many times have we heard the phrase “money

can’t buy happiness?”It is true that you accomplish many of your financial

goals without an adviser and a plan. But how will the

journey be? The real power isn’t just in attaining goals and creating wealth. It’s about the quality of life you live during the journey.

How likely are you to be happy and content without a plan? How many nights will you lose sleep? What toll will it take on your health and your family? Will you miss opportunities because you failed to plan? Are you and your family vulnerable to catastrophic losses due to insurance gaps?

Nearly nine out of 10 study respondents who have a financial plan felt they have a clear financial direction compared to just 50 percent of respondents who are trying to go it alone.

THE BIGGEST STEPThe benefits of putting together a financial plan with

a trusted adviser are clear. The accomplishment and comfort it can bring, particularly in today’s troublesome times, is immeasurable.

If you’re like many and haven’t begun your journey to a more secure financial future, don’t worry. It’s never too late to start. The biggest – and most important step – is the first one. Sit down with a trusted adviser who listens to you and will help you develop and implement a plan to meet your goals and objectives.

After all, people who reach their goals rarely go it alone.

To reach your investment goals, start with a road map

The Power of a Plan


When it comes to creating a greener climate, Illinois farmers are

STORY BY Martin RossPHOTOGRAPHY BY Ken Kashian

Ahead of


When it comes to creating a greener climate,Illinois farmers are

STORY BY Martin RossPHOTOGRAPHY BY Ken Kashian

Illinois farmers are


You may have noticed them last summer along an Illinois highway – contoured waves of emerald corn separated by broad, winding ribbons of grass.

Less breathtaking is the winter vista: crops reduced to brown stubble and shifting residues.

Both sights inspire Ted Gilles. This Peoria County farmer and his brother, Ron, see an unplowed, post-harvest field as a promise kept to nature, and a patch of prairie grass or a grassy waterway as an investment in the planet and agriculture’s future.

Nearly 320 of the Gilles brothers’ 700 acres are devoted to soil and water protection, animal habitat, and prairie preservation under the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the federal Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

Their farmstead is a showcase and a classroom; hundreds of visitors climb onto hayracks each summer and out of school buses each fall to view prairie grasses, wildflowers, woodlands, wetlands, and the occasional blue heron or sandhill crane.

CONSERVING SOIL AND WATERThe farm itself features a system of dams,

terraces, waterways and grass filter strips that capture potential pollutants from water before they reaches streams or rivers.

“No-till” – a farming method that leaves post-harvest residues on the ground over the winter instead of plowing them under with a moldboard plow – helps hold valuable soil in

the Curveplace and further protects water quality.

Illinois leads the nation in no-till farming; in 2007, no-till acres exceeded the number of conventionally tilled acres statewide. That’s a lot of saved soil, but even greater benefits lie ahead.

Atmospheric accumulation of carbon dioxide has been linked to global climate change; long-term, continuous no-till farming traps carbon in the soil.

Further, no-till reduces farm fuel needs – a cost savings for producers that also improves agriculture’s carbon “footprint.”

ENCOURAGING WILDLIFE HABITATIn addition, the Gilles annually reserve

nine to 10 grain plots to help ensure winter survival for a number of wildlife species.

The Gilles’ enthusiasm for hunting led to their foray into conservation roughly 18 years ago.

Ted had long been intrigued by the CRP, which reimburses farmers who remove environmentally sensitive cropland from production and foster wildlife habitat.

Inspired by what he learned, he took the plunge, initially around the edges of the family farm. Gradually, he and Ron moved more acres into the CRP, aided by incentives under the more recent CREP.

“We just love the wildlife, and there’s a lot of wildlife out there,” Ted says. “We see a lot of deer, a lot of pheasants, a lot of quail and turkey.”

DID YOU KNOWIn 2009, nearly half

of Illinois cropland was farmed with conservation tillage practices.

Conservation tillage is defined as any production method that leaves at least 30 percent of the prior year’s crop residue on the ground after planting. No-till is the most popular in Illinois.

Source: Illinois Department of Agriculture soil erosion and crop tillage survey, 2009


Spring into the season with a simple yet delectable brunch. Our menu offers the perfect mix of sweet and savory, simple enough to prepare for Saturday morning get-togethers – but with a twist, just to keep things interesting.

Brunch is truly one of my favorite meals, a treat I typically enjoy on Sundays. It’s always good, regardless of the season, but something about spring just makes my cravings stronger.

Maybe it’s because I can finally dine outside – when those spring showers aren’t watering my May flowers, anyway – or maybe it’s because my favorite fruits are back in season.

Either way, I never pass up a good springtime brunch – especially when

Gather your friends for a colorful spring brunchSTORY BY Jessica Walker

SharingA

Meal Worth

the menu is this tempting.This meal also is irresistible because it

feels luxurious – a time to kick back, turn off the cell phone and neglect your watch. Something about it makes me relax and unwind, allowing me to truly enjoy each bite. It’s just special. And the springtime weather makes it feel even more so.

