​Franklin County's Summer Ag Institute was a success! Three days of tours and learning about agriculture. Day 1, we visited Cusamano and Sons in Mt. Vernon and learned about wholesale food distribution, had a visit from Illinois Pork and learned about native bees with the IDNR. Day 2 Kevin from IAITC showed us all of the neat things instore for the next school year then we visited HR Agripower in McLeansboro where we learned about the technology involved in todays farming. Day 3 we visited Violet Soaps Apothecary in Christopher and learned how to make soap, we were also visited by different Southern FS employees who taught us what technology FS uses for crop and soil health and the use of drones in agriculture. Thank you to all the entities that welcomed us! We had a great group this year and are looking forward to next year!

​In March Franklin County students had the opportunity to plant their own vegetable seeds to take home, grow, and harvest from over the summer. Over 800 students planted seeds and enjoyed the opportunity to get their hands dirty.
April is chick incubation month! This activity is looked forward to all year. We have 6 classrooms throughout the county incubating this year. We are excited to see the hatch we get!

​December was a busy month for Ag in the Classroom! Students learned about reindeer. There are a couple of reindeer farms in the state, tying the subject to both local Agriculture as well as some Christmas fun! After the lesson a craft was provided. One of those being paper bag reindeer. This subject is always a hit and looked forward to each year.

​Students across Franklin County had fun in October! Kindergarten and first graders learned about corn and received corn crowns courtesy of Illinois Corn. Older students learned about pumpkins, how they grow, and the fact that Illinois grows more pumpkins here than anywhere else in the world! 7th and 8th graders in Christopher were able to see the chemical reaction in an exploding pumpkin. 

​Franklin County Ag in the Classroom was invited to the Conservation Fair put on by the Soil and Water Conservation District and held at the DuQuoin State Fair grounds on September 24th and 25th.  Over 1300 students were in attendance over the two days. We had students from Perry, Williamson, Franklin, and Washington Counties come by our station. At our station, students got to make a Circle of Earth Bracelet. As they were making the bracelets, they learned how everything in the Earth is related and goes in a “circle”. The students really enjoyed it, and we look forward to returning next year! 

​In June the Franklin County Ag in the Classroom teamed up with the Jefferson County Ag in the Classroom to provide a Summer Ag Institute for local teachers. Over three days teachers attend field trips to local Ag entities as well as attend presentations from Illinois Ag in the Classroom and commodity groups to gain professional development hours.
This year we had 16 teachers in attendance from a variety of counties besides our own. On Tuesday we learned how The Twisted Twins in Woodlawn got their start. We also got to see how things are done at the Mount Vernon grain elevator. On Wednesday we visited Scruggsy's Pecans in Mount Vernon and got a visit from Illinois Ag in the Classroom. Thursday, we visited The Hop in Christopher and learned about the brewing process, we learned the history of Rend Lake, and we learned how Forestry Coffee got their start.
It was a fun and very educational three days! We are looking forward to next year!

​In June the Franklin County Ag in the Classroom teamed up with the Jefferson County Ag in the Classroom to provide a Summer Ag Institute for local teachers. Over three days teachers attend field trips to local Ag entities as well as attend presentations from Illinois Ag in the Classroom and commodity groups to gain professional development hours.
This year we had 16 teachers in attendance from a variety of counties besides our own. On Tuesday we learned how The Twisted Twins in Woodlawn got their start. We also got to see how things are done at the Mount Vernon grain elevator. On Wednesday we visited Scruggsys Pecans in Mount Vernon and got a visit from Illinois Ag in the Classroom. Thursday, we visited The Hop in Christopher and learned about the brewing process, we learned the history of Rend Lake, and we learned how Forestry Coffee got their start.
It was a fun and very educational three days! We are looking forward to next year!

​Franklin County Ag in the Classroom was invited to the Akin STEM night this April. At this event students can participate in activities showcasing science, technology, engineering, and math. At the Ag in the Classroom table, students made walking paper horses. Horses were made from paper, then placed on a ramp to “walk”. Students had to adjust their horse so it could walk down the ramp. This is a fun event and we are happy to be invited! 

​Franklin County Agriculture in the Classroom is hosting a fish fry dinner on Friday, March 21st from 5-7:30pm at the Franklin County U of I Extension Office (1212 Ag Street in Benton).  The meal will consist of fish, baked beans, coleslaw, dessert and drink and will be catered by Anchor Grille.  Tickets for the event are $20 and can be purchased early at the Franklin County Farm Bureau Office or at the door.