Outreach in Illinois

December 2005

Inside Look

Purpose
From the State Conservationist
Editorial
Feature Story: "Small Farmer Receives CSP Benefits..."
Area Highlights
     Area 1
     Area 2
     Area 3
     Area 4
     Area 5
     RC&D
Take Note
Want to Contribute?

Purpose...

Inside Outreach was created to highlight the initiatives and the accomplishments of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Illinois.

From the State Conservationist

It is with great pleasure and pride that I help to unveil our newest tool in NRCS outreach communication here in Illinois. This electronic newsletter is a valuable and cost-effective way to share unique program opportunities and Field Office level successes with NRCS staff and partners across the state.

The Outreach Team that pulled this information together did a terrific job. I think I can honestly say that getting outreach success stories collected from the field five years ago might have required the use of more aggressive tactics because back then, we didn’t have as good a handle on how we defined outreach or what “qualified” as outreach.

Today, I believe we all have a better understanding of what we mean when we say outreach. And even better than that, we consider the continual need to communicate and assist non traditional conservation customers as a regular and ongoing aspect of our job; it is simply our normal way of doing business.

For this tremendous accomplishment and for your ongoing commitment to keep on doing that, I want to thank all the NRCS Field Office staff and all our SWCD and other invaluable partners who see and recognize ordinary and extraordinary outreach opportunities and then act on them.

As you read through the stories from each of our five administrative areas, you’ll see a diverse flavor of outreach in Illinois—assistance to successful conservationists on small farms, student educational tours that get city kids out on a farm, client contacts who turn into valuable Field Office resources, community assistance with natural resource issues no one else will touch, lady landowner get-togethers, Tribal technical assistance, and faith-based efforts that reach far beyond our state lines.

Enjoy the newsletter. As you read through it, see how many similar successes your own office has been a party to and make a mental note to jot down the main points and share it with our NRCS Outreach Team. By doing that, you too can share your own outreach successes with our NRCS Illinois family.

Thanks again for your hard work and your commitment to ALL NRCS clients—ag and non ag; traditional and non traditional. They ALL count! Helping People Help the Land.

William J. Gradle
Illinois State conservationist

Editorial

This Outreach Newsletter is our first since the establishment of the new “Outreach Team.” The objective of this newsletter is to share statewide outreach successes for the purpose of stimulating other NRCS staff to be innovative, create a better understanding of outreach, or duplicate efforts showcased in this newsletter. The newsletter will be produced twice a year. Highlighting outreach initiatives is just one way we can help overcome barriers and promote program participation from all sectors of our communities. The removal of any disparity in our services will take the conscious efforts of everyone to encourage program participation and ensure accessibility of our services to nontraditional clients. It will require that we reach out to any and all segments of the population to develop respect, trust, and an operational level of understanding of each others culture. A successful outreach effort is obtained when our services and programs are seamless to all clients.

You will note throughout this issue that we mostly focused our efforts at the field office level because this is the logical point of contact for our services and the development of partnerships within our communities. We know that the uniqueness of each county’s demographics, economics, racial and religious differences, education levels, and farming practices impacts the level of participation by potential clients in NRCS’ various programs. We must also understand that state leadership has an equally important role to play in the success of any outreach effort by establishing effective policies, clear communication and guidelines, and providing an adequate level of support to the field. By policy, we are directed to take positive steps to remove barriers, provide equal service, and offer the benefits of program participation to all eligible producers and clients.

The Outreach team and editorial staff, with your help, are dedicated to providing you with the most up-to date information possible. And remember, “Outreach” is not a Civil Rights program. It’s not a “program” at all. Instead, it is how we do our business. Please feel free to provide us with your feedback and your own outreach successes.

Thank You,
Lue A. Walters, State Outreach Manager

Feature Story

Small Farmer Receives CSP Benefits
Submitted by: John Ford, DC, Macoupin County, Carlinville, IL

Carleen and Melvin Paul were accepted into the Conservation Security Program during 2005. The Paul’s farm is near Staunton, IL and is located in South Eastern Macoupin County. Part of this property was previously owned by Carleen’s mother. Their application included more than 220 acres of cropland which they own and operate. They use a corn, soybean and wheat rotation on the land. Corn is planted using mulch till and no-till is used to plant the soybeans and wheat. Double cropped soybeans are often no-tilled into the stubble after wheat harvest. The Pauls have maintained grassed waterways and other conservation practices since the 1970’s in order to keep valuable topsoil in place.

As part of their CSP application, Carleen provided excellent records that documented the quality management that the farm has been given through the years. Carleen is very involved in the entire farming operation, from spring planting to running the combine at harvest. Carleen has a very busy schedule. She is very active in the community and with the church. The Paul’s children live near by and they are very much a part of each other’s families. According to District Conservationist John Ford, “I’m glad she took the time out of her busy schedule to put together an application to the program. I was glad to see Carleen and her husband be rewarded for all their hard work and effort in practicing good conservation management all these years.”

The Macoupin County portion of the Lower Kaskaskia Watershed cut across the corner of the county joined by Montgomery and Madison Counties. The NRCS office held public meetings and sent several direct mailings to landowners and producers in the watershed to explain the program. Several people expressed interest in the program and liked the idea of a government program that rewards producers and landowners for good conservation.

Ludwig Farm Tour
Submitted by: Robert Jankowski, DC, Area 3, Will-South Cook County, New Lenox, IL

Back in May 2005, the Will-So. Cook SWCD and NRCS Team organized a tour at the Howard Ludwig Farm which is located in Lemont, Illinois. The 30 students from Chicago’s Benito Juarez High School were greeted by the farm’s owner, Mr. Howard Ludwig. Ludwig explained the farm’s history, which included raising hogs and growing corn and soybeans in rotation. The students had the opportunity to view various practices on the farm, including water and sediment control basins, conservation tillage, beneficial backyard insects and wildlife, and investigate two soil pits. They also saw a presentation on lawn waste application benefits to cropland. The students asked many questions of the presenters who included NRCS Soil Scientists Kristine Ashpole and Allison Steglich, SWCD Resource Analyst Brock Schmitt, and Russell Higgins, Extension Educator-Integrated Pest Management with the University of Illinois Extension.

The goal of the outreach event was to expose urban young people to agriculture and a working farm. That goal was accomplished. Some students indicated they were interested in agriculture as a possible career goal, but the majority simply enjoyed the opportunity to be on a real-life farm for the first time in their lives and just enjoyed the day.

Area Highlights

“A true measure of your worth includes all the benefits others have gained from your success.” - Cullen Hightower

Area 1

Franklin County Cowboy Club
Submitted by: Diane Wallace, District Conservationist, Franklin County (Area 1)

The Franklin County Cowboy Club is a group of producers with a common interest: cow-calf management. Formed approximately two years ago, the group meets three to four times each year to share ideas and information. Originally, they formed as a group to market feeder cattle but the interest was not there and their true passion lay elsewhere. Eventually they evolved into the group it is today. Member Tom Saxe describes their Cowboy Club as “an informal group that provides an opportunity to get together, share what’s going on, share ideas and socialize. The group originated in Franklin County, but we welcome anyone who has an interest in cow-calf management.” Saxe, a retired grazing specialist from University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, recently implemented his EQIP plan which included Prescribed Grazing, Fencing, and Watering Facilities. A tour was held at the Saxe Farm in June.

According to NRCS District Conservationist Diane Wallace, “Tom is an excellent example of what we’re looking for in management intensive grazing. We’re lucky to have him as a resource in Franklin County. We are able to tap into him for tours and information so that producers can see that our Technical Guide standards and specifications can be easily and successfully implemented.” At the tour on Saxe’s operation, Wallace explained the EQIP practices that were installed and discussed the EQIP program to 30 attendees.

Area 2

Restoration of Meshach Lake Dam
Submitted by: John Ford, DC Area 2, Macoupin County, Carlinville, IL

During this past year our office has had the pleasure of working with the people from the Village of Royal Lakes. Royal Lakes is a small minority community in southern Macoupin County. Over the past several years, NRCS has had the opportunity to assist the village in a number of projects, the most recent of which was the restoration of Meshach Lake dam. This project consisted of replacement of the principle spillway, armoring the shoreline and emergency spillway with rock and clearing and shaping the backside of the dam.

Since completion of the Meshach dam project, our office has combined efforts with the Illini Valley RC&D to seek out and provide support for funding opportunities that Royal Lakes can utilize to address other needs identified in the community. Some of the needs identified include: replacement of a bridge that has been allowed to remain open due to repeated repairs done by the village, road repair, and restoration of the storm water storage capacity of the lakes.

Recently our office sent a letter to Mayor Simmons outlining some of the storm water drainage concerns we have observed in the village throughout the years. We hope that this letter will provide support to the Village of Royal Lakes in their efforts to receive a funding grant to address many of the resource concerns in the community. We will continue to look for ways to assist the citizens of Royal Lakes. They have done a great job in identifying needs, setting goals and working together to get things done.

Lady Landowners/Operators –An Important Client Who Needs What We Have to Offer
Submitted by: Joe Sullivan, DC, Area 2, Schuyler County, Rushville, IL

More than 25 ladies attended this year’s Lady Landowner meeting held March 16, 2005 at the University of Illinois’ Extension office in Rushville, Illinois. Morning presentations included “Food Label Reading” by Janet Detrick, Extension Family Nutrition Program Coordinator, and Susan Dees, Illinois Department of Transportation Biologist on Beneficial Butterflies and Moths. District Directors Betty Sargent and Beatrice Artis prepared a delicious lunch and welcomed several additional dishes prepared by some of the ladies attending the meeting.

The afternoon session featured a presentation by Susan Oberdalhoff on “The Human Side of Farming.” Everyone enjoyed the meeting and the presentations offered. The Schuyler County SWCD and NRCS staff would like to thank all of our speakers for taking their time to share their hobbies and expertise.

Don’t forget to reach out to lady landowners. They are an important link in the conservation chain.

Midwest SOARRING and NRCS Making A Dreams A Reality
Submitted by: John Ford, DC Area 2, Macoupin County, Carlinville, IL

The staff of the Carlinville Field Office has been working with Joe Standing Bear Schranz and the Midwest SOARRING Foundation to help bring them closer to their goal of developing an educational center in Macoupin County. The plan has been a dream of the Chicago-based organization for a number of years.

Their Macoupin County property includes more than 60 acres and was made possible by a gift of Mary Wilhelm, a local woman who decided to follow through with her own wishes and the wishes of her late husband—use the land to promote nature and wildlife.

Midwest SOARRING has hopes of using the center to teach local and native youth about their relationship to the natural world. The Native American Culture and Heritage has always had a strong component of stewardship and awareness of man’s relation to the earth. These are concepts that the organization does not want its youth to forget.

NRCS office staff members volunteered time and labor to help construct an access road to the Midwest SOARRING property and assisted in site clean up. Soil Conservationist Albert Dowland, Administrative Coordinator Rhonda Koehne and Soil Conservation Technician Brad Burnet conducted a survey and onsite assessment to help determine the best layout for the road. They also provided an estimate of the quantity of rock and filter fabric necessary to construct the road. Brad Burnet donated time with his tractor and SWCD Resource Conservationist Dan McCandless coordinated the purchase, delivery and installation of gravel and other materials associated with the project. NRCS District Conservationist John Ford and Dan McCandless removed a number of old tires and delivered them to an IEPA tire pick-up station.

Future plans for the site include extending the road to provide access to other parts of the property, constructing a pond, and cleaning up additional debris which will improve the visual appeal of the property. Midwest SOARRING’s vision for the property is to create a resource for people to visit and learn about Native American Culture and their rich heritage. This is a unique opportunity to work with this organization, helping them bring their plans into reality.

Area 3

Foods Resource Bank Harvest Celebration
Submitted by: Paul Youngstrum, former DC, LaSalle County, Ottawa, IL (Area 3)

On Sunday October 2, 2005, we organized a fall harvest celebration that was a way to reach out to people who are not actively involved in farming. This gives them the opportunity to get out on a farm, ride in a combine with a farmer, and learn about the “conservation side” of farming.

This project was also a fundraiser for agriculture in Chingale, Malawi, which is an area in south-central Africa comprised of many hungry people. The area has been ravaged by floods, droughts, deforestation, soil erosion, and HIV/Aids.

The funds raised for this project are not used to send food; funds help provide input items, tools, improved seed, and animals so that the people of Chingale can learn to grow their own food and become self-sufficient. In addition, funds will help teach the people of Chingale how to protect their natural resources.

One of the “side” benefits of this project is that it involves farmers who donate the harvest off of several acres of their farm. Their input and land costs are supported by members of local churches and organizations. This unlikely partnership ultimately helps to improve the agriculture of a starving people, while building relationships and educating the non-farm public here at home about agriculture. One of our partners is the Barrington United Methodist Church, which is located in Lake County. They have donated $11,000 to this project to pay for farmers’ inputs, and are very interested in learning about agriculture.

