The conversation begins with an overview of the Whiteside County Farm Bureau. This nonprofit, membership-based organization has served local farmers and the agricultural community for more than a century. In addition to advocating for agriculture at the local, state and federal levels, the organization operates a foundation that funds educational initiatives, scholarships and youth programming throughout the county.
Lillpop, who has managed the organization for nearly 30 years, explains that the Farm Bureau’s mission extends far beyond supporting farmers. Through legislative advocacy, educational outreach and community partnerships, the organization works to strengthen agriculture while helping residents better understand where their food comes from and how agriculture impacts everyday life.
One of the organization’s newest initiatives is the annual Farm-to-Table fundraiser, now entering its second year. The event brings together locally grown food, community members, and scholarship recipients for an evening celebrating agriculture. Guests enjoy a meal prepared with ingredients sourced from local farms, highlighting everything from sweet corn and melons to potatoes and locally processed meats.
The fundraiser also serves as an opportunity to recognize the Farm Bureau Foundation’s scholarship recipients before they head off to college. This year, the foundation awarded $40,000 in scholarships while raising money to support local FFA chapters and Agriculture in the Classroom programming.
Lillpop discusses the growth of FFA programs throughout Whiteside County, noting that the county has experienced a significant resurgence in agricultural education over the past several years. With Rock Falls High School adding an FFA chapter this fall, the county will soon have six active chapters, providing more opportunities for students interested in agriculture.
The Farm Bureau Foundation supports these chapters through grants, leadership opportunities and assistance with purchasing official FFA attire, including the iconic blue corduroy jackets. Additional funding helps students complete agricultural projects and participate in leadership development activities.
Education remains one of the organization’s highest priorities, particularly through Agriculture in the Classroom and its popular summer camps. Lillpop explains how Farm Camp introduces elementary-aged students to life on local farms, allowing children to experience agriculture firsthand by interacting with livestock, learning about farming practices, and discovering careers within the industry.
Building on that success, the organization also created Junior Vet University, a one-day hands-on camp designed for children interested in veterinary medicine. Participants practice skills such as suturing, administering injections, reading X-rays, and touring a working veterinary clinic to gain real-world exposure to animal healthcare.
Lillpop says the camps help children who may have grown up surrounded by farmland but have never actually visited a working farm or explored the wide variety of careers agriculture offers.
The conversation also highlights another major fundraising tradition, the Whiteside County Steak Fry for Agriculture. Now in its 41st year, the event raises thousands of dollars each year to support agricultural education, scholarships and youth organizations throughout the region.
Held each August, the steak fry brings together hundreds of supporters while funding grants for FFA chapters, 4-H programs, CEO students, Agriculture in the Classroom and other educational initiatives. The event has become one of the area’s premier agricultural fundraisers, helping invest in students pursuing careers in farming, skilled trades and other agriculture-related professions.
Beyond farming itself, Lillpop emphasizes agriculture’s role as one of the region’s largest economic drivers. From seed suppliers and equipment dealers to transportation companies, grocery stores, restaurants and food processors, agriculture supports countless industries and careers that often go unnoticed by the public.
The episode concludes with a look at several additional summer events hosted by the Farm Bureau Foundation, including the annual Tractor Drive for Agriculture in the Classroom and the popular Dairy Bar at the Whiteside County Fair, where volunteers serve hand-dipped ice cream and milkshakes while raising funds to support educational programming.
Listeners interested in attending Farm-to-Table, the Steak Fry for Agriculture, or any of the Farm Bureau’s educational events can find additional information through the Whiteside County Farm Bureau’s website: whitesidecfb.org and social media pages.
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