So, eat, drink and be merry this season. My guess is that you deserve it. Indulge in our tasty menu on your own – more for you, I always say – or host a spring celebration with friends and family. Take a moment to celebrate the season, enjoying the weather and your company – and, of course, the food.

Just be sure to do a not-so-pleasant spring activity before your guests arrive: spring cleaning.

BUY LOCALMany classic brunch

ingredients – eggs, bacon, sausage and even artisan breads – can be purchased from Illinois farms any time of year.

For links to farmers near you, visit the online version of this story at ilfbpartners.com.


Pineapple Berry Boats

8 ounces cream cheese1/3 cup raspberry preserves

2 tablespoons milk

½ teaspoon lemon zest

2 teaspoons lemon juice

½ cup cream

2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

1 pineapple

1 pint strawberries

1 pint blackberries

1. Whip cream cheese until smooth, then blend in preserves. Add milk, lemon zest and lemon juice, mixing well.

2. In a separate bowl, whip cream with sugar until soft peaks form. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture. Chill.

3. Halve pineapple lengthwise, keeping the green leaves intact. Scoop out the f lesh and cut into bite-size pieces, discarding tough core.

4. Cut each strawberry in half. Fill pineapple “boats” with pineapple, strawberries and blackberries. Serve with cream cheese dipping sauce.

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Sausage and Red Pepper Breakfast Strata

1 pound bulk breakfast sausage

1 loaf French bread

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

12 eggs

3½ cups half and half

2 teaspoons kosher salt

½ teaspoon pepper

1¼ cups chopped scallions

2 cups Monterey Jack cheese

½ cup diced red pepper

1. Put rack in middle of oven and preheat to 375 degrees.

2. Brown sausage in a skillet. Drain fat and cool.

3. Cut half of French bread loaf in one-inch-thick slices, and spread each slice with softened butter. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray, and arrange the bread slices in one tight layer in the dish. Sprinkle with sausage.

4. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, salt and pepper until frothy. Then whisk in green onions and one cup of cheese. Pour egg mixture over sausage.

5. Sprinkle with red peppers and then remaining cheese.

6. Bake covered 30 minutes, then uncover and bake 20 more minutes or until puffed on the sides and the center is set.

Monkey Bread

1½ cups brown sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3 10-ounce packages refrigerated biscuit dough

1½ sticks unsalted butter

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix together 3/4 cup brown sugar and cinnamon.

3. Cut biscuits into quarters, then dip each into the sugar mixture and place in a greased f luted pan. Do this until all biscuits are used and all sides of the pan are evenly filled with dough.

4. Melt butter, and mix with remainder of brown sugar. Pour mixture over biscuits.

5. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Flip pan over onto a serving dish and serve.

TIPChopped pecans can add a new dimension to this dish. Sprinkle the pecans throughout the layers of biscuit pieces before pouring the butter mixture.


GARDENING

Similar to the shortage of blue foods, there aren’t a lot of blue flowers out there.

No, not purple or lavender, even though these colors are often lumped under “blue” in horticulture publications. I mean a true blue.

I’ve been on a quest to add more blue blooms to my yard for the past few years. It started one evening while having dinner at a friend’s house. On the center of her dining table was a small arrangement of f lowers cut from her garden, and there it was. The perfect blue! She didn’t know the name of it, but after my rhapsodizing over the gorgeous flower instead of the food, my friend gave me some volunteers from her garden.

After some research, I discovered it was a

True blue flowers can be tricky to find

BLUEFeeling a Bit

perennial called Centaurea ‘Montana,’ common name Mountain Bluet. The bloom looks a lot like Bee Balm (Monarda), but blue instead of red. And so my passion for finding more true blue flowers began.

Through my research, I’ve found several other varieties to try in your garden.

Some blue perennials to consider are Hydrangea ‘Nikko Blue’ (if grown in slightly acidic soil), Veronica spp. ‘Crater Lake Blue’ (Speedwell), Mertensia pulmonariodes (Bluebells), Buddleia davidii ‘Ellen’s Blue’ (Butterfly Bush), Delphinium, and the bulb Muscari armeniacum (Grape Hyacinth). There are also several varieties of iris, both Dutch and tall-bearded, that are blue. If you

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jan Phipps farms, gardens, writes and podcasts near

Chrisman. She’s been a University of Illinois

Extension Master Gardener for 10 years.


ASK AN EXPERT

Q Last year I planted a pot with pansies,

petunias and impatiens. It looked good for about five weeks, but by July all I had left were the petunias. What happened?

ANSWER You chose plants with different growing requirements. Pansies are a cool weather plant which can’t take heat and humidity. Petunias love full, hot sun, while impatiens need shade.