This has been an enjoyable and successful venture in northern Illinois. Are there faith-based community groups that you can work with to further the needs and issues of agriculture? They may be nontraditional partners, but they are still great partners!

Area 4

Russian Ag Delegation Visits Morrison Farm
Submitted by Dave Harrison, RC, Whiteside County SWCD

A delegation of Russian Ag officials met with local and federal agency heads in the county on October 24. The Whiteside County SWCD and Bob and Mary Black hosted the delegation. Rotary International was responsible for getting the Russian group to the US and Sterling Rock Falls Rotary Club hosted them at Sauk Valley during their stay. This meeting was the start of their month long tour of North Western Illinois which included visits to local farms and industries.

With the help of an interpreter, USDA Service Center agency heads explained USDA programs and how they work with local and county producers. Employees who spoke included: Rich McDonnell, FSA CED; John Prange, FSA Ag Credit; Dave Harrison, SWCD RC; and Mark Kaiser, NRCS DC.

Kaiser explained how EQIP, WRP, and conservation compliance all worked together to promote conservation on the land and improve water quality. “Farmers can receive federal dollars for installing needed conservation practices because the practices benefit our entire society and protect our natural resources not only for us, but for future generations,” says Kaiser.

In order for farmers to receive USDA crop payments, they are required to protect erodible cropland from erosion by using conservation practices such as reduced tillage and no-till, grassed waterways, and contouring. Speakers emphasized how programs are voluntary and farmers do not have to participate if they don’t want to. Presenters also explained how conservation benefits wildlife.

During the four-hour meeting the group heard presentations about the local and national farm programs offered to land owners in the county such as the Conservation Reserve Program, Loan Deficiency Payments, Operating loans, and real estate information.

After the meeting, lunch was donated by the Main Street Market and Casa Gomez. Afterwards, the group took a quick tour of wildlife habitats on the Black Farm featuring native grass, food plots, and shrub plantings.

Our goal, and theirs, was to give the Russian delegates ideas that work well here so they can take them back and apply them in their own redeveloping country.

Area 5

Douglas County Regional Prevention Group
Submitted by Thomas Benjamin, Lincoln Heritage RC&D, Tuscola, IL

Douglas County, a rural county located in central Illinois, is a very unique county.

Its uniqueness stems from the diversity of its population. Douglas County residents include a large Amish and Hispanic/Latino population. The Hispanic/Latino population is mainly employed by the Amish and two factories in Arcola. There is also a large influx of Hispanic/Latino migrant workers during the summer months working in the seed corn industry as detasslers. According to the 2000 Census, there has been a 43% increase in the Hispanic/Latino population. As a result on this increase, the strain on already limited resources affects everyone, and if left unaddressed will increase stress on communities and neighborhoods.

In 2002 Lincoln Heritage Resource Conservation and Development Council joined a new organization called the Douglas County Regional Prevention Group. The group was started to coordinate and enhance community resources, assets, and support systems to more effectively address the needs of the Hispanic community in Douglas County. Its main goal is to empower and educate Douglas County residents with knowledge and skills to make healthy choices to achieve their full potential, and to provide and improve services to the underserved and underrepresented Hispanic/Latino population in the area.

One example of the Regional Prevention group’s effort is the Mi Raza Community Center. The center was started through funding from the Douglas County Health Department as well as other partnering agencies. The Mi Raza Community Center is a resource center for the Hispanic/Latino population of Douglas County. Mi Raza is a place where individuals can go to get information about health issues, jobs, child care, and bilingual translation and is also a place where those individuals who are new to the area can go for necessary information needed for setting up a household. The center is designed to accommodate people for meetings, health education and intervention, and socializing.

The Regional Prevention Group is continually striving to develop and improve their prevention and outreach initiative. Their key strategies are three fold. Research – collecting the best available data on child, family and community well being at national, state and county levels. Educate – using data and research to inform the citizens and policy makers about the status of Douglas County children, families and communities, and effective strategies to improve well-being. Mobilize – empowering action to secure better futures for all Douglas County children, families and communities.

The present members of the Regional Prevention Groups are as follows: City of Arcola, Lincoln Heritage Resource Conservation and Development Council, BETHS Place, Douglas County Health Department, Mid Illinois Senior Services, I Sing the Body Electric, Cumberland County Board, Douglas County Soil and Water Conservation District, the CEAD Council, Mi Raza Representative, Douglas County Sheriff Department, Douglas County Probation Office, Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, and the Douglas County Mental Health Department. The group meets the fourth Friday of the month in the USDA, Farm Services Agency conference room at 9:00am.

