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WIU to Host "Out of the Box Opportunities in Organic Agriculture" Field Day Aug. 11

July 25, 2023

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MACOMB, IL — "Out of the box opportunities in Organic Agriculture'' is the theme for this year's Allison Organic Research and Demonstration Farm field day, hosted by Western Illinois University. The event will begin at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11 at the Dakin Farm Shop in Roseville, IL. This event is open free to the public.

The event will kick off with presentations followed by a complimentary lunch at noon featuring local farm products. The field day will conclude at the Allison Farm with plot tours and equipment demonstrations from 1-3 p.m.

The keynote presentation, titled "From Gardener to Grower – Lessons learned from 10 years in the seed industry," will be given by Becky Weeks, founder of Thresh Seed Co., an heirloom seed company specializing in rare and unique open-pollinated vegetables, flowers and herbs. Prior to starting Thresh Seed Co., Weeks spent over a decade researching plant genetics and development and applying those principles to commercial corn and soybean breeding. In 2014, she started Thresh Seed Co. and gradually grew it from a few dozen heirlooms to a diverse catalog of more than 500 varieties today. In 2020, Weeks left her career in corn and soybean breeding to pursue her heirloom seed business full time. Today, she operates Thresh Seed Co. with her husband, Dave, on their farm near Stuart, IA.

The morning session of the event will also include a farmer panel discussion, a presentation by WIU Agriculture Professor Joel Gruver on recent research and opportunities to interact with other attendees.

Post-lunch, attendees will participate in a guided walking tour of the Allison Farm's research and demonstration plots, which will showcase organic grain crops such as corn, soybeans and alternative crops like seed crops for Thresh Seed Co, as well as a variety of cover crops. Additionally, attendees will observe demonstrations of new agricultural technologies.

Registration will begin on-site at 8:30 a.m. For more information or to pre-register, contact Andrea Venturi at a-venturi2@wiu.edu or the WIU School of Agriculture at (309) 298-1080. Pre-registration is encouraged.


Directions to the Dakin Farm shop - 130 20th St., Roseville, IL 61473

If arriving from the north, travel on U.S. Rt. 67 five miles south of the U.S. Rt. 67 and IL Rt. 116 intersection in Roseville to County Rd. 20th Ave. N, then turn west at the Allison Farm highway sign and travel four miles on 20th Ave. to the southeast corner of the Allison Farm (intersection of 20th Ave. and 20th St.). Turn left and proceed south 0.7 miles on 20th St. to the Dakin Farm shop located on the west side of the road.

If arriving from the south, travel on U.S. Rt. 67 seven miles north of the U.S. Rt. 67 and IL Rt. 9 intersection in Good Hope to County Rd. 20th Ave. N (2 miles north of the McDonough/Warren County line), then turn west at the Allison Farm highway sign and travel four miles on 20th Ave. to the southeast corner of the Allison Farm (intersection of 20th Ave. and 20th St.). Turn left and proceed south 0.7 miles on 20th St. to the Dakin Farm shop located on the west side of the road.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing