DIXON – Lee County Farm Bureau recently joined forces with Lee County Ag in the Classroom, Regional Office of Education #47, and Facilitating Coordination in Agriculture Education to highlight agriculture and educational opportunities during the 2025 Cultivating Connections in Agriculture workshop.

Around 50 local school representatives attended the Cultivating Connections in Agriculture symposium held Feb. 28 at Tetten’s Grain in Dixon to learn more about the value of agriculture education and hear strategies for creating comprehensive agriculture programs. 

“Agriculture is Illinois’ No. 1 industry, yet often those crucial programs are some of the first on the budget line to be cut from a public school district offering,” said Ashleigh Erbes, Lee CFB manager. “Cultivating Connections is intended to bring in administrators and local school leaders who don’t necessarily have an agricultural background or full understanding of the industry and provide them with an enriching experience that demonstrates the value of an agriculture education and why it is so important and impactful to highlight agriculture as a career pathway.”

During the event, attendees connected with John Heiser, District 1 Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education program advisor; Katie Pratt, Lee County Agriculture in the Classroom coordinator; Stacey Dinges, Pathways navigator and Regional Office of Education (ROE) #47; Dr. Jon Mandrell, vice president of Academics and Students Services at Sauk Valley Community College; and Erbes.

Local school districts (16 of them), promoting and showcasing their FFA chapter also attended the event. Additionally, State Representative Brad Fritts (Dixon) and State Senator. Li Arellano (Dixon) stopped by to share legislation in support of agriculture education promotion.

“Providing support, at all levels, to an agriculture education program, is essential for student success and teacher retention,” said Dinges. “The Cultivating Connections in Agriculture event brings together all the local lifelines that are easily accessible for an aged program to thrive.” 

Pratt shared similar sentiments on the event.

“Cultivating Connections is an avenue to connect all the parts of the Ag Ed family- schools, industry, alumni and community supporters,” said Pratt. “My hope is that each person left with purposeful information that changes how they see and interact with their school’s ag ed program and FFA Chapter.” 

 About Lee County Farm Bureau

Lee County Farm Bureau’s mission is to be a positive voice for agriculture through leadership and education to improve the quality of life and economic well-being of our members and community.