RC&D

Operation Pack The Bus Aid to Schools and Children Affected By Hurricane Katrina
Submitted by: Jessica Engstrom, Interstate RC&D, Adminstrative Coordinator, Milan, IL

Interstate Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) and WQAD-TV News Channel 8 have joined forces for “Operation Pack the Bus” to provide aid to schools and children affected by Hurricane Katrina. Interstate RC&D has decided to donate their famous SMART Bus which has served as a traveling bookmobile and educational center providing free books and educational materials to children in the Interstate RC&D five county area. The bus will be donated to the Mississippi Coastal Plains RC&D Council in Perkinston, MS. The SMART Bus will be commissioned into service as temporary library and school supply center for children in the Bay St. Louis-Waveland area, one of the parts of Mississippi on the Gulf Coast that was devastated in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The retired SMART Bus will be filled with school supplies and educational resources for its new Mississippi school children before it makes its long trip to Southern Mississippi and the Gulf Coast.

Operation Pack the Bus began on Monday, October 24, 2005 and continued through Friday, November 18, 2005 where donations were collected and sorted and packed on the bus by volunteers from Interstate RC&D. Cash donations will also be greatly appreciated. The Rock Island County Board will donate a semi-tractor and trailer and a driver to transport the Bus to Mississippi.

WQAD-TV News Channel 8 will escort the Bus and report on its progress as it heads towards Mississippi along with a convoy of Interstate RC&D, Rock Island County Board, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) representatives and other dignitaries from the area. The Bus is tentatively scheduled to depart for Mississippi on December 5th.

Local students in the Interstate RC&D area remain a priority. The original SMART Bus is being replaced with a newer and smaller bus donated by Pinks Bus Service in Geneseo, IL for the 2006 season. The new bus will continue to serve as a valuable educational resource to Illinois school children.

More information can be obtained by contacting Interstate RC&D, 3020 East First Avenue, Milan, IL 61264, (309) 764-1486 extension 4 or selecting the “Operation Pack the Bus” link on our website at www.interstatercd.org.

Fiesta Committee Shows Its Appreciation
Submitted by: Glen Kuhlemier, Blackhawk Hills RC&D President and Twin Cities Fiesta Committee Member

 The Twin Cities (Rock Falls and Sterling, IL) Fiesta Committee presented the Blackhawk Hills RC&D Council with a plaque to show its appreciation for the assistance the Council gave to the Committee. Blackhawk Hills RC&D provided the Fiesta Committee with technical assistance in preparing program books for the Fiesta Day Celebrations. The Twin Cities Fiesta Committee celebrates Mexican Independence every year in September. The Fiesta Day Celebration gives the Committee an opportunity to educate, unite and engage the communities on Latin American Culture.

Julie Jacobs, Blackhawk Hills RC&D Program Assistant, assisted the Committee to produce a program booklet for their annual Gala Don’s Party which was held on August 27, 2005. The purpose of the event is to announce the Don and Doña for the year. Don and Doña are titles that are bestowed upon persons who have demonstrated a willingness to serve and enhance the quality of life for residents in the Twin City area. The elected Don and Doña are honored and treated as celebrities during the Fiesta Week and reign over the Fiesta Parade. Approximately 150 people were in attendance at the Don’s Party.

Julie also assisted the Committee with producing a booklet for their week long Fiesta Celebration. This year’s Celebration was held the week of September 11-18. The booklet highlighted the activities for the week which included a church service, fun fair, Folkloric Dancers, parade, dance and a soccer tournament. This event attracts thousands of people to the area to celebrate the Mexican Independence Day.



An IDEA for Reaching Out to Non-Traditional Customers
Submitted by: Kim St John, Prairie Rivers RC&D Coordinator, Henry, IL

University of Illinois Extension –Peoria County, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service – Peoria Field Office, and Prairie Rivers Resource Conservation & Development are working together on a project to address the needs of Peoria County residents as it relates to alternative agriculture. Alternative Agriculture can include anything from an operation for raising specialty grains to leasing land for recreation or hunting opportunities. This local coalition of agencies partnered with the University of Illinois IDEA program (Initiative for the Development of Entrepreneurs in Agriculture) for expertise in creating a local IDEA Chapter for the purpose of helping people explore and transition into non-traditional agricultural enterprises.

