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Accomplishments
Since our incorporation in 2001, The Land Connection has had many on-the-ground successes in farmland preservation, organic transitioning, farmer training, local food infrastructure development, and market linking.
Here are a few of the highlights:
2009
June
The Land Connection is Charity of the Month for June 2009 at the Signature Room at the 95th. 10% of all proceeds for the month’s chef selection charity menu benefit TLC!
TLC launches new workshop series: Is Entrepreneurial Farming for You?
May
Our fourth year of Central Illinois Farm Beginnings graduates 16 future local farmers.
The Land Connection has a booth at the 2009 Green Festival Chicago.
TLC partners with U of I Extension to submit 3-year Farmer Training grant to the USDA's Beginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program.
April
Bill Kurtis hosts the 5th Annual RampFest benefit at the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago. TLC raises over $26,000 thanks to guests, generous sponsors and volunteers!
TLC Founder Terra Brockman talks about Ramps to over 70 people for the Jane Addams Hull House "Re-Thinking Soup" series.
North Pond Farmer-Chef Meet and Greet includes new farmers involved in Central Illinois Farm Beginnings.
March
41 farmers and community members attend the Southern Illinois Food Rules workshop in Marion.
Terra Brockman digs 100 pounds of ramps for RampFest at the Spence Farm Chef Day.
February
33 farmers and community members attend the Western Illinois Food Rules workshop in Quincy .
34 farmers and community members attend the Central Illinois Food Rules workshop in Peoria .
The National Farm Beginnings Collaborative is born during meetings in LaCrosse, WI involving The Land Connection and other organizations facilitating Farm Beginnings.
TLC staff attend the MOSES 20th Annual Organic Farming Conference in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. 14 Farm Beginnings students also attended the conference with financial support through TLC.
January
71 farmers and community members attend the Eastern Illinois Food Rules workshop in Champaign.
The Land Connection is chosen as charity of the month for June 2009 at the Signature Room at the 95th at the John Hancock Center. "Table of Twelve Charity" kick-off is a hit!
2008
December
$6,000 in Conference Scholarships awarded to CIFB students, graduates and members of the Heifer Farmers Group to support participation in winter conferences and other training opportunities.
32 farmers and community members attend the Northern Illinois Food Rules workshop in Rockford.
TLC launches Food Rules workshops to help farmers become aware of the many regulations concerning the growing, transporting, processing, and marketing of foods.
November
Now We’re Cookin’ in Evanston, IL holds first annual Autumn Harvest Celebration to benefit The Land Connection and the Evanston Farmers’ Market.
October
TLC admits 17 new students into ’08-’09 Central Illinois Farm Beginnings program--10 of whom received partial or full-tuition scholarships through The Land Connection.
The Land Connection’s third annual farmer-annotated calendar, A Year on the Land is fresh off the press and available for holiday gift giving.
September
Founder Terra Brockman speaks on Victory Gardens to over 150 Master Gardeners at the U of I Organic Gardening Day.
August
13 participants attend Farm Dreams workshop held in Peoria, Illinois.
Founder Terra Brockman appointed to serve on the External Advisory Board of the U of I Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, and to represent the department on the Advisory Committee for the U of I College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Economic Sciences.
July
17 participants attend Farm Dreams workshop held in Bourbonnais, Illinois.
July
Va Pensiero in Evanston, Illinois hosts Summer Abundance Dinner to support The Land Connection's mission.
June
TLC conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the Central Illinois Farm Beginnings program, leading to improvements in the program’s content for ’08-’09 and also guided plans for building extended support for CIFB graduates into the program.
May
The Land Connection and three other local food and farming advocates appointed to serve on the IL Department of Public Health Advisory Council.
March
The 4th Annual RampFest is held at Prairie Production ,and raises over $20,000 for the farmer training and other programs of The Land Connection.
January
Director of Training Terra Brockman speaks to over 100 retirees on the importance of preserving farmland and growing local food.
2007
November
The Land Connection hosts proto-type for Food Rules workshops, attracting over 50 participants to Carlock, IL.
October
Land Connection Founder Terra Brockman speaks at Chicago Humanities Festival on "Farmers and Conservationists: Natural Allies".
