When Champaign County Women’s Committee officially kicks off their new year on January 9, Paula Zwilling will be at the helm of 32 active volunteers that are wildly successful at educating youth about agriculture.  As Zwilling takes the reigns from her predecessor, Robin Cruse, she will follow in the very familiar footsteps of her sister and mother who are also current Women’s Committee Chairmen in their respective counties.

   Lori Meeker Engel is completing her first year as Knox County Women’s Committee Chairman.  She cites increasing membership as a growing concern and says that new prospects are invited to a summer cookout and a winter holiday dinner each year in an effort to find new members. 

   “We meet every other month,” says Engel, “and the average age of our members is 45.  There are probably around eight of us that are really active.”

   Knox County is made up of more rolling ground than CCFB members are used to and supports corn, soybeans, cattle and hog production.  Engel’s group coops with the Pork Producers to make burgers for farmers during harvest and also participates in the apples to elevators campaign that CCFB members enjoy.  They also sell cheese as an annual fundraiser over the holidays.

   “Our younger prospects have full time jobs,” she said, “so it’s becoming more difficult to find the people we need to get the word out about the importance of agriculture.”

   A member of Mason County Farm Bureau since the mid 1970’s, Alice Meeker is mother to both Zwilling and Engel and will be named Mason County Farm Bureau Volunteer of the Year at their annual meeting in 2012.

   “Ag-In-The-Classroom is our main thrust,” she says.  “We don’t have a coordinator.  Our members go into the classrooms themselves and we have a general ag program for first and second graders.  We take in toys and products made from corn and soybeans and show a video to the children that is sponsored by Farm Bureau.”

   Fourth graders, Meeker says, participate in themed t-shirt design contests centered around agriculture.  Children of that age receive the corn, soybean, and wheat ag mags. 

   “Our local FS sponsors a contest where students from each school submit drawings about agriculture,” says Meeker.  “They’re judged and there is one winner from each school.  Every student gets a t-shirt that has the winning drawing on it.”

   Possibly the event with the most interest might be held in the fifth grade, according to Meeker.  Each fifth grade class picks one student to be in the hot seat to play “Who wants to be the dairy specialist?” 

   “The winning student gets the supplies to build a 10-foot Sunday for the entire class,” smiled Meeker.

   Each spring, the Mason County Women’s Committee takes machinery to the schools to give students a hands-on opportunity to see what kind of equipment it takes to farm.

   Located in Havana, the county seat, many of the Mason County Farm Bureau members are specialty growers and produce green beans, potatoes, peas, pumpkins, horseradish, cantaloupe, and water melon.  Meeker says the soil is very sandy and requires a lot of irrigation.

   Meeker and her husband farm with their son and in addition to corn and soybeans, they grow up to 300 acres of popcorn each year.

   Daughter Lori says that she is motivated to volunteer for Farm Bureau because of how she grew up and the fact that agriculture is the basis of the Illinois economy.  An Illinois Farm Bureau Achievement Award finalist in 2009, Lori found herself steeped in the Farmers Opening Our Doors campaign when video taken at their farm was used to reach suburban mothers of small children.

   “Her testimonial was one of the more honest and believable ones,” said Paula Zwilling.  “Farm moms really need to get their voices out there because others really do listen to them.”

   Zwilling sees the use of technology as one of the greatest changes in society that committees need to consider when planning projects.  “It’s a fact that the use of smart phones allows consumers to scan bar codes for prices when they’re shopping,” she said.  “There really needs to be a link that’s easy to use that takes these consumers to a site that tells them where the product originates that includes a farm family website that they can learn to utilize for dependable information.”

   Continuing, Zwilling said that the Farm Family Research has a lot of the challenges figured out; it’s time to put those ideas into action to reach not only school aged children but their moms as well.  Websites like My American Farm and DairyFarmingToday.com provide hours of informational fun for children and parents alike.

   One idea that Zwilling would like to develop is a “pizza garden” where students can plant and grow the vegetables needed to harvest and make their own pie.  “That way, they can truly see where their food comes from,” she explained.

   “If there’s one thing that I learned from assisting with the Farmers Opening Our Doors Campaign, it’s that consumers need to know you as a person,” said Engel.  “People do want to know the facts but they’re quick to believe what the media tells them.”

   Zwilling added that it’s vital to keep information on the consumer level of understanding.  “We have to keep it simple,” she said, “and not become too technical.”

   One thing is for certain.  Three very lucky counties – Champaign, Mason and Knox – will have the dedication, expertise and tremendous levels of sincerity and work ethic from the ladies of the Meeker family as 2012 begins.  With some added volunteers and program development along the way, Farm Bureau efforts will move forward with gusto!