Turning southern Illinois farms into tourist attractions

How many times have you heard someone in southern Illinois say, "There's nothing to do around here!" The southernmost Illinois Agricultural Alliance agri-tourism committee has been working to change this perception through the cooperation of 30 farmers and property owners with agri-tourism sites. With the help of Reppert Publications, University of Illinois Extension, the Southernmost Tourism Bureau, and Southern Illinois Tourism Development Office, they have developed a tourist map and brochure to show visitors fun things to do and places to visit in the lower seven counties.

The brochures will be distributed at visitors' centers coming into southern Illinois. The title is "Head for the Hills of Southern Illinois," and the 30 sites are featured with phone, address, e-mail, Web sites, and some photos.

"Driving trips are the most popular forms of vacations in America right now, and visitors will be delighted with our area. They just need to know we are here!" explains committee co-chair Lynn Callaly.

Agri-tourism includes, but is not limited to, bed and breakfast inns, hunting lodges, entertainment, hay/corn mazes, pumpkin patches, strawberry fields, petting zoos/farms, wineries, vineyards, antique shops/malls, locally produced gifts, products, crafts, soaps, edibles, produce sold at the growing site, and more. The counties within this alliance are Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski and Union.

Agri-tourism can be developed in virtually any rural location, and landowners are encouraged to use their imagination to create something of wonder for area visitors, all the while adding value to their holdings and creating new income streams. There are more than 100 families with viable agri-tourism sites in southernmost Illinois. Even more are working on ideas for developing new sites.

To get involved with the Southernmost Illinois Agriculture Alliance, contact either Carol Hoffman at the Sl Tourism Bureau (800) 248-4373 or Lynn Callaly (618) 658-5912.

Correction: In the May issue of Illinois Country Living we printed the wrong e-mail address for the Women In the Outdoors. Contact Cindy Spillman at (618) 586-5191 or e-mail cswito@shawneelink.net.

6 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING www.icl.coop

Air quality improving according to environmental report

Despite public perception, air pollution has declined by 25 percent over the last three decades and toxic releases have dropped by more than 50 percent in 15 years, according to a new report published jointly by the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) and the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy (AEI).

The study uses government data, including data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to examine long-term air and water quality trends, toxic chemicals and land use, as well as biodiversity issues. The report calls improvements in the environment "perhaps the greatest public-policy success story of the last generation."

"Many news stories give the impression that air quality is worsening, and that health problems from air pollution are on the rise. However, since 1970, aggregate emissions of the six 'criteria' pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act have declined by 29 percent," the Pacific Research Institute said in its press release. "At the same time, the U.S. economy grew 150 percent, auto travel increased 143 percent, and total U.S. energy consumption increased 45 percent."

The report cites the fact that "the number of days exceeding the EPA's air quality standards has declined nearly 50 percent over the last decade, with a 60 percent drop in California alone."

PRI has released the Index of Leading Environmental Indicators for the past eight years. PRI is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in San Francisco. AEI is a think tank based in Washington, D.C.

Source: PRI; Greenwire

You can help prevent West Nile Virus

Illinois led the nation in confirmed cases of the West Nile Virus in 2002 with 879 cases and 62 deaths. The virus also devastated the region's horse population.

To help fight the virus, the University of Illinois Extension's Champaign County office has developed a program called Fight the Bite: Preventing West Nile Virus. The Web site has information on prevention techniques, insect repellents and other information on the virus. Go to www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/westnile.

A boost in the works for fuel cells

When President George Bush, in his State of the Union speech, focused on strengthening U.S. efforts to launch a fuel cell car and spur hydrogen production, it gave fuel cell stocks and industry hopes a charge.

The automotive industry has already invested more than $2 billion in fuel cell research. Some of the $1.2 billion identified by the President, intended to be doled out over five years, is re-directed from funds already allocated under the Clinton administration for development of an 80 mile-per-gallon car. Some of the new funding apparently will come at the expense of support for other renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.

While much of the focus is on automotive fuel cells, it is the stationary fuel cell that is first breaking into mainstream use. Allied Business Intelligence expects the worldwide generating capacity of stationary fuel cells to grow from 75 megawatts today to 15,000 megawatts by 2011. But observers don't expect much in the way of commercial sales of automotive fuel cells until about 2020.

New electro-technologies could counter bioterrorism

Electrotechnologies offer significant potential for countering biological weapons and could perform important roles as part of an integrated homeland security infrastructure according to a recently published Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) white paper.