E-mail your gardening questions to Jan at [email protected].

are looking for a blue perennial ground cover for full sun, try Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Plumbago).

If annuals are more your f lower of choice, Heavenly Blue Morning Glories are an easy way to grow vine, and there are blue varieties of Pansies, Lobelia, Larkspur and Bachelor Buttons to try.

Besides blue flowers, there are some shade plants with blue foliage. Many hostas have blue in their botanical and common names, but the blue is really a dark blue green. Usually, the darker the leaf, the more shade it needs to maintain that dark bluish hue all summer.

Once you choose your true blues, how do

you use them in your landscape? There are several color combinations that work very well.

My favorite is blue and yellow. Although it is not used a lot here, it is very popular in France and probably Sweden, since they are the two colors in the Swedish flag.

Pink, blue and lavender go well together. All three colors appear more vivid when reflecting off each other.

If you have a seating area in your garden where you like to relax, pair white f lowers and plants with silver foliage with your blues. That combination has a calming effect. It works particularly well in formal or classic settings. Think of the blue and white of Delft or Chinese pottery.


Arthur & Arcola

{Travel Illinois}


early everyone has wondered what it would have been like to live in the past. Visiting the towns of Arthur and Arcola is about as close as you can get. With a population of about 2,200, Arthur is at the heart of Central Illinois’ Amish country and is home to the largest and oldest Amish community in Illinois, which was founded in the 1860s.

Nearby Arcola is slightly larger than Arthur and features many tourist attractions, including the Illinois Amish Interpretive Center. The friendly atmosphere of both communities is perhaps best summed up with Arthur’s motto, “Where you’re a stranger only once.”

ALL ABOUT THE AMISHImmerse yourself in the quaintness of

Amish culture with a visit to the Illinois Amish Interpretive Center in downtown Arcola. Explore Amish exhibits and watch a video about their faith and lifestyle. Then embark on the center’s Amish Culture Tour, which includes historic Amish wagon rides, Amish home tours, woodworking and farm tours, and a meal in an Amish home. It’s bound to be the best made-from-scratch fried chicken, mashed potatoes, noodles, homemade pies and breads you’ve ever tasted.

Shopping in downtown Arthur and Arcola will also give you a taste of Amish culture,

STORY BY Jessica MozoPHOTOGRAPHY BY Antony Boshier

THE AREA’SMUST-SEES

• Historic Illinois Central Train Depot, Arcola

• World’s Only Hippie Memorial, Arcola

• Illinois Amish Interpretive Center, Arcola

• Rockome Gardens, Arcola

• Andrew Carnegie Library, Arcola

• Yoder’s Homestead Shop and Furniture, Arcola

• Country Cheese and More, Arthur

• Yoder’s Kitchen, Arthur

• Amish countryside

• Lake Shelbyville

Savor life at a slower pace in Illinois Amish Country

Visitors to Rockome Gardens in Arcola can take buggy rides through the colorful complex.

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LAWNMOWERS ON PARADE

If you visit Arcola in September, don’t miss the Arcola Broom Corn Festival Parade, where you can catch the town’s world-famous Lawn Rangers. Founded in 1980, the Lawn Rangers are a group of men who wanted to march in the parade but decided the only talent they shared was mowing their lawns. Since one of the men was part owner in a broom company,

they decided to push lawn mowers while tossing brooms in the air. The group has since become famous for their lawnmower antics and has appeared in parades across the nation, including the Presidential Inauguration parade in 2009. This year’s Broom Corn Festival is scheduled for Sept. 10-12.

but don’t expect to find any chain stores here. What you will stumble upon are dozens of small shops selling everything from antiques and quilts to wood furniture, crafts, artwork and baked goods. While in downtown Arthur, don’t miss Dick’s Pharmacy, a traditional pharmacy with a soda fountain that still serves up old-fashioned sodas and hand-dipped malts and shakes.

STAY A SPELLCharmed yet? You will be when you book

an overnight stay at the Arcola Flower Patch & Diamond House Bed & Breakfast. Two historic homes make up the complex and are connected by picturesque floral landscaping. The Flower Patch house is an 1864 Victorian-Italianate structure with five graceful guestrooms, antiques and art, and a well-stocked gift shop with tea, English teapots, candles, cards and more. Next door, the 1914 Diamond House was built in Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie house style and offers five guestrooms and three suites. Guests at both homes enjoy the bed-and-breakfast’s legendary seven-course breakfast that usually incorporates fresh produce and

herbs grown on the property.You can also relax and unwind at

Arthur’s Country Inn, located within walking distance of an Amish pastry and coffee shop, a cheese shop, a woodcraft store and Yoder’s Kitchen restaurant.

