WINTER 2013-14

ILFBPARTNERS.COM

ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU®

Illinois’ Hidden Lincoln GemsDig deep into presidential history at Lincoln’s New Salem and other sites throughout the state

Featuring the best of Illinois for our rural, urban and suburban partners

This Issue at a Glance

1. Peek into the past at Lincoln’s New Salem State Park in Petersburg page 20

2. Strap on your snowshoes at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle page 7

3. Follow along with the Field Moms’ Pen at a farm in Lanark page 18

4. Attend a Thanksgiving dinner with thousands of friends in Moline page 12

5. Discover two miles of dazzling lights in Quincy page 30

6. See bald eagles, explore the Underground Railroad and more in Alton page 14

7. Catch the annual Southern Illinois Boat & Fishing Show in Marion page 31

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Notice of Annual Meeting

ILLINOIS AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONTO ALL MEMBERS AND POLICYHOLDERS:

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the members of the Illinois Agricultural Association will be held in the Palmer House Hotel, 17 East Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, on Saturday, December 7; Sunday, December 8; Monday, December 9 and Tuesday, December 10, 2013 with the official meeting of voting delegates convening at 8 a.m. on Monday, December 9, for the following purposes:

To receive, consider and, if approved, ratify and confirm the reports of the officers and the acts and proceedings of the Board of Directors and officers in furtherance of the matters therein set forth since the last annual meeting of the Association.

To elect a President and Vice President, who shall also serve as directors, for a term of two years.

To elect nine (9) members of the Board of Directors to serve for a term of two years.

To consider and act upon such proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation or to the Bylaws of the Illinois Agricultural Association and upon such policy resolutions as may be properly submitted.

For the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

JAMES M. JACOBSSecretary

FROM OUR READERSThank you for such an attractive

and informative edition of Partners [Fall 2013]. What an appealing cover and articles! We had lived in Peoria and Wayne City for some years before our move to Florida. The orchards and crops featured were a reminder of the bounty Illinois has enjoyed for years. Good reporting and photography were in abundance.

Mr. & Mrs. C. Eugene Phillips,

Ocala, Fla. Correction: Page 15 of the fall issue misidentified the location of McHenry County. It should have read “the northwest region of Chicagoland.”

WRITE TO US Email us at ilfbpartners@jnlcom.com. We welcome any feedback, story ideas, gardening questions or suggestions for our events section.

2 Illinois Farm Bureau

Every Issue5 PRAIRIE STATE PERSPECTIVEModern-day farmers rewrite storybooks

6 ALMANACWhat do farmers do in the winter?

17 COUNTRY WISDOMGet ready to retire

18 WATCH US GROWPig farmer opens up conversations about animal care

24 RECIPESCelebrate the season with presidential desserts

28 GARDENINGConsider choosing and planting a live Christmas tree

30 EVENTSWinter festivals during December, January and February

ON THE COVER Photo by Jeff AdkinsRe-enactor Ed Schultz gets into character at the Robert Johnston Residence at Lincoln’s New Salem, a reconstruction of the village where Abraham Lincoln spent his early adulthood.

Features

8 Rails, Rivers & RoadsImproved infrastructure stands to strengthen state’s status as a key transportation hub

12 Mr. Thanksgiving’s DinnerBob Vogelbaugh hosts annual holiday feast with nearly 3,000 guests

14 River RetreatFascinating history and natural wonders draw travelers to the Alton area

20 Hidden Lincoln Gems

Dig deep into presidential history at attractions throughout the state

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MORE ONLINEWatch videos, read stories and browse photos at ilfbpartners.com.

Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 3

VOLUME 6, NO. 1

AN OFFICIAL MEMBER PUBLICATION OF THE ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU

ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU

Publisher Michael L. Orso

Editor Chris Anderson

Associate Editor Martin Ross

Production Manager Bob Standard

Photographic Services Director Ken Kashian

President Philip Nelson

Vice President Rich Guebert Jr.

Executive Director of Operations, News & Communications

Chris Magnuson

Content Director Jessy Yancey

Content Coordinator Rachel Bertone

Proofreading Manager Raven Petty

Contributing Writers Charlyn Fargo, Jessica Mozo,

Jan Phipps, Martin Ross, Joanie Stiers, Lorraine Zenge

Creative Services Director Christina Carden

Lead Designer Stacey Allis

Creative Services Team Becca Ary, Jackie Cuila,

Laura Gallagher, Alison Hunter, Kacey Passmore, Kris Sexton,

Jake Shores, Matt West

Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto

Photography Team Jeff Adkins, Michael Conti, Brian McCord,

Wendy Jo O’Barr, Frank Ordoñez, Michael Tedesco

Videography Team Mike Chow, Mark Forester

Web Creative Director Allison Davis

Web Team David Day, Erica Lampley, Nels Noseworthy,

Jill Ridenour, Richard Stevens

I.T. Director Daniel Cantrell

Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf

Senior Graphic Designer Vikki Williams

Ad Production Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan

Controller Chris Dudley

Accounting Diana Iafrate, Maria McFarland, Lisa Owens

County Program Coordinator Kristy Giles

Sales Support Manager Sara Quint

Chairman Greg Thurman

President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman

Executive Vice President Ray Langen

Sr. V.P./Operations Casey Hester

Sr. V.P./Agribusiness Publishing Kim Holmberg

Sr. V.P./Agribusiness Sales Rhonda Graham

Illinois Farm Bureau Partners is produced for the Illinois Farm

Bureau by Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs

Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-5557.

All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be

reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

Illinois Farm Bureau Partners (USPS No. 255-380) is issued

quarterly by the Illinois Agricultural Association,

1701 Towanda Ave., P.O. Box 2901, Bloomington, IL 61702.

Periodicals postage paid at Bloomington, IL 61702 and

additional mailing offices.

The individual membership fee of the Illinois Agricultural

Association includes payment of $3 for a subscription to

Illinois Farm Bureau Partners.

Farm. Family. Food.™ is used under license of the Minnesota

Farm Bureau Federation.

POSTMASTER: Send change of address notices on Form 3579

to Illinois Farm Bureau Partners, P.O. Box 2901, Bloomington,

IL, 61702-2901.