Four of the most promising bioterrorism countermeasure technologies are:

• Ambient pressure non-thermal plasmas are effective in air, water and on impermeable surfaces, and also destroy organic compounds, making them potentially effective in chemical as well as biological warfare scenarios. Although the technology is quite mature in other applications such as electrostatic precipitators, it has not yet been tested on a wide variety of organisms.

• Electron beam irradiation is one of the few technologies that can inactivate microorganisms inside objects without destroying the host object and has been recommended for use by the U.S. Postal Service on such objects as envelopes.

• X-rays and gamma rays are effective in all media and have greater penetration depth than electron beams. Although these systems are widely available and commonly used in health care settings, the existing systems tend to be very bulky and must be made more compact for decontamination applications.

• Soft X-rays combined with electrostatically generated coronas are capable of destroying organic compounds as well as microbes.

Some of the electrotechnologies described may be effective not only against bioterror agents, but also against more common, naturally occurring pathogens and pollutants. Source: EPRI www.epri.com

JULY 2003 www.aiec.coop 7

Is your window air conditioner properly wired?

Before you decide to buy and install a room air conditioner, you should first verify that your home's electrical system can safely satisfy the unit's power requirements.

The most important factor is the number of amperes (or amps) of electric current the unit draws. The wiring and circuit breakers for each circuit in your home have a specified capacity in amps. Most standard 120-volt home circuits have a capacity of either 15 or 20 amps. These circuits are usually adequate for room air conditioners with a capacity of 5,000 to 12,000 British thermal units per hour (Btu/hour) of heat-removal capacity. But many room air conditioners over 12,000 Btu/hour require a dedicated 240-volt circuit, similar to the circuits serving ranges and electric clothes dryers.

A smaller room air conditioner is less likely to need expensive new wiring work. Smaller units run for longer cycles, which is better for efficiency and moisture-removal than shorter cycles. And smaller units cost less to purchase and operate than larger ones.

Source: www.residential-energy.com.

AgrAbility Unlimited helps disabled farmers get back on their feet

For two Illinois boys, deaf since birth, the world of showing and judging dairy cattle was a world that was limited. However, a program coordinated through University of Illinois Extension and Easter Seals of Central Illinois made it possible for these two young men to participate more fully in the show ring and continue the family traditions of farming and showing dairy cattle.

AgrAbility Unlimited helped the boys obtain a closed captioned set of videotapes to help prepare them for life in the show ring. This made it possible for them to learn the tricks of the trade that most youth learn from hanging around the barns and listening to the "old hands."

AgrAbility Unlimited has worked with more than 500 disabled farmers, farm workers and their families in the past 10 years, directly linking them with an array of services. On-site assessments to determine what modifications need to be made to an individual's equipment, changes at the work-site and at home are just a few of the services offered. The program makes available one-to-one support networks, counseling on alternative agricultural occupations, stress management and secondary injury prevention. For more information contact Mike Brokaw (800) 500-SEAL (7325).

Plant the right tree in the right place

Planting trees can improve your property value, save energy and help improve the environment. But the wrong type of tree in the utility right of way can lead to blinking lights, outages, and a dangerous situation for children who might climb in the trees.

Trees properly placed can lower line clearance costs for electric co-ops, reduce tree mortality, and result in healthier community forests.

Tall trees surrounding your home, such as maple, oak, pine and spruce, provide summer shade to lower cooling costs and keep out cold winter winds.

Medium trees, 40 feet or less in mature height, might include Washington hawthorne and Golden raintree, while smaller trees suitable for planting beneath utility lines might include Redbud, Dogwood, and Crabapple. When planting near utility lines, consider a 25-foot maximum mature height and 20-foot spread.

Call your local electric cooperative or go to www.arborday.org for more information.

Electric-drive vehicle costs can soon be competitive

Key battery technology improvements and reduced component costs can make electric drive vehicles cost-effective even at lower production volumes.

According to a new research study from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), a combination of greatly improved battery life and projected cost reductions for batteries and other components can make electric drive vehicles (engine-hybrid EVs, plug-in hybrid EVs and some pure EVs) cost competitive with gasoline vehicles.

Bob Graham, EPRI's area manager for transportation, says, "Produced in volume, hybrid EVs such as the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic will help drive down the cost of motors and controllers that could be used in all types of electric-drive cars." According to the EPRI research, plug-in hybrids could reach life cycle cost parity with conventional internal combustion vehicles, after relatively small production runs of 50,000 vehicles per year.

