Category Archives: Natural and Agricultural Sciences

10.30.23

Ag Club completes tree planting project at Wilcox Elementary

Ag Club students planting a tree with elementary students looking on
Members of the LLCC Agriculture Club and their advisors Liz Conrady and Bill Harmon recently completed a tree planting service project at District 186 Wilcox Elementary School in Springfield.

The club was contacted by the school about a lack of shade trees on their playground, asking if they could help. The club applied for a grant from the Central Chapter of the Illinois Native Plant Society to help cover part of the cost of the trees. After being approved for the grant, three trees were purchased from Green View Company, who sold them to the club at half price to help reduce the costs for the project.

The trees planted were a swamp white oak, a red oak and a thornless honey locust. The planting was timed so that the K-5 grade classes at Wilcox could watch the installation, ask questions and learn about the importance of trees. The club members fertilized, mulched and watered the trees after planting to help ensure that they were off to a good start.

The LLCC Agriculture Club currently has 54 members and provides extracurricular recreation, career development and service opportunities to its members.

Ag club students filling in soil around the newly planted treeAg Club students patting down the soil around the tree just planted

10.13.23

Dual credit students conduct lab work at Jim Edgar Panther Creek

Five students wearing gloves, holding nets and sample jars, and walking on rocks near creekLLCC dual credit students from Lanphier High School recently had an opportunity to conduct aquatic and terrestrial ecology lab work at Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area with assistance from Jennifer Davis, laboratory coordinator, and LLCC Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Mrs. Laura Allen’s dual credit biology class collected aquatic macroinvertebrates, plankton and water samples.

“My students were so excited and we have had a lot of fun this week analyzing everything we collected,” said Allen. “It’s always such a joy to watch my students actually do science! We also completed chemical testing for dissolved oxygen, phosphate, pH, chlorine and nitrates. Microscopy yielded an abundance of protists, among many other organisms. The students were thrilled!”

Student collecting sample from creekStudent look at sample collected from creek.Student in creek collecting a sampleGloved hand holding a frog

09.26.23

Thank you to expo volunteers

Students visiting employers at rows of outdoor exhibitsA huge shout out and thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Workforce Careers and Ag Expos a huge success! Volunteers included Robin Ackman, Shawn Allen, April Bergman, Dr. Laurel Bretz, Mackenzie Bryant, Michelle Burger, Shanda Byer, Rhilee Cochran, Josh Collins, Cody Cox, Lyndsey Craigmiles, Brandon Davis, Sarah Frey, Caitlin Davis, Barbara Eades, Brenda Elliot, Kelly Ellis, Kathi Frieden, Lynn Gerton, Dr. Bryan Goers, Megan Hallberg, Bobbi Henry, Leslie Johnson, Kyla Kruse, Ashley Krzesinski, Chelsy Lovelace, Barbara Messner, Tisha Miller, Karina Moore, Crystal Norris, Michelle Pulce-Flynn, Ron Riggle, Andre Rye, Misty Schierer, Kalith Smith, Shelly Smothers, Tiffany Sunderlin, Brent Todd, Greg Walbert, Vickie Ward, Mac Warren, Lynn Whalen, Kim Wilson, Diane Wilson, Carley Young, Debbie Bell and LLCC Facilities, Police, PRM and Foundation.

Our army of green worked together to support an awesome day for over 870 students and 70 employers. Your help is so important to the success of this event, and we cannot thank you enough.

09.21.23

Workforce and Ag Expos today

LLCC’s Workforce Careers and Agriculture Expos will be held on campus today, Sept. 21. The outdoor Workforce Expo connects high school students with local employers to learn about careers in the skilled trades. More than 900 high school students and 70 employers are expected at the event. Two sessions will be held: from 8-11 a.m. and noon-3 p.m. The Ag Expo will begin at 9 a.m. in the LLCC Kreher Agriculture Center.

Lots 2, 4, 6 and 8 on the southwest side of campus and the exit drive heading north from the Workforce Careers Center are closed for the event. Parking spots on the east side of the Workforce Careers Center parking lot are reserved for guests, and Lots 17 and 18 north of the Kreher Agriculture Center are reserved for bus parking.

09.20.23

Parking lot closures for Workforce and Ag Expos

LLCC’s Workforce Careers and Agriculture Expos will be held on campus Thursday, Sept. 21. The outdoor Workforce Expo connects high school students with local employers to learn about careers in the skilled trades. More than 900 high school students and 70 employers are expected at the event. Two sessions will be held: from 8-11 a.m. and noon-3 p.m. The Ag Expo will begin at 9 a.m. in the LLCC Kreher Agriculture Center.

Lots 2, 4, 6 and 8 on the southwest side of campus and the exit drive heading north from the Workforce Careers Center are currently closed.

Tomorrow, parking spots on the east side of the Workforce Careers Center parking lot will be reserved, and Lots 17 and 18 north of the Kreher Agriculture Center will be reserved for bus parking.

09.18.23

SkySoar Fest

It was a beautiful afternoon Friday for SkySoar Fest, an outdoor showcase of radio-controlled flyers and drones sponsored by the LLCC Computer Science Academy. Faculty from LLCC Computer Science, Agriculture, Geography and Unmanned Aircraft System Remote Pilot Training programs and members of the Sangamon Valley RC Flyers provided displays and demonstrations. A number of faculty, staff, students and community members attended. In addition to drones and flyers circling the area northeast of Cass Gym, a bald eagle was spotted doing the same near the end of the event!
A man outside holding a remote control for a droneseveral colorful drones on the groundagricultural drone on the ground
A young woman looking at a drone remote control held by a man outside

09.15.23

LLCC to host SkySoar Fest today, 1-3 p.m.

Drone flying over field SkySoar Fest, an outdoor showcase of radio-controlled flyers and drones sponsored by the Computer Science Academy, is today from 1-3 p.m. northeast of Cass Gymnasium. In case of rain, displays and presentations will be moved inside to the Student Union in the lower level of Menard Hall.

Faculty from LLCC Computer Science, Agriculture, Geography and Unmanned Aircraft System Remote Pilot Training programs and members of the Sangamon Valley RC Flyers will have displays and provide demonstrations. They will also talk about applications for small, unmanned aircraft technology in various careers, including search and rescue, precision agriculture, mapping and photography.

09.14.23

SkySoar Fest tomorrow, 1-3 p.m.

Drone flying over fieldLLCC’s Computer Science Academy is hosting SkySoar Fest, an outdoor showcase of radio-controlled flyers and drones, tomorrow, Sept. 15, 1-3 p.m. northeast of Cass Gymnasium. In case of rain, displays and presentations will be moved inside to the Student Union.

Faculty from LLCC Computer Science, Agriculture, Geography and Unmanned Aircraft System Remote Pilot Training programs and members of the Sangamon Valley RC Flyers will have displays and provide demonstrations. They will also talk about applications for small, unmanned aircraft technology in various careers, including search and rescue, precision agriculture, mapping and photography.

09.13.23

Honey Harvest yields 100+ lbs.

Man in hat inspecting honeycombYesterday’s honey harvest was a success! According to organizer Dave Cox, professor of biology, “We harvested 100-120 lbs. of honey and 30 lbs. of honeycomb.”  The honey will be used by LLCC’s culinary program as well as at various college events.  A number of LLCC staff, students and community members attended. In photo: Brent Todd, dean of natural and agricultural sciences.