The ag bus will serve as a shuttle starting at 10 a.m. from Kreher Agriculture Center for any LLCC employees who would like to attend the dedication ceremony.
Category Archives: Natural and Agricultural Sciences
In the news
Matt Crow, LLCC Ag student, was interviewed June 22 by The Source about the 10-day Ireland agricultural industry tour he participated in as part of LLCC’s agriculture program.
Welcome Liz Bland
Liz Bland joined the college June 1 as agriculture program specialist. She earned an associate in science from LLCC and a bachelor’s degree in crop and soil science from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Liz previously worked in ag recruitment at SIUC.
She can be reached at elizabeth.bland@llcc.edu.
Welcome Liz!
LLCC students study ag in Ireland
(l-r) front row: Pierce Gwinn, Logan Armstrong, Liz Hayden, Peri Andras, Shaylee Maddox, Morgan Black, Grace McCurdy, Kaitlyn Zeedyk, Kylie Schakel, Maggie McClelland, Maycee Cordes, Caedyn Finneran; middle row: Matt Crow, Wyatt Mahoney, Mallory Bowers, Genesis Stockton, Hadley Broadwater, Morgan Edwards, Elisabeth Lee, Natalie Lavin, Lizzy Hoppe, Brittany Slightom, Luke Adams, Blaine Gilley, George Jacaway IV, Wes Bland; back row: Cole Repscher, Alex Sidener, Will Jenkins, Klayton Komnick
Thirty LLCC students participated in a 10-day agricultural industry tour in Ireland May 13-23.
Tour stops included Kilkenny Mart to watch a sheep and dairy cow sale, visits to local farmers’ beef and dairy operations, and Castlecor Potatoes where a father-and-son team showcased their farm and packaging facility for potatoes and onions. Students had the opportunity to see Macroom Buffalo, which is the only water buffalo milk farm in Ireland, watched as the buffalo came in for milking and sampled the farm’s cheese products. Students also visited Fernville Connemara Pony Stud, which specializes in the Connemara Pony Breed, and toured an aquaculture company dedicated to the cultivation of abalone.
The trip also included visits to iconic locations and historic sites including the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, Rock of Cashel, the Blarney stone at Blarney Castle, Clonmacnoise and EPIC – the Irish Emigration Museum. The immersive and educational experience totaled over 1,000 miles and allowed students to see agricultural, cultural and historical sites in Ireland.
The LLCC Agriculture study abroad experience was made possible by the Kreher Agricultural Trust.
In the news
Bill Harmon, professor of agronomy, spoke to the Illinois Farm News Association about LLCC’s ag program during the 95th Annual Illinois FFA State Convention at the Bank of Springfield Center.
Invitation to dedication of West Lake Nature Grove June 27
LLCC dual credit students win national map contest
Jacksonville High School recently won first place in the national Esri Map Contest. Jim Chelsvig teaches Introduction to GIS and Advanced GIS as LLCC dual credit courses at JHS. The winning story map plotted data related to traffic accidents in Jacksonville. There were 440 entries from across the country. Dean Butzow, professor of geography, and Rey De Castro, adjunct instructor of geography, serve as the Illinois state leaders for the Esri Map Contest.
Dedication of West Lake Nature Grove to be rescheduled
The dedication of LLCC’s West Lake Nature Grove that was originally scheduled for today is postponed.
Ag communication judges needed
LLCC Agriculture is hosting the Illinois FFA State Ag Communications Contest on June 12 and 13 and is in need of a few more judges.
On June 12, teams will be working on their individual practicums which consist of web design, video production and writing a letter to the editor. After the students are done with their area, the student work and scoresheets will be emailed to judges to evaluate and score. We are looking for three judges willing to evaluate the individual practicums remotely.
In addition, teams will submit a media plan ahead of June 12, which will be sent with the scoresheets to the judge. We are looking for one judge to evaluate the media plans remotely.
On June 13, teams will be presenting their marketing plan to a panel of judges at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel next to the BOS Center. Judging will begin at 8:30 a.m. and go through 3:30/4 p.m. with lunch and snacks/drinks provided. We are looking for one or two individuals willing to judge the team presentations.
Please email Bill Harmon or Holly Bauman if you are interested in helping or have questions.
Magnolia tree planted in memory of Ada Range
A pink magnolia tree has been planted with a memorial plaque near the La Terra sculpture on campus in honor of Ada Range, a faculty member in Natural and Agricultural Sciences who passed away last May. A gathering of faculty and co-workers held an informal dedication ceremony yesterday, led by Dr. Diana Coffman, professor of biology. Ada’s husband, Adam Range, and their daughters are shown here after the gathering.