The EPRI study built upon earlier research carried out by the EPRI Hybrid Electric Vehicle Working Group, whose members include the environmental community, automakers, regulatory agencies, power companies and academic researchers. The earlier work showed that the plug-in hybrid EV with a 60-mile "all electric range" has the potential to be the first advanced vehicle to attain the equivalent of 80 miles per gallon.

Source: EPRI www.epri.com/corporate/discover_epri/news/downloads/EPRI_AdvBatEV.pdf.

8 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING www.icl.coop

Historic Preservation is a site for your eyes

by Angle Bates

More than 60 historic sites throughout the state - the Lincoln sites, the Old State Capitol, the David Davis Mansion to name a few - are all sites managed by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA). The goal of this agency is to collect, preserve, interpret and communicate Illinois' diverse heritage while educating the public.

Why should preservation be a priority in Illinois? Old structures help cities maintain their character, allow neighborhoods to keep their identity, and provide children with a glimpse of their forefathers' neighborhoods. There is also a great deal of artistic workmanship reflected in older buildings. Not all buildings need to be torn down. Some can be recycled and used for other things. For example, the old train station in Lincoln, where Abe Lincoln sliced open a watermelon, is now a public restaurant, The Depot.

The IHPA was created in 1985 by an executive order matching what was in the Illinois State Historical Library with the Historic Sites Division of the Illinois Department of Conservation, an independent state agency founded in 1889. "Governor Thompson did that in order to put all of the historic resources into one agency. The agency's primary responsibility is to look after the preservation of our state's culture and historic resources," says IHPA Director/CEO Maynard Crossland.

A governor-appointed, seven-member board of trustees manages the IHPA. They are a policy setting and advisory board, determining the direction for the agency. Crossland was appointed by the board to manage the day-to-day operations of the agency.

The IHPA reviews more than 15,000 projects a year under two laws. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the Illinois State Agency Historic Resource Preservation Act require state and federal agencies to consider the effects of their actions on historic properties listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. This is a federally sponsored program that works with the states to identify and protect our most treasured historical resources.

The IHPA manages the Illinois State Historical Library and assumes the responsibility of collecting the business, social, political and genealogical history of the state of Illinois. Crossland says, "We have a huge collection of photographs and the largest collection of Illinois newspapers on microfilm. We keep a lot of the private papers of Illinois politicians and office holders, things of that nature. We have a huge Civil War collection and the largest Lincoln Collection. It's this collection that will be serving as the core for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The Library has been a project that this agency has been focused on for many years. It's come about through a lot of work the staff and the board of trustees have put into this project."

The IHPA also publishes numerous magazines and brochures, including Illinois History Teacher magazine. The idea is to not just have textbooks and dates, but to learn the story of our heritage. The IHPA also offers an educational program to help teachers teach Illinois history, giving them ideas and ways in which to blend these subject areas into their regular classroom activities.

According to Crossland, the IHPA has also joined forces with the Illinois Bureau of Tourism to establish the heritage tourism program, making sure that community resources work as economic development tools. There are ways of presenting the Illinois story to tourists, and in turn, communities can reap economic benefits from these sites. "We don't preserve these items to build history and cultural history just for the sake of preservation. We preserve them to really improve the quality of life," says Crossland.

The agency also helps the Illinois Main Street Commission by providing all of the architectural services for the program. The staff works very closely with all of Illinois' Main Street communities, helping them design their downtown and make presentations to corporations and businesses. What these structures could look like and what they could be used for are also ideas they receive assistance in.

For more information about the IHPA, call (217) 785-4512 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, write Preservation Services, #1 Old State Capitol Plaza, Springfield, IL 62701, or go to www.state.il.us/HPA/ps/index.htm.

JULY 2003 www.aiec.coop 9

This Fourth of July remember those that fought for freedom

By Carmaleta L. Williamson

On June 28, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson drafted the first copy of what we know as the Declaration of Independence. The "self evident truths" set forth in this document inspired the 13 colonies of the United States to seek independence from Great Britain and the totalitarian government of King George III. Under the rule of the king of England, the colonies were subjected to "taxation without representation."

Now each year on the Fourth of July, we celebrate certain unalienable rights granted to us and shielded by the defense of the United States military. The primary objective of the military is to secure the safety of U.S. citizens, particularly in times of war. During the War in Iraq, thousands of troops were deployed all across the globe, from all across the U.S. including our home state of Illinois. So, as proud constituents of our home state, this July Fourth, let us commemorate by paying tribute to our fallen soldiers who lost their lives protecting our "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

According to the U.S Department of Defense, the number of soldiers who perished in the fight against terrorism is estimated to be about 229. The astonishing fact is that among these 229 soldiers, 108 were below the age of 25.

