Editor’s note: Following the success of last year’s Illinois Harvest Dinner, several counties across the state hosted local farm dinners this fall, including Knox, Hancock and Edwards. Here, Edwards County FFA student Brooklyn Hazel shares her hometown’s story.

SIT DOWN: After dinner, at each table talked about a variety of topics, including GMOs and cage-free poultry.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit down with your local community members and talk about agriculture? The Edwards County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee wondered exactly that, so they decided to make it happen. Earlier this fall, they put together a dinner gathering for about 40 local farmers, elected officials, community leaders and business owners to discuss some of the most significant topics affecting agriculture.

Debbie Fearn serves on the Women’s Committee and reports their four-course dinner at Moose Lake, located near Albion, was catered by Three Chicks Catering, West Salem.

Dinner began with an appetizer of seasonal fruits, crostini and bruschetta. A salad followed of mixed greens, watermelon and feta cheese, and dressing made from Road District Number One wine, a locally grown wine. The main course included roast pork loin with balsamic reduction and peach chutney, and flat iron steak with an herbed butter, next to three-cheese macaroni and cheese, creamy confetti corn and homemade rolls. For dessert, diners enjoyed peach shortcake in mason jars.

IRRESISTABLE: Peach cobbler in mason jars was served for dessert.

The event was sponsored and funded by the Edwards County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, and Edwards County FFA members served as waiters and waitresses.  

SERVERS: Members of the Edwards County FFA served the meal.

Following the meal, the diners at each table covered a variety of topics in a roundtable-style discussion, provided on the backs of their menus. Among the topics: GMOs, cage-free birds and gestation crates. Fearn says they intentionally assigned seating to mix farmers and nonfarmers at each table. “It worked well, and everyone had good conversations,” she adds.

After dinner, a handful of local farmers spoke about their businesses. Chris Spray, Joy Lane Produce, shared that while their operation is new, they’re serving a niche in how they grow lettuce. “Our lettuce isn’t ordinary lettuce; it’s grown in water, where other lettuce is grown in soil,” Spray explained, adding they also grow sweet basil, Thai basil and kale.

Next up: Brian Roosevelt of Stumpy Hill Farm. Roosevelt talked about their farrow-to-finish hog operation and gave advice on cooking pork. His bottom line: “Never overcook your pork!”

EXPERTS: Hog producers Stacey and Brian Roosevelt spoke about their operation after dinner.

Mike Valentine, Edwards County state’s attorney, attended the event and says he learned a few things. “I enjoyed the discussion amongst the people at our table very much and learned quite a bit about different views regarding GMOs, as well as the efforts used by farmers in protecting the water supply.”

Hazel is a junior at Edwards County High School and vice president of the Edwards County FFA. She and her family raise horses and compete nationally.