Illinois Stewardship Alliance

06/04/2026

Last night we hosted our annual 2026 Member Legislative Session Debrief. It was a valuable opportunity to reconnect, celebrate our collective accomplishments, and begin planning for the work ahead.

Members like Chamika Jones, owner of Sowed Up Farms on Chicago’s West Side (Instagram: ), spoke to her experience working on HB4922, the Emerging and Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Grant.

“It was nice to have my farmer voice heard and to be able to collectively work together to see how we could align our needs and wants with what is existing and how to make it happen. I feel fortunate to be a part of an organization like this that gives me a platform to use my voice in the way I feel comfortable to be able to make the changes that need to be done to support everyone else," Jones said.

"When we talk about power, we mean ordinary farmers, eaters, and food system leaders acting together in ways that shape decisions, influence outcomes, and change what feels possible."

Sometimes that shows up in visible wins. Power also looks like new leaders like Chamika stepping forward, stronger relationships being built, deeper participation, or people gaining confidence and agency through collective action.

🔍 Looking Ahead

While the legislative session has concluded, our organizing work continues. Members discussed the importance of maintaining relationships with lawmakers throughout the year. Summer organizing efforts will focus on educating legislators, strengthening relationships in districts, elevating farmer voices, and preparing for emerging policy opportunities and challenges.

💪 Building Our Movement

One of the strongest themes from the discussion was the importance of community. Our caucuses continue to be spaces where farmers, advocates, and food system leaders can learn from one another, build relationships, and work collectively toward a stronger and more equitable food system.

Thank you for your continued engagement, leadership, and commitment to this work. We look forward to organizing together throughout the summer and building momentum for the year ahead.

06/02/2026

From the wild rice beds at its headwaters in Minnesota to the oyster reefs at its mouth in Louisiana, the Mississippi River sustains life, including ours right here in Illinois. 🌾🦪

For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples have depended on these waters for nourishment, travel, and trade, and held them as sacred. The River remains one of the world's most important cultural and ecological corridors and one of the most threatened.

On National Mississippi River Day, we honor that legacy and recommit to protecting it. Get involved at: mississippiriver.org/national-mississippi-river-day

@1.Mississippi

05/29/2026

Check out all the great events surrounding 1 Mississippi's River Days of Action kicking off Monday, June 1st and running through June 15th. There are even some Illinois events to make plans for!

Every time you turn on the tap, the Mississippi might be closer than you think. 🚿

More than 20 million people get their drinking water from the Mississippi River. That's tens of millions of cups of coffee, glasses of water, and showers — every single day — made possible by a healthy River.

This June 1–15, join to celebrate and protect the water we all depend on.

Find 40 events happening online and in-person at:
https://buff.ly/JEQwQdv

@1.Mississippi

05/28/2026

🚨 Time is running out for HB4922.

The Emerging and Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Grant Program passed the House with strong bipartisan support, but it has now stalled in the Senate with only days left in the legislative session.

This bill does NOT create new funding. It simply creates a pathway for already-allocated resources to finally reach emerging and socially disadvantaged farmers working to feed Illinois communities. 🌱

For years, these funds have existed in the budget without clear implementation guidelines, leaving many farmers without access to the support intended for them. HB4922 changes that.

📣 Your legislator may be in a leadership position and can help move this bill forward. Contact them today and urge them to act before session ends.

👉 https://secure.everyaction.com/kidPaLqmFki2lCRDx-TtdQ2

We are close. But we need action now.

05/27/2026

🫛 Illinois grows millions of bushels of soybeans every year… so why are we importing 95% of the food we eat?

“Ninety-five percent of food consumed in the state of Illinois is imported,” said State Representative Sonya Harper. “If there were any type of natural disaster, Illinois only has enough food that will last us for three days.”

A new story from Capitol News Illinois explores the urgent need to rebuild local food systems and invest in the infrastructure that allows Illinois farmers to feed Illinois communities.

The article features Alliance member Harold Wilken and highlights a growing reality: farmers are ready to diversify and meet local demand, but we need more investment in processing, aggregation, storage, distribution, and regional food infrastructure to make it possible.

A resilient food system doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through intentional investment in local farmers, local businesses, and local supply chains.

👉 Read the article:

Illinois leads the nation in soybean production, but most soybeans never reach local dinner tables.

05/26/2026

Chicago growers: we know water struggles are real on your urban farms. Join Advocates for Urban Agriculture at their upcoming event to discuss growing solutions for area farms 👇

💚 Chicago-based growers! Join us to discuss water local water policy:
what works?
what doesn't work?
and what we can do to change it?

At this event, we will be asking Chicago-based growers to share their experiences--their successes, their difficulties--with water access, a fundamental yet elusive and expensive resource. 💚

Key subject areas include:
💧Green Stormwater Infrastructure
💧Rainwater Harvesting

📅 Sunday, May 31
⏰ 12pm-2pm
📍 Growing Solutions Farm | 2200 W. Campbell Park Dr.
🔗 Register: Link in bio

Disclaimer: there will be both voice recording and photography at this event. By attending your voice may be recorded and your photo may be taken. If you want to attend but do not want to have your voiced recorded or to be photographed , please let us know and we will accommodate your needs (such as a one-on-one interview).

The event will be catered. If you have any dietary needs, please let us know and choose gluten free or vegetarian when you select your ticket.

Please contact us at [email protected] with any questions thoughts or concerns by May 26, 2026.

05/25/2026

Today we pause to remember and honor those who gave their lives in service.

Wishing you a meaningful Memorial Day spent with community, reflection, and gratitude.

05/24/2026

The Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition just dropped their summer event calendar geared towards graziers all across the state of Illinois!

Check out their calendar chock full of free pasture walks where you can see how other IL producers are successfully grazing and go home with some ideas to implement on your own acres.

Plus, they're hosting the Heart of America Grazing Conference in Illinois July 15-16! Register for two days of learning including a farm tour, producer presentations, a virtual fence panel discussion, the latest research on grazing, and more!

Learn more and register at: ilgrazinglands.org/events

05/23/2026

How important are good farm policies to farmers? They are important enough for a dairyman to leave the farm for three days! They are important enough to leave the farm in the midst of planting!

This week Alliance members and staff headed to DC to meet with members of Congress to talk about agricultural policies important to Illinois farmers and eaters.

Together, these farmers urged Congress to support:
🥩 Local meat processing capacity
🥕 Farm-to-food bank purchasing programs
🌎 Country of origin labeling
🚜 Action on corporate consolidation in agriculture
🔬 Fertilizer market transparency and research

It’s not too late to add your voice to theirs. Especially as the Senate prepares to work on their version of the farm bill.

It only takes 60 seconds to contact your Members of Congress and help shape the next Farm Bill while advancing these priorities across both chambers.

Add your voice here:
👉 https://secure.everyaction.com/qmy5_HuAWE2B_pHhXRIilg2

When farmers, eaters, and communities speak together, Congress listens.

05/22/2026

Our friends at Farm Aid are hosting a powerful conversation next Thursday on farmer mental health following climate disasters. The conversation will feature farmers and service providers from North Carolina and Washington State sharing their experiences, challenges and why prioritizing mental health is vital.

Register today 👇

Breaking Bread is Farm Aid’s Lunch and Listen series, featuring stories that uplift our shared history of food and farming, organizing and resistance. Join us next week for a conversation on farmer mental health in the wake of climate disasters. This conversation will feature farmers and service providers from North Carolina and Washington State sharing their experiences, challenges and why prioritizing mental health is vital.
This event is free. Register now! https://www.farmaid.org/breakingbread-register