Out of these 229 soldiers 13 were from Illinois: Spc. Brandon J. Rowe, 20 of Roscoe; Pvt. Jonathan L. Gifford, 20 of Macon; Lance Cpl. Jason Moore, 21 of Springfield; Cpl. Evan T James, 20 of Hancock; Cpl. Jakub H. Kowalik, 19 of Schaumburg; Cpl. Nicholas Brian Kleiboeker, 19 of Odin; Pvt. James Ebbers, 19 of Bridgeview; Machinist's Mate Fireman Apprentice Bryant L. Davis, 20 of Chicago; Staff Sgt. Jacob L. Frazier, 24 of St. Charles; Sgt. Jeannette L. Winters, 25 of Dupage; Capt. Ryan Anthony Beaupre, 30 of Bloomington; 1st Sgt. Edward Smith, 38 of Chicago; and, Lt. Col. John Stein, 39 of Bardolph.

These servicemen and women, and the many that went before them, pledged their lives, fortune and sacred honor to protect our freedom. So, let us pay homage to the astounding gift they have bestowed upon us and praise their victory.

For that reason, dedicate this Fourth of July to our fallen soldiers, the young and the experienced, who fought against terrorism for this country. In the continual quest to retain our nation's freedoms, we are often compelled to defend circumstances that jeopardize our way of life. The Declaration of Independence is the fundamental truth that the soldiers were defending. When you join with your family and friends this Fourth of July, celebrate life and the continued gift of freedom and prosperity, in honor of our fallen warriors on the day that is forever marked by our country as Independence Day.

JULY 2003 www.aiec.coop 21

FFA Foundation helps preserve Illinois heritage

The Illinois Foundation FFA has published, Barns of Illinois, A Pictorial History. Proceeds from the sale of the 162-page hardcover book will go to the Foundation's Capital Campaign to help fund the Illinois FFA Center built in 2000, according to Frank Dry, Associate Executive Secretary.

Long-time Illinois barn enthusiast, photographer and lecturer Harry Porter, of Bement, authored the book. FFA chapters and friends of FFA across the state collected photos for the book. Nearly 240 photos, and accompanying descriptions, made the final cut and appear in the book. "We tried to include at least one photo from each Illinois county," said Dry.

Beyond the book's fund-raising purpose, Porter says it is an important attempt to help preserve the heritage of these farm structures, more and more of which are disappearing every year. "Old barns are like old friends and older relatives. You better go see them today, because tomorrow they might not be here," Porter explains.

"There is something intriguing about old barns. I can't drive by one without wondering about the stories it could tell, if it could only talk. I look at it and wonder how it had withstood the elements. I wonder about the people who built it, and what they were like. Fortunately for us true barn lovers, Illinois is still dotted with a large sampling of barns of all sizes and descriptions. Some barns are ornate, others plain and simple," Porter continues.

"Some barns can be found that are square, rectangular, round, multi-sided or multi-storied. They may be constructed of wood, stone, brick or a combination of building materials, often dictated by what was available," he adds.

The books can be purchased for $39.95 plus $5.00 shipping and handling by sending your name and address, and check payable to Illinois Foundation FFA to: Barns of Illinois, Illinois Foundation FFA, 3221 Northfield Drive, Springfield, IL 62702. Order forms can be downloaded from the Illinois FFA Web site at www.illinoisffa.org, or from Farm Credit Services' Web site at www.usfarmcredit.com.

A limited supply of books also is available for $39.95 (no shipping and handling charges) by purchasing them at any of the 46 Farm Credit Services offices throughout the state. Checks again should be made payable to: Illinois Foundation FFA.

Even though it is early in the year, these books make an excellent holiday gift for the barn lover, says Dry. He encourages early orders to ensure books are still available.

The Illinois Foundation FFA was chartered in 1947 and is the oldest operating state FFA foundation in the country. It was organized in order to provide individuals and businesses an avenue by which they could provide financial support to the Illinois Association FFA and help FFA members improve themselves and their communities.

During the years since the formation of the Illinois Foundation FFA, financial support of the program has grown from 12 companies to a base of more than 7,000 businesses and individuals.

FFA programs have expanded to include the broad areas of agriculture. Without the foundation's financial support, the Illinois Association FFA would not be able to provide all the leadership and incentive programs that it does for FFA members across the state, according to Dry. The foundation plays an integral part as FFA members develop premier leadership and experience personal growth and career success through agricultural education and the FFA.

24 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING www.icl.coop