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Association of Magazine Media

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Custom Content Council

Please recycle this magazine

®

RECIPES, TIPS AND FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Browse holiday recipe ideas at farmflavor.com

grow, cook, eat, learn

20 SURPRISING AG CAREERSFarming isn’t the only career in agriculture. Discover other ag-related jobs that may surprise you on our website at ilfbpartners.com/ag-careers.

ilfbpartners.comVISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR VIDEOS, STORIES, RECIPES AND MUCH MORE

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Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 5

We soon will travel “over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house.” And we will sing the song in our 266-horsepower minivan. It’s a fun little perk of life near a small river.

The coming holiday season preps our farm family for multiple gatherings around farmhouse and small-town kitchen tables. We exchange stories, laughter and delicious potluck-style meals sometimes made with home-preserved foods. We still find plenty to talk about, even though we share some of these dinners with the people we work alongside daily.

You feel grand when a snapshot of life seems it could adorn an idyllic holiday card. Like any sentimental being, we cherish those moments. They feel nested in tradition – warm and full of love.

It seems too often that the vision of a farm stays wrapped in a similar package, too. I hear on occasion how people believe farming and farm life replicates the classic children’s storybooks. But we take a minivan, not a horse, to Grandma’s house. And we use satellites, not soil markers, to plant our crops straight.

Farming’s evolution correlates with that of today’s households. Our methods of transportation and communication have changed. We have greater access to education and technology. Our viewpoints on parenting have adapted with the times. Same with the farm. In reality, only small parts about the farm visually match the storybook description.

Sure, traffic is slow. Sunsets are gorgeous. We can see stars at night. The landscape radiates calm and peace.

And we love raising our kids on the farm. Yet our family runs a business out here that is larger, higher-tech and more managed than Great-Grandpa could have imagined.

We produce more than twice the corn per acre than we did 50 years ago. Our family’s combine, a machine used for harvest, picks 16 rows of corn at once. Most of the men have commercial drivers’ licenses and haul our corn and

soybeans with semis. Site-specific soil tests drive decisions for fertilizer application. Long, tall, metal-sided buildings store our equipment. We buy seed in bulk containers rather than 50-pound bags. And the biotech seed in those containers produces plants that require fewer crop protection products.

The only livestock within our family farm provide kid projects or hobby businesses. Smartphones offer instant access to weather forecasts and market information. Women share managerial roles in the farm. Some of us earned bachelor’s degrees in addition to the knowledge passed onto us from farming fathers and mothers.

And we don’t plow our fields. That practice ended about 30 years ago to conserve our soil.

But we’re the same passionate people with farming at least five generations deep. We choose to be part of this profession. We maintain a commitment to family, a love for the land and faith in the future.

We still find farm life fit for a warm and fuzzy storybook. The narrative just needs anecdotes of modern-day marvels to make it accurate.

We take a minivan, not a horse, to Grandma’s house. And we use satellites, not soil markers, to plant our crops straight.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joanie Stiers, a wife and mother of two, writes and works on a farm in west-central

Illinois. At least five generations of her family have made farming a livelihood.

PRAIRIE STATE PERSPECTIVE

Modern-day farmers rewrite children’s storybooks

Changing the Story

6 Illinois Farm Bureau

Sources: National Turkey Federation, National Agricultural Statistics Service

A 15-POUND TURKEY TYPICALLY HAS ABOUT 70 PERCENT WHITE

MEAT AND 30 PERCENT DARK MEAT.

Turkey may be eaten most often for

Thanksgiving, but over the past 40 years,

more Americans have enjoyed this protein

year-round. In fact, in 1970 we consumed

50% of all turkey during the holidays, but

today that number has dropped to 31%, as

more people now eat it throughout the year.

THE MOST POPULAR TURKEY PRODUCT IS THE WHOLE TURKEY.

The turkey sector employs between 20,000 and 25,000 people in the United States.

The U.S. consumes an average of 16.1 pounds of turkey per person, per year, and turkey ranks as the NO. 4 protein choice for American consumers.

FARM FOCUS

6 Illinois Farm Bureau

What Do Farmers Do in the Winter?No, most farmers don’t take off for

the winter. They still find plenty to

do throughout the chilly season.

Farmers use this time to check and

ready their equipment for hard work

in the spring. Some may also haul

corn, soybeans and other harvested

crops from on-farm storage to

processing plants, where they may

be converted to other products or

exported overseas.

Winter also offers plenty of time for

farmers to catch up on bookkeeping

and tax preparation and to place

seed and fertilizer orders for the

spring. They can attend agricultural

trade shows and meetings, where

they’ll learn about the latest

technology and equipment.

A Win for Winterization As you look to winterize your home, consider going green.

Soy-based insulation, paints and finishes can help make your home more environmentally friendly and possibly safer. Soy products often are more biodegradable and contain fewer potentially harmful compounds than conventional products.

Bedford Park’s All Comfort Insulation Inc. is one of a growing number of businesses offering soy spray foam insulation. Homeowners can ensure wintertime curb appeal – and safety – by using deicing products such as corn-based calcium magnesium acetate or Ice Ban, a natural liquid concentrate derived from ethanol production.

Find links to green options on our website at ilfbpartners.com/winterization.

Turkey

3Mllinois farmers produce close to 3 million

turkeys a year.

250MU.S. farmers

produce about 250 million

turkeys annually.

15The average

turkey purchased for Thanksgiving

weighs 15 pounds.

86The heaviest turkey ever recorded weighed

86 pounds.

16.1The average

American eats 16.1 pounds of turkey per year.

Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 7

ALMANAC

Snow DayLooking for a fun way to enjoy the beauty of winter with your family? Visit the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, just west of Chicago, for 3.5 miles of groomed ski trails, ideal for snowshoeing.

Snowshoeing consists of wearing specially designed shoes that distribute your weight evenly, allowing you to walk on top of snow without breaking through it.

When there’s at least four inches of snow on the ground, the arboretum staff encourages visitors to bring their own snowshoes and explore the grounds from 7 a.m. to sunset.

For more information, visit mortonarb.org.

Rudolph the Chicago ReindeerYou may know Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, but did you know that everyone’s favorite red-nosed reindeer got his start in the Windy City?

In 1939, Robert May, a copywriter for the then-Chicago-based Montgomery Ward department store chain, received an assignment to create an animal-based story that the company would send to its customers for the holidays. He penned a tale about a reindeer, an animal already associated with Christmas. However, his boss rejected his story of the red-nosed animal. May stayed at it and eventually convinced his superior to embrace the story, though the character remained nameless. He tried out a couple of “R” names, including Rollo and Reginald, before finally deciding on Rudolph.

