East Peoria, IL – Whether you are from the country or town, there will be something of interest to all ages at the upcoming Ag and Conservation Family Night event at Illinois Central College’s (ICC) East Peoria campus on August 2, 2023. Visitors will get an up-close view of farmers’ many practices and technologies to improve soil health and protect water quality on their farms from 5:30-8 pm that evening.
The tour will feature conservation drainage installation equipment, a constructed wetland, cover crop plots, and even a soil pit! There will be plenty of time to ask questions and connect with the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP), Illinois Central College, and the Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service staff, along with plenty of family-friendly activities.
The event kicks off at ICC (1 College Dr, East Peoria, IL 61635) with appetizers, refreshments, and a welcome from the event’s organizers at 5:30 pm. Then, from 6:15-7:45 pm, attendees are invited to visit several nearby field stations, including:
- An ag-tile drainage constructed wetland hosted by The Wetlands Initiative
- Rainfall simulator hosted by Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership
- Soil Pit & Cover Crop plot presented by the Illinois Natural Resource Conservation Service and The Nature Conservancy
- Agriculture drainage tile and water and sediment control basin installation demonstrated by the Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association
The event will wrap up at 7:45 pm, with ISAP providing additional resources.
Register today at agandconservation.eventbrite.com. Transportation will be available to help those with limited mobility to and from the Workforce Sustainability Building and through the various displays.
ISAP’s Ag and Conservation Field Day will take place at the brand new Workforce Sustainability Center on Illinois Central College’s East Peoria campus.
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As a coordinated and consistent group, Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) focuses on messaging, outreach, training and education for farmers and their trusted advisers to bring together and disseminate new information and lessons learned in plain, practical language. Members work collaboratively to amplify the programs of each organization, share resources to gain efficiencies and identify synergies in achieving soil health and nutrient goals. ISAP’s mission is to create a network to support a systems approach on agriculture lands to improve soil health and reduce nutrient loss.
ISAP’s members include: The Nature Conservancy, American Farmland Trust, Precision Conservation Management, Illinois Corn, Illinois Central College, The Wetlands Initiative, The Zea Mays Foundation, Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association, Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Illinois Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, University of Illinois Extension, Agriculture Drainage Management Coalition, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Certified Crop Advisers, and Midwest Dairy.
