Families and individuals in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas are invited to participate in a new, one-day event that will combine agriculture education and outdoor leisure activities.
Henry and Rock Island County Farm Bureaus are partnering with local stakeholders to host Farmers G(ROW) Clean Water, a unique family-friendly event that will help community members learn more about local water sources and the actions farmers take to protect and improve water quality.
The event, taking place Saturday, July 31, will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lake George and the Loud Thunder Forest Preserve in Illinois City. Enjoyable activities for the family include kayaking, hiking, giveaways, and more.
A series of stations will be set up throughout the preserve to help attendees learn about environmental conservation practices such as woodchip bioreactors, cover crops, rain barrels, and streambank stabilization. Local farmers and representations will lead the stations to give the general public an idea of what farmers are doing to protect natural resources.
Complimentary boxed lunches will be available for registered attendees starting at 11:30 a.m. Kayaks are available for rent at the Loud Thunder park office on a first come, first serve basis. Personal kayaks are also welcome on Lake George. Signage at the preserve will direct attendees to designated parking and the check-in location.
Attendees can register at http://forms.gle/XYPoYUHSxQTXbdwn7/. Registrations can also be made by phone or email by contacting the Henry County Farm Bureau at 309-937-2411 or manager@henrycofarmbureau.org, or the Rock Island County Farm Bureau at 309-736-7432 or tmayhew@ricofarmbureau.org.
This event is made possible through the support of local community partners. Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District, Rock Island County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Rock Island Forest Preserve District are partners and will have a presence at event stations.
This rural-urban educational outreach effort is funded through Illinois Farm Bureau’s Nutrient Stewardship Grant Program. The program, now in its sixth year, committed over $150,000 to the grant program in 2021 and is working with 28 counties on 21 projects throughout the state.