Ten years later, songwriter Johnny Marks put the story to a tune, made most popular by singing cowboy Gene Autry, and the rest is history. Autry’s and other versions of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” including the 1964 stop-motion animation TV special, continue to delight children and adults alike every holiday season in Chicago and beyond.

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Improved infrastructure stands to strengthen state’s status as a key transportation hub

Rails, Rivers& Roads

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story by Martin Rossphotography by Martin B. Cherry

Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 9

However, you often don’t see the crosscurrents and interconnections of Illinois’ transportation network. Crops moving downriver, energy and construction materials moving north. Trucks hauling grains, oilseeds and other Illinois farm products for offloading into cargo containers, which in turn are deposited on wheels or rails for shipment to Gulf of Mexico or West Coast ports.

As a result, the average Illinoisan may not recognize the challenges of moving goods through rural counties and congested cities, as well as maintaining aging and, in some cases, crumbling highway and river infrastructure. On the flip side, you also may not be aware of the economic opportunities open to our state as a commercial hub at the intersection of

Opposite page: Freight trains move through a clearing yard on Cicero Avenue in Chicago. This page, clockwise from top left: A truck transports cargo on one of Illinois’ 23 interstate highways; DeLong Co. ships grain and other farm products in containers; a barge enters the Melvin Price Lock at Alton, the largest navigation structure on the Mississippi.

You see them every day – trucks, trains, barges and those curiously imposing metal boxes constantly hurtling down Illinois interstates.

10 Illinois Farm Bureau

several key interstate highways, rail lines and Illinois/Mississippi River export conduits.

CONTAINER CARGOIllinois stands to strengthen its already

robust position as a capital for domestic container traffic – use of imported cargo “boxes” emptied of retail goods to ship corn, soybeans, feed and other products back to Asian markets. According to transportation analyst Ken Eriksen, more global customers elect to import soybeans via container to ensure product quality and protect specialty traits in different varieties of crops grown here. Container shipments account for about 8 percent of Illinois soybean exports alone.

“Illinois is very well situated to take advantage of these types of new opportunities,” Eriksen says. He cites the state’s huge metro consumer base, convergence of railroads, and regional capacity to move inbound containers into retail “big box” operations and position them for reloading.

“Container shipping has been a huge asset for Illinois farmers and, ultimately, for Illinois consumers,” says Bo DeLong, whose Wisconsin-based DeLong Co. has helped build a thriving container hub in the Chicagoland region.

DeLong noted containerized shipping has continued on the upswing even amid a decline in oceangoing “bulk” vessel traffic. Meanwhile, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is exploring options for loading containers on river barges at terminals such as Joliet, Peoria or Granite City for shipment to Houston. ISA consultant Chuck Dillerud notes a federal government push to shift more containers from trucks to the rivers to relieve highway congestion.

Beyond farmer benefits, many see Illinois’ container industry as an engine for economic development. Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) has joined with Illinois officials, three railroads and major container companies to develop a new Decatur-area “Midwest Inland Port.”

This would provide a new conduit not only for outbound corn, soybeans and ADM

ag products but also for incoming freight.

ADM Transportation President Scott

Fredericksen hopes the inland port can

benefit Central Illinois regional development

while forging partnerships with other

businesses that can complement agriculture.

BRIDGING THE GAPMany Illinois businesses and shippers

face problems on the waterways. These

concerns include substandard rural bridges

that link farmers with grain elevators and

undersized, 60-plus-year-old Mississippi

River locks in some cases barely able to

accommodate larger modern barge tows.

(“Locks” refer to the enclosures that raise

and lower boats as they pass between

different water levels.)

The 1,200-foot Melvin Price Lock

at Alton serves as the largest navigation

structure on the Mississippi. It marked the

first replacement structure on the U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers’ 9-Foot Channel Project

on the Upper Mississippi River.

Over the last five years, Illinois lawmakers

have tried unsuccessfully to secure five new

locks on the Illinois and Upper Mississippi

rivers similar to the Melvin Price Lock.

U.S. Representatives Rodney Davis, a

Taylorville Republican, and Cheri Bustos,

a Democrat from East Moline on the

Mississippi, have pushed measures that

would allow federal officials to work

with private interests in lock planning,

design and construction. Groups such as

Farm Bureau, ISA and other farmer-run

organizations work with local and state

agencies to address Illinois bridges

potentially in need of costly rehab.

Winfield Republican U.S. Rep. Randy

Hultgren notes congressional efforts to

extend tax credits for regional, short-line

railroads that connect smaller customers

to major rail freight networks and forge a

“long-term, real reform” highway bill that

will address pressing road/bridge needs.

“Traditional funding from our state and

federal sources may be drying up,” Hultgren

says. “We need to talk about every single

option out there to fund infrastructure.”

MORE ONLINETo read more about the lock-and-dam system in Illinois, including how it affects flood control, visit ilfbpartners.com.

Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 11

ROADSIllinois has 145,342 miles of highways and streets, including more than 21,000 miles on its 23 interstates. According to an Illinois Department of Transportation report, trucks account for 31 percent of the state’s interstate traffic, many of which carry Illinois agricultural commodities via container to ports and other destinations.

RIVERSBarges play an important role in transporting shipments of the state’s commodities. In fact, more than $23 billion worth of Illinois products travel on the main inland waterways each year. One barge can carry as much as 60 semi-trucks or 15 rail cars, and freight transit by water also cuts down on highway traffic, fuel usage and air pollution.

RAILSA convergence of Class I railroads – those that have annual carrier operating revenues of more than $250 million – makes Illinois a primary hub for container shipping. Dozens of freight carriers operate throughout the state, including North America’s biggest railways, to ship Illinois goods across the country and to international ports.

These examples of infrastructure help Illinois rank as one of the top states for agricultural exports.

Bob Vogelbaugh began hosting a free Thanksgiving dinner for residents in the

Quad Cities area more than 40 years ago.

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Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 13

Bob Vogelbaugh hosts annual holiday feast with nearly 3,000 guests

story by Jessica Mozophotography by Martin B. Cherry

Every November, with the help of more than 400 volunteers, Vogelbaugh hosts a free Thanksgiving dinner that overflows the food court at SouthPark Mall, a tradition he started 43 years ago in his small grocery store.

“In 1970, I owned a mom and pop grocery store, and a week and a half before Thanksgiving, I began asking my customers what their holiday plans were as I bagged their groceries,” Vogelbaugh says. “Many of my elderly customers said Thanksgiving was just another day to be alone, and I thought, ‘Why should this be?’ ”

Vogelbaugh looked around his store, taking note of an old table and several folding chairs. The next morning, he began calling his customers to invite them to Thanksgiving dinner.