When the sun goes down on Amish country, you can still find quality entertainment at The Little Theatre On The Square in nearby Sullivan. The small-town theater has been bringing Broadway-style shows to Central Illinois since 1957 and was recognized by USA Today in 2005 as one of the top 10 places to see the lights way off Broadway.

Want to take a piece of Amish country home with you? Located in a vintage building, Arcola Emporium Antiques is a great place to pick up a souvenir, with an inventory that includes antiques, primitives, collectables, glassware, pottery, toys, jewelry and Raggedy Ann and Andy memorabilia.

MORE SITES TO SEEStop and smell the roses at Arcola’s

Rockome Gardens, a complex that draws hoards of visitors for its 15 acres of lush

8 THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT THE AMISH

• Handmade really means handmade

• Homemade pies, jams and breads

• Apple butter

• Handcrafted oak furniture and cabinets

• Horses and buggies

• Hand-stitched quilts

• Mouth-watering cheeses

• There’s no such thing as fast food

LAWNMOWE

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they decided to puThe group has sinappeared in parInauguration pThis year’s Bro

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• There’s no such thing as fast food

The Flower Patch Bed & Breakfast in Arcola Downtown Arcola shopping


MORE ONLINEFind links to more restaurants in Arcola and Arthur at ilfbpartners.com.

Fried Chicken and Shoofly PieTHE DUTCH KITCHEN IS THE PLACE TO FIND HOMEMADE COOKING AT ITS BEST

There’s a reason The Dutch Kitchen in Arcola has been thriving for nearly 40 years. Actually, there are several – starting with

homemade bread topped with Amish apple butter, chicken and noodles, Italian beef sandwiches, country fried chicken, peanut butter pie … we could go on and on.

“We use a lot of recipes my Amish mother had, and I’ve got a lot of relatives who are Amish,” says Allen Yoder, who co-owns The Dutch Kitchen with his wife, Ruth Ann. “We sell a lot of plate lunches served with mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing, vegetables and homemade bread. Our salad bar is another option, and it’s not just lettuce. We make our own salads, like corn relish, pineapple salad and pea salad.”

Plate lunches might feature locally produced beef, pork, chicken, turkey, sausage or fish.

“Most everything is homemade,” Yoder says. “Our chicken and noodles is special, and so are our salmon patties. And we make our own pies – coconut, peanut butter cream, Dutch apple, cherry crumb and shoofly pie.”

Shoofly pie?“It’s an old-fashioned pie that’s flavored with sorghum, which is kind

of like maple syrup,” Yoder explains.The atmosphere of the downtown Arcola restaurant is homey, with

historic photos of Arcola’s broomcorn industry lining the walls alongside Raggedy Ann memorabilia.

The Dutch Kitchen is open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.

A famous Arcola native is Johnny Gruelle, creator of the American dolls Raggedy Ann and Andy. Arcola hosts the annual Raggedy Ann & Andy Festival, usually held in May or June. The event features vendors, collectors, a tea party, kids’ activities, a talent show and the Raggedy Friendship Gathering. For details, contact the Arcola Chamber of Commerce at (800) 336-5456.

REMEMBER RAGGEDY ANN

LOCAL FLAVOR

gardens, buggy rides, family-style dining, shops and nationally famous festivals. You can also witness demonstrations of century-old traditions such as soap making, broom making, candy making and pottery, and take a peek in a blacksmith shop, one-room school house and haunted cave. Kids especially love Rockome Gardens for its train rides, petting zoo and tree house playground.

Springfield may be considered the “Land of Lincoln,” but the Arthur/Arcola area might as well be called the “Land of Lincoln’s Parents.” The Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site in nearby Lerna preserves the 1840s farm of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln, father and stepmother of the beloved president.

The 86-acre historic site is a working living history farm that includes a reproduction of the Lincolns’ two-room cabin constructed on the original cabin site. Visitors can observe interpreters tending to 1840s chores such as butter making, rail splitting, mending and barn mucking.

Former hippies and hippie wannabes will fully appreciate the World’s Only Hippie Memorial, a work of art some 62 feet long in downtown Arcola.

The memorial’s creator, Bob Moomaw, was a colorful fellow who served as the town’s tax assessor and railroad clerk, but his favorite “job” was painting messages to the public on the side of a downtown building he owned. One such message read, “America, you’re turning into a nation of minimum-wage hamburger flippers. Rebel. Think for yourself. It works!”



THE NATIONAL SHRINE OFOur Lady of the Snows was founded in 1958 and is believed to be one of the largest outdoor shrines in the United States. Located in Belleville, the shrine hosts a variety of special events, including cultural celebrations, weddings and the popular Way of Lights exhibit each Christmas. PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

SEE MORE PHOTOSTake a photo tour through Belleville’s other attractions at ilfbpartners.com.

ILLINOIS IN FOCUS

ilfb partners spring 2010

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