Newborns receive gift baskets from local farmers at hospitals.
The joys of giving birth were not overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. During National Agriculture Week, March 22-28, the newest bundles of joy were presented with gift baskets at Kishwaukee and Valley West Hospitals of Northwestern Medicine. The baskets were compliments of local farmers and agricultural organizations.
Based on uncertain times, the families really enjoyed getting the baskets this year, said Kristi Demayo, interim OB director at Kishwaukee Hospital. “The new moms said it was ‘like getting Easter baskets,’ ” stated Demayo, anticipating that the holiday tradition may be short-sided this year because of the coronavirus.
The gift baskets explained to families how important agriculture is to their everyday lives. In a few years their baby will understand the connection between farming, food and fiber.
Gift baskets were filled with products which originate on the farm or are representative of production agriculture. The ag basket contents included: baby wipes and bath wash (glycerin), a bib (soybeans), corn snacks (corn), board books and ag magazines (corn starch, wood pulp), “onesie” (cotton), meat gift certificates (beef & pork), oatmeal cereal (oats), ice cream gift card (dairy), corn-shaped teether (field corn), Farm Matching Game (farm images/words) tractor-shaped and corn-shaped stress relievers (tractors & corn) and a pig/cow stuffed animal (livestock).
National Agriculture Week is a time to call attention to how agriculture impacts our lives and also recognize its role in our local communities. Production agriculture contributes significantly to the local economy and additionally provides jobs and generates tax dollars.
Sponsors of the Ag Week Baby Baskets included: DeKalb Area Pork Producers, DeKalb County Corn & Soybean Growers, DeKalb County Lamb & Wool Producers, DeKalb-Kane Cattlemen’s Association, Kishwaukee Dairy Herd Improvement Association and the DeKalb County Farm Bureau.