“They were kind of reluctant to accept my offer,” he recalls, chuckling. “Some of them asked, ‘Does this mean I have to buy all my groceries from your store?’ ”

Vogelbaugh assured them it was

just for fun and fellowship, and anyone was welcome.

“The pilgrims and Indians didn’t know one another at the first Thanksgiving, and I wanted to get a feel for that,” he says. “It was going to be a one-time shot. I never imagined I would still be doing it 43 years later.”

One of his regular customers, 91-year-old Rose, came to Vogelbaugh’s first Thanksgiving dinner.

“After dinner, she grabbed my hand and thanked me for the wonderful meal, and even more for the fellowship and friendship she hadn’t experienced in years,” says Vogelbaugh, choking up. “A few weeks later, right before Christmas, I was reading the paper and I saw Rose’s obituary.”

For seven years, Vogelbaugh hosted the dinner at his store. When it outgrew the space, he moved it to the second f loor of the YWCA, where volunteers carried people in wheelchairs up the stairs because there was no elevator. Today, it is held

at the mall in Moline – a free gift to anyone who wants to come.

“All the food is provided at no cost, and people come from all walks of life. It’s not a charity dinner,” he says. “There are people in need, yes, but there are also millionaires. We have a DJ and dancing. It’s a big party.”

More than 2,900 guests attended in 2012. Vogelbaugh gathers donations in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving to pay for 2,200 pounds of turkey (cooked by two local Hy-Vee stores), vegetables, salads, pies and cookies.

“The local transit authority teams up with us to pick up people who don’t drive, free of charge,” he says.

Volunteers arrive at 3 p.m., and dinner starts around 4. People usually hang around dancing and chatting until 9 p.m.

“Thanksgiving is becoming a forgotten holiday – we go from Halloween directly to Christmas,” Vogelbaugh says. “I don’t want anybody to spend Thanksgiving alone. When you’ve got little kids tugging at your pant legs thanking you and elderly people hugging your neck, you’d have to have a heart of stone not to do this for them.”

DinnerMr. Thanksgiving’s

Former Moline grocery store owner Bob Vogelbaugh does his part to make sure no one in his community spends Thanksgiving alone.

In this community of about

30,000 residents, majestic bluffs

overlook the waters of the

Mighty Mississippi.

Founded in 1837, Alton sits 15 miles

north of St. Louis at the confluence of

three significant rivers: the Illinois, the

Mississippi and the Missouri. Native

Americans roamed the area for

hundreds of years before Alton

became a river trading town in the

19th century. Alton played an important

role in the abolishment of slavery

because Illinois was a free state (across

from the slave state of Missouri),

and many escaped slaves crossed the

Mississippi via the Underground

Railroad to find shelter in Alton.Hear the tales of former slaves

and trace their paths in the tunnels beneath the streets of Alton on the J.E. Robinson Underground

Railroad Tour, available by appointment. The tour allows visitors a glimpse into the network of secret caves, barns, basements and passageways that helped runaway slaves find freedom.

Follow in the footsteps of famous explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark with a visit to the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site in Hartford. On Dec. 12, 1803, the explorers pulled up on the southern bank of the River Dubois and established Camp Dubois, partaking of wild game that roamed the area and visiting with Native Americans. Learn more on Dec. 14 and 15 at Camp Dubois’ annual Lewis & Clark Arrival Day with guided tours, re-enactors and exhibits featuring vintage tools, guns, rocks and minerals, artillery and Native American artifacts.

During a few short weeks in winter, you can go bald eagle watching, as thousands of the birds migrate to the area to fish in the cold waters of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Stop in the Alton Visitors Center to sign up for a guided eagle tour or pick up an eagle-watching guide.

Take in some of America’s most beautiful scenery by driving the 33-mile Meeting of the Great

Rivers Byway, which winds through Alton and takes about an hour to drive. The byway begins in Hartford and ends in Grafton at Pere Marquette State Park. Download the byway brochure online or pick up a copy at the Alton Visitors Center.

Make time to explore the 8,000-acre Pere Marquette State

Park, where you can hike, bike, fish, camp or stay in the rustic Pere Marquette Lodge with its giant 50-foot-tall fireplace. The lodge has gained local fame with its family-style dining, including a popular Sunday brunch.

The National Great Rivers Museum, with Mississippi River displays and artifacts, celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2013.

Discover links to the past and beauty of the present in Alton, located along the 33-mile stretch of the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway.

River RetreatFascinating history and natural wonders draw travelers to the Alton area

story by Jessica Mozo | photography by Brian McCord

14 Illinois Farm Bureau

Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 15

Bikers and pedestrians can get a bird’s-eye view of the Mississippi River from the Chain of Rocks Bridge, which connects Madison, Ill., to St. Louis. An unusual 30-degree turn midway through the mile-long bridge cemented its place in history. During its construction in the late 1920s, riverboat men successfully argued that the bridge had to bend; otherwise, its piers would block the view of rocky rapids, making it dangerous to navigate. This chain of rocks has been underwater since the 1960s, but the renovated bridge reopened as a greenway in 1999. Today, it offers spectacular views from 60 feet above the Mighty Mississippi.

CHAIN OF ROCKS BRIDGE

ALTON MUST-SEES National Great Rivers Museum

Chain of Rocks Bridge (bikers and pedestrians only)

Confederate prison ruins

Lincoln Douglas Square

Pere Marquette State Park

Alton Museum of History & Art

Beall Mansion

Lewis & Clark State Historic Site

Fast Eddie’s Bon-Air

16 Illinois Farm Bureau

While in Alton, make plans to eat at Fast Eddie’s Bon-Air, but don’t be surprised if you have to wait for a table. The well-known eatery and bar draws a huge crowd (mostly out-of-towners) and has been known to have standing room only on weekends.

“We’ve got tons of seating and an outdoor patio, but we get packed on weekends because of our atmosphere – it’s good cheap food, cold beer and live music, and that’s hard to beat,” says Danielle Sholar, a manager at Fast Eddie’s and sister of owner Eddie Sholar.

With only eight items, the menu at Fast Eddie’s may seem short and sweet, but the roadhouse manages to serve up big f lavors for small prices. Peel-and-eat shrimp from the cool waters of Mexico cost just 29 cents each, while Fast Eddie’s big ol’ basket of French fries comes to 99 cents, as does the

half-pound Fat Eddie burger.“Our Big Elwood on a Stick is really

popular,” Sholar says. “It’s marinated steak tenderloin with green peppers for $2.99.”

