ILLINOIS FARM FAMILIES GAINS EXPOSURE

Tricia Braid

May 27, 2014  |  Today's News

The Illinois corn checkoff supported Illinois Farm Families® received positive publicity from the Chicago Tribune following the Field Moms’ tour of the Goulds’ hog farm on March 29, 2014. The article featured quotes from several moms and from Eldon Gould as well as an online photo gallery and video. Just this past weekend, Chicago moms also learned about ethanol at the planting tour hosted by Paul and Donna Jeschke.

The Field Moms have taken to social media to share their experiences at the Gould farm. Field Mom Cortney Fries’s blog has generated 200 shares and has reached more than 59,000 people. Field Moms also engaged heavily in conversation on Facebook via their posts and photos, spurred by comments from their friends. Heather Guido defended farmers’ use of manure and several of the Field Moms even took the opportunity to discuss and defend the use of gestation stalls.

Additionally, Farmer Michele Aavang’s blog on refusing to take part in the food fight between types of farmers and farming methods received multiple positive comments on the social news site The Patch.

Eight videos featuring Field Moms’ questions about food and farming are being shared on social media sites and on the http://www.watchusgrow.org/new Food for Thought series.

Finally, several Illinois Farm Families volunteers have shared information at a variety of venues. Michele Aavang visited East Bank Club, a health and fitness center in Chicago, to dispel myths about farming methods and food issues. Deb Moore and Sara Prescott offered farmers as resources for questions professionals get from consumers at the Illinois Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals conference. Bona Heinsohn shared information on food choices, GMOs and farm life with a women’s church group.

Illinois Farm Families is supported by Illinois corn, pork, beef, soybean, and dairy checkoffs and by the Illinois Farm Bureau. If you would like to get involved as a farmer volunteer, please email the IL Corn office at ilcorn@ilcorn.org.