The first step was to identify what the local needs were. To do this, a survey was developed and distributed through several different outlets. Survey results indicated that people in Peoria County and surrounding counties were interested in a variety of enterprises from growing vegetables to wood production. The greatest needs for assistance were identifying and evaluating alternative enterprises, business planning, and marketing. The survey also revealed that people preferred short workshops with networking opportunities.

The partners planned and implemented a very successful one-day workshop to launch the Peoria County IDEA Chapter. The workshop was held on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 at Jubilee College State Historic Site under a picnic pavilion. The morning topics included resources for business development and marketing and presentations on growing organic vegetables, raising specialty meat and grain, and fee-hunting. The afternoon session included a tour of two small farms where participants could see an organic vegetable operation and a pastured poultry production. More than 30 men, women, and children attended the workshop. Most participants were “first-time farmers” – turning their small parcels of property into working land.

All who attended left the day-long workshop and tour with useful information and a new found network. The partners will continue to provide outreach and education opportunities and to expand the IDEA Chapter.

For more information contact:
Kim St John, RC&D Coordinator
USDA-NRCS
Prairie Rivers RC&D
309-364-3979
Kim.StJohn@il.usda.gov

Scott Wallace, District Conservationist
USDA-NRCS
Peoria Field Office
309-671-7040 x 3
Scott.Wallace@il.usda.gov

Take Note

An Update on the Black Farmers of Pembroke, Illinois
Submitted by: Carzella C. Pritchett, Outreach Team Leader, Normal, IL

Pembroke is a small community of limited resource African American farmers in Kankakee County only an hour away from Chicago. Bob Gotkowski, District Conservationist in Kankakee County, brought them to my attention ten years ago. Since that time USDA partnerships have helped Pembroke farmers obtain a Heifer International Grant, develop a Co-Op, and establish a farmer’s market network.

Pembroke’s Farming Family provides locally grown organic vegetables at farmers markets throughout northern Illinois. For these farmers, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is the key for success. Participants network with other groups, share experiences, and learn how to meet market demands. They are fulfilling a niche in the Chicago area by selling items they produce.

On September 15th, I attended the African American Community Mini Resource Fair which was held at Navy Pier’s Children’s Museum. The black farmer’s market extravaganza, a component of the fair, was held to promote good nutrition while creating an awareness of black farmers in Illinois, Chicago community garden projects, and farm life. Booths showcased organically grown produce and educational workshops provided the public with insight on vermiculture (worm farms) and beekeeping. Children’s displays contained educational, nutrition, and health messages.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Irene of “Boots and Saddles,” a Pembroke resident who hosts the black rodeo as well as raises horses, rabbits, chickens, a variety of vegetables, and fish. At her booth, she sold eggs, tomatoes, okra, peas, watermelon and other organically grown vegetables. Basu, another farming family from Pembroke, was also selling value-added commodities. Value is added to the price of fresh fruit when it is processed into preserves, cha-cha, jellies, and jams. Cha-cha is a relish made from cabbage, green tomatoes, and spices. Value is added during the processing preparation. This ethnic dish (cha-cha) is eaten on vegetables and peas.

Displays of hand-made jewelry, paintings and other items were for sale by other farm family members. Shoppers could order other items that emphasized the amazing diversity small farms have to offer the public, such as free range chickens and specialty meats.

It is clear to me that the Pembroke Farming Family is successfully at overcoming barriers and limits of the past and continues to demonstrate what Community Supported Agriculture networks can do.

Want to Contribute?

If you would like to submit articles to be published in the Inside Outreach Newsletter contact:

Lue A. Walters, Outreach Manager
Email: Lue.Walters@il.usda.gov
Phone: 309-452-0830 ext. 111

Carzella Pritchett, Outreach Team Leader
Email: Carzella.Pritchett@il.usda.gov
Phone: 309-452-0830 ext. 119

Paige Buck, State Public Affairs Specialist
Email: paige.buck@il.usda.gov 
Phone: 217-353-6606

Cara Clark, Visual Information Specialist
Email: cara.clark@il.usda.gov 
Phone: 217-353-6607

The following document is available in Adobe Acrobat 6.0 or higher format.

Inside Outreach December 2005
 Outreach_1205.pdf (1.2 MB)

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