Other favorites include pork and chicken kabobs, as well as skewers of Cajun-seasoned chicken wings. The menu also features homemade bratwursts – also only 99 cents – prepared from an old recipe.

Anheuser-Busch built the yellow brick building in 1921, calling it simply Bon-Air. Ten years later, Busch had to sell the tavern due to a law that prohibited breweries from owning bars. Eddie Sholar bought the Bon-Air in 1981, quadrupling its size from 80 chairs to more than 400 and transforming it into a “hot spot of the Midwest” for those 21 and up. Live music Wednesday through Sunday showcases everything from country to rock and roll. – Jessica Mozo

Feast at Fast Eddie’sBar and grill packs the house for low-priced food and live music

IF YOU GO...Fast Eddie’s Bon-Air

Location: 1530 E. Fourth St. in Alton

Hours: Monday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Phone: (618) 462-5532 fasteddiesbonair.com

Fast Eddie’s Bon-Air serves its hot wings on a stick, smothered with a Cajun dry rub, for quite a deal at just $2.99.

Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 17

Are you one of the millions of Americans getting ready

to retire within the next five years? If so, you need to

consider your financial readiness to retire.

CREATE A RETIREMENT BUDGET. Creating

a preliminary retirement budget marks the first step in

knowing whether you have the financial resources to

retire. Many financial professionals

use 75 percent of your after-tax

income while working as a basic

guide for a retirement spending

goal, but this may differ substantially

from your own needs.

Your lifestyle will be different in

retirement than while you work.

You need to start thinking about

the lifestyle you want to have when you retire. Will you

travel? Will you relocate to a new home? Whatever your

retirement dreams are, you need to start planning.

You also should get an idea of what your everyday

expenses will be. Work-related costs, such as commuting

expenses and work clothing expenditures, will go down.

However, other expenses, such as health care costs and

leisure travel, may go up. If you expect to spend more

time at home, your home utility expenses, such as

electricity costs, may even increase. As you approach

retirement, try putting your plan to the test by living on

your retirement budget for three months to see where

adjustments need to be made.

ASSESS YOUR RESOURCES. Once you know

what you need and want to spend in retirement, take a

look at the financial resources you will have in retirement.

Get a projection of your Social Security retirement

benefits for your target retirement date. If you will be

receiving a pension, get detailed estimates of all your

choices. Assess other sources of income that you may

have, such as farm or business income or part-time work.

Next, take a look at all of your

investment and retirement assets.

You should review their allocations

and develop a strategy for using

them in retirement. You may

want to get help from a financial

professional to determine whether

your income and assets can support

your retirement spending, how

to create a stream of income from your assets, and to

decide the best time to file a claim for your Social

Security benefits.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH. Health care

costs will be one of your biggest expenses in retirement.

Before you retire, find out what health insurance options

will be available to you. You’ll need to plan how you will

be covered if you retire before age 65 when you will be

eligible for Medicare. You should also take a look at how

you will meet long-term care expenses if that becomes

a future need.

ENJOY THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR. If you

do the necessary planning before you retire, you will be

ready to enjoy your retirement. You will have peace of

mind knowing you are financially ready to stop working.

COUNTRY ® WISDOM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lorraine Zenge, ChFC, is a senior advanced planner for COUNTRY Financial.

Visit COUNTRY on the web at countryfinancial.com.

If you do the necessary planning before you retire, you will be ready to enjoy your retirement.

Prepare your finances for the retirement years

Ready, Set ... Retire!

18 Illinois Farm Bureau

WATCH US GROW

18 Illinois Farm Bureau

Pig farmer opens up conversations about animal care

Pen Palsstory by Joanie Stiersphotography by Michael Tedesco

Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 19

Jen Sturtevant works on a family farm founded in the 1800s. Today, three generations of Sturtevants raise pigs near Lanark in northwestern Illinois. They remain committed to family, but don’t expect an old-fashioned farm.

HAPPENINGS

The family runs a wean-to-finish operation, which means pigs arrive on the farm at about three weeks old. The Sturtevants care for the animals until they reach ready-for-market size at about six months old. In addition to the 30,000 pigs on the farm at any given time, the family also grows corn, soybeans and wheat to feed the animals. Automated feed and temperature control systems service their modern livestock buildings to ensure the pigs remain comfortable throughout the cold winters and hot summers.

The family publicly shares their farm’s story. In fact, a pen of about 25 of their pigs debuted online this year. Called the “Field Moms’ Pen,” it gave an inside look at hog production for a group of Chicago-area moms and a web audience. Photos, videos and blog posts at watchusgrow.org told the story of these pigs from birth in March to market in August. Jen Sturtevant hopes the posts and moms’ visits to Illinois farms shed some light on farming myths and stereotypes.

“I hope that they gain a new respect for farmers and that they open their minds to the new way that we do farm,” says Jen. “It is not something that is in old storybooks where farmers go out with pails of slop to feed the pigs. It has not been like that for a very long time. I think people’s misconceptions are that we do things the old-fashioned way.”

Rather, these urban moms learned about climate-controlled environments and modern livestock care. The Field Moms met Jen in person and asked questions about antibiotics, biotechnology and animal welfare. She shed some light on the practices on their farm and why farmers do what they do.

But to Jen’s surprise, the Field Moms asked more questions about the family’s lifestyle and shopping habits.

“They were more interested in how I live, how I feed my kids, how my kids are part of the operation and how our family works as a group,” Jen says. “They couldn’t imagine how our family worked together.”

LOOKING FOR MOMSThe 2013 Field Mom tours have ended, and the Illinois Farm Families program seeks a third crop of moms for 2014. If you live in the Chicago area, have at least one child under the age of 13 and want to know more about where your food comes from, you can apply to become a Field Mom. Fill out an application at watchusgrow.org/about-us/apply-to-be-a-field-mom before Dec. 1. Field Moms will have the opportunity to tour grain, hog and dairy farms, and experience planting and harvest. Participants will talk directly with the farmers who grow the food they feed their families. Our Field Moms never forget this experience.

Jen Sturtevant headed up the Field Moms’ Pen, which allowed Chicago-area moms and an online audience to watch litters of her farm’s pigs grow from birth to market.

