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A Harvest of Generations

Farm families keep the multigenerational tradition going Most farms have generations of family members working side-by-side from the field to the machine shed to the farm office. We reflect on this special bond between local farm families during the harvest season. 75% of family farms involve multiple generations. 870 is the number of ...read more

Scholarship Donors and Students Connect

College students who earned DeKalb County Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarships connected with the generous donors of endowed scholarships being presented for this first year. Schelkopf Scholarship McKenna Dayhuff of rural Somonauk recently met with members of the Schelkopf family at the Farm Bureau. A senior at Iowa State University studying agriculture and ...read more

Scholarships Awarded to 22 Students

Farm Bureau Foundation announces college scholarship recipients The DeKalb County Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture recently awarded scholarships to deserving college students of Farm Bureau families. Students were selected by the Scholarship Committee based on academics, college and community activities, leadership, work experience, and essays. The Foundation congratulates students receiving these scholarships. College ...read more

Worlds Apart – Shabbona to Kenya

TechLit Africa & Ag in the Classroom collaborate When Cindi Cinnamon first stepped inside a classroom in rural Kenya she had flashbacks to the past, reminiscent of classrooms in America over a century ago. “It was a throwback to the past,” said Cindi. “Chalk writing on the blackboard. Homemade desks, mostly bench-style ...read more

Reflections – Student Creativity Defines County

DeKalb County boasts a broad history of competition for students across the county to highlight their talent. Competition involving showing livestock, playing or singing music, presenting essays, or giving orations are common. But students also competed in Latin, marbles, designing window treatments, and in typing, shorthand, and bookkeeping. Sometimes, though, changes ...read more

Where Agriculture & Art Intersect

What do you get when you combine farm-focused lessons, artistic kids, and an opportunity to illustrate agriculture? Clever and creative cover designs, that’s what! Cover design winner Scarlett Tompkin’s third grade class gathers to celebrate at Indian Creek. DeKalb County Farm Bureau has offered a design contest for elementary students for more ...read more

Connections Covers

Then and Now – A look back at some of our favorite covers of farm kids This year marks the 10th year for our CONNECTIONS magazine, a membership publication of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau. Previous publications were newspapers or newsletters (Point of View, The Farmer’s Point of View, DeKalb County ...read more

Family Farm Heritage

Honoring Centennial/Sesquicentennial Farms in DeKalb County Mullins Farms Location: ShabbonaTownship: Shabbona, Sections 7 & 18Original Date of Purchase: 1853Current Owners: Mullins FamiliesAcres: 175 Farm History: Robert Mullins was born on a farm in Woodall, Yorkshire, England in 1811. He married Sarah Ulyett in 1834. In 1852 Robert and Sarah emigrated with their family to America, settling in Shabbona, ...read more

Deere Career

From the corn fields of DeKalb County, Illinois to the sugar cane fields in Thailand, David Gilmore serves the agricultural industry globally through his executive role at John Deere. David Gilmore has been all over the world with John Deere. “Every day is a little bit different and the variety of roles ...read more

From Chicken Farms to Major Food Company

The Suter Company, Farm Bureau’s next-door neighbor A century ago, Charles Suter bought a farm in Palatine, Illinois and began his chicken and egg business which would eventually evolve into a major food company. He called his first farm Atlasta, meaning “at last a farm.” Charles moved to the Genoa area and ...read more