TLC's 2nd "Year on the Land" calendar released.
June
The Land Connection begins Farmland Programming to match farmers with farmland, and to encourage the conversion of more acres to organic food production.
April
Board of Directors approves The Land Connection's 2007-2009 Strategic Plan.
March
TLC's 3rd annual RampFest benefit doubles in size and in funds raised. Named after ramps, the native wild onion that inspired Chicago's name, the event features ramp dishes from local restaurants and a live auction hosted by organic farmer and auctioneer Larry Wettstein.
January
With 15 urban investors, TLC facilitates the purchase of renowned author and biologist Sandra Steingraber's family farm, the 80-acre Maurer Farm, and begins planning its transition to organic production. It becomes the third TLC farm.
2006
October
TLC creates and releases first farmer-annotated "Year on the Land" calendar.
September
The first class of new farmers graduates Central Illinois Farm Beginnings, and the second class begins.
TLC hosts author Sandra Steingraber for her Evanston talk on the importance of preserving farmland.
June
TLC moves into its first permanent office space in Evanston, IL , expands board.
May
TLC holds the 2nd annual RampFest at Timo Restaurant in Chicago.
March
The Land Connection partners with Angelic Organics to receive job training money for farmer training through the Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
2005
September
The Land Connection hosts central Illinois farm tours as part of Farm Aid's 20th Anniversary "Champaign to Chicago" Caravan.
June
With TLC’s help, Bittner’s Eureka Locker becomes Illinois’ first USDA certified organic meat processing facility.
October
The first certified organic crops are harvested from TLC’s Prairie Farm.
The first year of Central Illinois Farm Beginnings begins.
April
TLC holds the 1st annual RampFest at Prairie Production in Chicago.
March
TLC co-hosts the first Ramp Dig at Spence Farm.
January
The Land Connection awarded $13,000 grant from the IL Department of Agriculture's Agri-First grant to assist in helping Bittner's Eureka Locker become certified to do organic meat processing.
2004
November
The Land Connection hosts Harvest Dinner in Bloomington-Normal with guest speaker, author Richard Manning. Raises over $7,000.
June
The Land Connection becomes Central Illinois affiliate of Buy Fresh Buy Local national campaign.
2003
December
The Land Connection awarded $10,000 for farmer education and outreach from Farm Aid.
November
The Land Connection meets with the Land Stewardship Project to prepare for the launch of Central Illinois Farm Beginnings.
October
With Heifer funding, The Land Connection invites Attorney-Authors Neil Hamilton and Rich Schell to a workshop to inform farmers about the rules and regulations concerning food production, processing, and sales. Over 70 farmers from Illinois attend.
May
The Land Connection awarded organizational development mini-grant from Lumpkin Foundation.
TLC purchases 24 additional acres neighboring "Apple Corner". The land, christened “Prairie Farm”, becomes the second TLC farm and begins its transition to organic.
April
TLC hosts fund-raising dinner at Le Petit Bistro in Bloomington. Raises over $3,000.
2002
December
The Land Connection awarded $5000 from Farm Aid, and 2 sustainable ag grants from the Illinois Department of agriculture to do outreach and education for farmers and consumers.
August
TLC hosts cookbook author Deborah Madison on tour of local farms , ending at the TLC Apple Corner parcel where a local foods potluck and booksigning is held.
June
The Land Connection holds second Benefit Dinner at Blackbird, raising over $18,000.
April
The Kaeb family become the first of several new farmers to rent parts of the recently purchased TLC land and use it as an "incubator" for their egg CSA and other projects. The property is named “Apple Corner.”
March
The Land Connection is awarded a 3-year, $90,000 grant from Heifer International to assist area farmers producing local foods.
February
With the generous donations of many people, TLC successfully saves first parcel of Illinois farmland.
2001
November
TLC holds first Benefit Dinner at Campagnola restaurant, raising over $7,000.
July
The Land Connection (TLC) is formed to save this farm from development, and to launch farmland conservation programming and farmer training programming.
May
A For Sale sign appears on a corner of an old farmer’s 21-acre property in central Woodford County, near Terra Brockman’s family farm. |