ILLINOIS FARM FAMILIES

We are Illinois farmers who support Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Beef Association and Illinois Farm Bureau through farmer membership and checkoff programs. We are committed to having conversations with consumers, answering their questions and sharing what really happens on today’s family farms. More than 94 percent of Illinois farms are family owned and operated. We are passionate about showing consumers how we grow safe, healthy food for their families and ours.

20 Illinois Farm Bureau 20 Illinois Farm Bureau

Lincoln GemsHidden

Dig deep into presidential history at attractions throughout the state

story by Joanie Stiers | photography by Brian McCord

Take, for instance, a resurrected small

cemetery plot near Danville, a city where

Lincoln practiced law. Historians learned

the people buried in this 19th-century plot

held close relationships with Lincoln. The

site happens to be next to an Interstate

74 rest stop. Travelers in need of a break can

view this Lincoln-significant cemetery and

its interpretive signage.

“A lot of people think of Springfield

as ‘the site’ of Lincoln sites,” says Sarah

Watson, executive director of the Looking

for Lincoln Heritage Coalition. “Some

people have no idea how much Lincoln

lived his life throughout Illinois, and not

just Springfield.”

In reality, our nation’s 16th president

lived, raised his family, established friends,

and pursued his passion for law and politics

throughout more than half the state.

The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage

Area, managed by the Looking for Lincoln

Heritage Coalition, includes 42 central

Illinois counties. It stands as the only

heritage area named by Congress in

honor of an American president.

“I could take you coast to coast from

Quincy all the way to Danville,” Watson

says. “There are so many hidden gems.”

For one, check out the talking houses

experience in the Western Illinois city

of Pittsfield, home to many of Lincoln’s

friends. Visitors can grab a map at the

visitors center and tune their car radio

to specified stations. The radio streams

a narrated drive-by tour of 11 homes

connected to Lincoln. The community also

hosts a Civil War re-enactment every June

Re-enactor David A. Schultz works in Henry Onstot’s Cooper Shop at Lincoln’s New Salem State Park, a reconstruction of the village near Petersburg in central Illinois where Abraham Lincoln spent his early adulthood in the 1830s.

The state’s links to Abraham Lincoln lurk in surprising places. And it won’t even cost you a Lincoln-faced penny to view most of them.

Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 21

22 Illinois Farm Bureau

at the lake outside town. Re-enactors from across the United States set the mood for this free event.

Abraham Lincoln practiced law in many courthouses on the 8th Judicial Circuit, including Mount Pulaski, located near Lincoln (the first town, founded in 1853, named after him). Visitors to the courthouse can stand on the same wooden f loor where Lincoln paced as he argued cases. Last spring, a local third-grade class chose to support the historic courthouse. Their goal of raising $500 for the Mount Pulaski Courthouse Foundation generated more than $11,000, which will be

used in part to attract more visitors to the historic site.

Another trip off the beaten path involves a visit to Lerna, located near Mattoon in the east-central part of the state. The community, with a population of less than 300, takes pride in its Lincoln log cabin. The 86-acre historic site preserves where Lincoln’s father and stepmother, Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln, farmed in the 1840s. By then, Lincoln lived in Springfield, but he visited the farm periodically. Volunteer interpreters wear period clothing and portray people who lived in the area. They demonstrate 1840s-era cooking,

mending, laundry, butter making, rail splitting and more. The site also provides picnic pavilions, a playground and natural areas for fishing, walks and bird watching – all free of charge.

In fact, other than entry to the museum in Springfield, almost every exhibit and tourist site costs nothing.

“That, to me, is significant,” Watson says. “I don’t know how many places are left where you can soak up as much fun and history and be frugal about it.”

Springfield and New Salem remain the most popular and most recognized Lincoln sites, Watson

# BY THE NUMBERS

1.6 millionpeople estimated to have visited Lincoln sites throughout the heritage area in 2012

$129 millioncontributed to the economies of those communities as a result of these visits

2,000volunteers who donated nearly 150,000 hours of their time and talent to Lincoln historic sites in 2012

Source: Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition

Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 23

says. Lincoln’s New Salem in Petersburg gives a lifelike portrayal of the village where Abraham Lincoln spent his early adulthood. People in this village helped Lincoln win his first election to the Illinois General Assembly. Volunteers today replicate early 19th century life among a dozen log houses, the Rutledge Tavern, workshops, stores, mills and a school.

Springfield includes the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln practiced law and sat in the legislature. The only home Lincoln owned sits there on Seventh Street. He was buried in the city’s Oak Ridge Cemetery,

the nation’s second-most-visited cemetery behind Arlington National Cemetery. And the hub town also attracts visitors to the modern, interactive world class Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

The museum exhibits provide a great start to the Lincoln adventure, the coalition says. The group uses social media, a website, state tourism opportunities and more to promote the lesser-known sites where Lincoln worked, visited and debated. These historic Lincoln connections throughout the state link closely to this museum.

Clockwise from far left: A snow-covered scene at Lincoln’s New Salem; a mural of Abraham Lincoln in historic downtown Mount Pulaski, where Lincoln practiced law; the Ross House, located just east of Pittsfield, where Lincoln stayed during his 1858 senatorial campaign visit; the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.

SEE MORE ONLINEFind historic community links to Lincoln, trip ideas and more at the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition’s website, discoverlincoln.org.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR4-H helped Charlyn Fargo get her start in food. Her love for the culinary arts helped her land a job as food editor of the State Journal-Register, a daily paper in Springfield, and eventually a master’s degree in nutrition. Now a registered dietitian, she teaches nutrition and baking at Lincoln Land Community College and consults as a dietitian.

PresidentialDesserts

Mary Todd Lincoln’s White Cake

24 Illinois Farm Bureau

Celebrate the season with sweet recipes inspired by Abraham Lincoln

Historians say that famous Lexington, Ky., confectioner Monsieur Giron actually created this white cake recipe on the occasion of Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to the city in 1825. The Todd family received the recipe from Giron when Mary was young. She treasured the recipe and served it on special occasions in Springfield and at the White House. Historians say she often made this cake for the president – even before they were married – and he always commented, “Mary’s white cake is the best I have ever eaten.”

President Lincoln also loved apples, and he enjoyed them served in a dish popular at the time: apple pie with a good coating of hot rum sauce. Use any tart green baking apple from Granny Smith to Virginia Greening, a variety from Lincoln’s day, to cut the sweetness in this delicious dessert.

The Lincolns often had cookies in the cookie jar. When they were hosting a big

party, they purchased macaroon pyramids (macaroon cookies stacked in a pyramid and covered with caramelized sugar drizzle) from local confectioners. Mary also served strawberries and cream, probably with cookies.

Oral tradition says that the neighborhood children were guaranteed a cookie or doughnut from Mrs. Lincoln when they played with the Lincoln boys. With Mary’s copious amounts of sugar purchased, she certainly could bake plenty of cookies. During the course of one week in 1849, historians note that Mary purchased 13 pounds of sugar.

I adapted the tea cookies on the following page from a recipe in the Lincoln cookbook sold at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. Visit the library’s website at alplm.org to learn more about the 16th president and his strong ties to Illinois – including his favorite foods.

SEE MORE RECIPES ONLINELincoln loved apples, and he probably would have enjoyed the cinnamon apple sponge cake recreated for the 2009 inaugural luncheon in honor of his 200th birthday. Find this recipe and other holiday favorites online at ilfbpartners.com/lincoln-recipes.

Legend has it that although Abraham Lincoln ate sparsely, he did have a sweet tooth. He was particularly fond of a white cake made by his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, as well as her version of an apple pie that included a dollop of hot rum sauce.

story & recipes by Charlyn Fargo photography by Jeffrey S. Otto food styling by Mary Carter

Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 25

*To scald milk, heat in a saucepan just to the point of boiling, then remove from heat. It should have small bubbles before removing from heat.

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a 9-inch pie pan with half the pastry. Roll out remainder for top crust; set aside. Arrange sliced apples in pie pan.

2. In a large bowl, combine sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Sprinkle over apples. Drizzle with lemon juice, and dot generously with butter pieces. Wet the rim of the pie crust with a little water. Cover with top crust, and seal by f luting or crimping top and bottom crusts together. Cut gashes in upper crust for escape of steam.

3. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 375 degrees and bake for an additional 45 minutes.

4. While pie is baking, prepare hot rum sauce. In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix together sugar, cornstarch and salt. Stir in scalded milk and bring to a rapid boil; reduce heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and clear, about 3 minutes. To prevent the egg from curdling, stir in a small amount of the sauce into beaten egg, then immediately return to stirring the sauce in the pan, slowly adding the rest of the egg. Continue to stir over low heat for 3 minutes. Add vanilla extract and rum, to taste.

5. Before serving, spoon a little hot rum sauce over the pie slices.

Makes 1 pie and 2 cups sauce.

Green Apple Pie with Hot Rum Sauce

2 (9-inch) pie crusts

6 medium-sized tart green apples, pared, cored and sliced

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

teaspoon ground nutmeg

teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon lemon juice

cup (1 stick) butter, cut into 8 pieces

Hot Rum Sauce:

cup sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

teaspoon salt

2 cups milk, scalded*

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon rum or rum extract (or more, to taste)

26 Illinois Farm Bureau

Apricot Tea Cookies2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

cup sugar

2 eggs, beaten

5 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

teaspoon salt

1 cup sliced almonds, toasted

1 cups apricot preserves

1 cups coconut, toasted

cup apricot jam

1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add eggs.

2. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder

and salt. Add to butter mixture. Add almonds,

preserves and coconut, and mix until dough forms.

3. Wrap dough in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at

least 1 hour.

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape dough into

1-inch balls, and place 1 inch apart on ungreased

cookie sheet. Press thumb into the center of each ball.

Place ¼ to ½ teaspoon jam into center of each

impression. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

Makes 60 cookies.

Mary Todd Lincoln’s White Cake1 cup (2 sticks) butter

2 cups sugar

3 cups cake flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup unsalted almonds, chopped

6 egg whites

teaspoon salt

Frosting:

2 cups sugar

1 cup water

2 egg whites

cup candied cherries, chopped

cup candied pineapple, chopped

few drops vanilla or almond extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar until light and f luffy. Sift together f lour and baking powder; remove 2 tablespoons and set aside. Add sifted ingredients, alternating with milk, to creamed mixture. Stir in vanilla and almond extract. Combine almonds with reserved flour, and add to batter.

2. Beat egg whites until stiff. Add in salt. Fold into batter. Pour into three greased and floured 8- or 9-inch cake pans.

3. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool 5 to 10 minutes, then remove from pans and cool on racks.

4. While cake is baking, prepare frosting. Combine sugar and water in a saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil; cover and cook about 3 minutes until the steam has washed down any sugar crystals that may have formed on side of pan. Uncover and cook until syrup reaches 238 to 240 degrees on a candy thermometer.

5. Whip egg whites until frothy; add in syrup in thin stream, whipping egg whites constantly until frosting is spreading consistency. Mix in cherries, pineapple and f lavoring.

6. Frost cake once it has cooled.

Note: Some historians say Mary Todd Lincoln didn’t serve it with frosting, but it certainly adds great flavor.

WATCH A COOKING VIDEONew to baking? Before you make Mary Todd Lincoln’s White Cake, find a short, helpful video that shows how to separate egg whites at ilfbpartners.com/lincoln-recipes.

Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 27

28 Illinois Farm Bureau

Consider choosing and planting a live Christmas tree

Captivating Conifers

Conifers come in a wide range of leaf/needle colors, textures and sizes. Some of the cones differ in shape, such as the berries of yews and junipers. Most keep their needles all year, but a few are deciduous. Drive through any neighborhood, and you’ll see mature spruces dwarfing houses, yews blocking front doors and junipers

obstructing motorists’ line of sight.This holiday season, try using a live

Christmas tree in your house and then planting it in your yard to enjoy for years to come.

Many local nurseries that offer cut trees now offer live trees with roots in a ball shape covered in a biodegradable material,

Thanks to fossils, we know conifers (plants that bear cones) grew in the Carboniferous Period and shared their heyday with dinosaurs during the Mesozoic Era. Fortunately, conifers survived geological upheavals, climate changes and competition from f lowering plants when they arrived on the scene. Unfortunately, conifers have experienced a decline ever since. But not to worry, they will grace our planet for a while longer.

ABOUT THE AUTHORJan Phipps is a University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener. She farms, gardens, writes and podcasts near Chrisman.

GARDENING

Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 29

Captivating Conifers

ASK AN EXPERT

Q Are poinsettias poisonous? I’ve

heard it both ways.

A The white sap can be mildly

irritating, but no, the poinsettia is not poisonous (to humans and pets). Research done at Ohio State University disproved that myth.

Q When should I prune my rose

of Sharon?

A In Illinois, we refer to the perennial

hibiscus plant as the rose of Sharon. It blooms on new growth, so prune in February when it’s dormant. You can remove dead wood at any time.

Email your gardening questions to Jan at

ilfbpartners@jnlcom.com.

such as burlap. You can choose from several sizes: miniature, dwarf, intermediate and large. Always check – and believe – the nursery tag’s mature height information.

Planting a balled and burlap tree takes a little planning. First, choose the proper site outside and dig the planting hole in late autumn before the ground freezes. Store the soil in a garage or shed where it won’t freeze solid. Cover or protect the hole in some way to prevent people from falling into it, especially if it’s located in the front yard.

Choose your container conifer from a good nursery, move it inside for no more than 10 days, decorate it and have a happy holiday. After Christmas, take down the decorations, move the tree out to the pre-dug hole, plant it using the stored soil for fill, water it, mulch it and walk away until spring.

Choose fir, spruce or pine depending on

what fits your outdoor site. How do you tell the difference?

Fir (Abies) needles grow singly from the branch, feel f lat and smooth with rounded tips and smell pleasingly aromatic. Firs like a well-drained site with slightly acidic soil. They won’t grow well if the air is polluted with dust or industrial impurities.

Spruce (Picea) needles also grow singly, but are stiff and sharply pointed. A cross section reveals they are square, not f lat like a fir.

Pine (Pinus) needles grow in groups of two, three or five called bundles. Their length and pliability distinguish them from other conifers. Pines like a well-drained soil not too rich in nutrients. Choose it for those gravelly spots where other trees won’t grow.

Why not grow a tree that has a pedigree of 300 million years?

30 Illinois Farm Bureau

This listing includes a few events from around the state to add to your calendar. Dates were accurate at press time, but are subject to change. Please check with the contact listed before traveling long distances to attend. Additional information is online through the Illinois Bureau of Tourism’s website, enjoyillinois.com.

Feel free to send event suggestions to ilfbpartners@jnlcom.com.

NOVEMBERChristmas Around the WorldNOV. 14-JAN. 5, CHICAGO

Discover more about Christmas traditions from across the globe at the 69th annual Christmas Around the World celebration held at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.

The event, which began in 1942 as a United Nations Day salute to American Allies during the war, features more than 60 sparkling trees and exhibits decorated by ethnic communities around the city. The displays show

different customs and traditions from around the world during the Christmas season.

The companion Holidays of Lights exhibit shows global holidays that incorporate lights or enlightenment, such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and more. Guests can enjoy ethnic dancing, singing, storytelling and school choir performances.

Call (773) 684-1414 or visit msichicago.org for more information.

Light Up the NightNOV. 22-JAN. 1, QUINCY

This holiday season, head to Moorman-Wavering Park in Quincy for

two miles of dazzling holiday lights. The annual Avenue of Lights display

boasts more than 350 separate light pieces, donated by local businesses and organizations. Local volunteers man the trail, and holiday music accompanies the displays for a truly seasonal experience. The event runs nightly from Thanksgiving until the New Year holiday from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Admission costs $8 per vehicle.

To learn more, call (800) 978-4748 or visit avenueoflights.com.

DECEMBERJolly HollyDEC. 7, WARRENVILLE

Santa Claus is coming to town … specifically, to Warrenville.

Kick off the holiday season at Warrenville Holly Days, sponsored by the Warrenville Park District.

Holly Days begins with a parade for Santa’s arrival followed by a warm bonfire, raffles, horse and carriage

WINTER EVENTS

Winter 2013-14 ilfbpartners.com 31

rides, hot cider and treats, and live music. The event also marks when the community officially turns on its Christmas lights to create a gorgeous display for those passing by on Route 56. For more details, call (630) 393-7279 orvisit warrenvilleparks.org.

The Glow of the SeasonDEC. 14, GALENA

More than 5,000 candlelit luminaries illuminate the streets of Galena for one of the most beautiful sights of the holiday season.

During the Night of Luminaria, visitors can drive, walk or take a trolley or carriage ride down the streets of the northwestern Illinois town as the luminaries come alive at dusk. Walk through Grant Park or stop on Prospect Street for some of the most stunning views. Take advantage of the extended hours at local businesses for last-minute Christmas shopping, and dine at one of Galena’s delicious restaurants.

The event takes place on Saturday,

Dec. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. Find out more about the Night of Luminaria at (815) 777-9050 or visitgalena.org.

JANUARYGo FishJAN. 31-FEB. 2, MARION

Fishing aficionados can reel in new tips and tools at the Seventh Annual Southern Illinois Boat & Fishing Show in Marion.

Held at The Pavilion of the City of Marion, the event features daily seminars on fishing, door prizes and live entertainment. A variety of vendors and exhibitors will also be selling their wares, including boats, fishing guides and tackle.

A portion of the proceeds from this popular event goes to Gum Drops Inc. and the Youth Outdoor Education Foundation.

For show times and more details, call (800) 433-7399 or go to visitsi.com.

Top of the ClassJAN. 31-FEB. 2, NORMAL

Go on a treasure hunt for interesting finds and vintage items at the Top of the Class Antique Show, which takes place at the Illinois State University Bone Student Center.

The eighth annual event features 40 vendors from seven Midwestern states. They’ll show off their unique and top-notch antiques, including pottery, jewelry, ceramics, glassware, furniture, toys and more.

Illinois State University’s School of Communications sponsors the event, which acts as a fundraiser for the school and provides assistance for media equipment and computer labs. The show costs $5 for admission and runs on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To learn more about the antiques show, call (309) 438-2872 or visit www.topoftheclassantiques.com.

For the Love of ChocolateDEC. 7, GRAFTON

Chocolate lovers unite! Visit the southwestern Illinois town of Grafton during its annual Taste of

Chocolate event to enjoy dozens of homemade chocolate creations from local businesses and residents.

Sponsored by the Grafton Chamber of Commerce and held at the Grafton Winery, this event takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and costs $7 per person. Guests can enjoy free hot chocolate and coffee with their chocolate creations. Anyone with a sweet tooth won’t want to miss this delicious event.

SEE MORE ONLINE For more information, call (618) 786-3001 or visit enjoygrafton.com.

http://www.iaafoundation.org/agtag

The Bahá’í House of Worship in Willmette represents Chicagoland on the list of the Seven Wonders of Illinois. Groundbreaking took place in 1912, though it didn’t open until its completion in 1953.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARTIN B. CHERRY