ALBION, Ill. – The Summer Twilight Series, a long-standing program hosted by Illinois Extension, offers a behind-the-scenes look into a variety of agriculture industries, farms, and locally owned businesses in the southern Illinois region. The program allows community members to tour facilities while networking with and learning from regional entrepreneurs and enterprises.
Beginning in May, the first Summer Twilight Series program highlighted The Flock Farm in Anna, a southern Illinois farm and poultry processor with its own market. The series continues monthly through August and includes stops in Claremont, Simpson, and Sumner.
Katie Bell, Illinois Extension local food systems and small farms educator, has been helping with the series since 2020.
“The Twilight Series features a variety of local farming operations each year. There is something for everyone, from vegetable production to livestock grazing and everything in between,” said Bell. “The format of the four-part series allows participants to choose the operations that interest them. Attendees can expect to learn about unique southern Illinois farms, whether they are experienced farmers, just starting out, or simply interested in learning where their food comes from.”
On Monday, June 16, from 6-8 p.m., the public is invited to tour Weiler Enterprises, Inc., a dairy farm located at 6670 E. Seven Hills Lane in Claremont. Beginning with 50 cows and two tractors, Travis and Erin Michels started their dairy operation in 2012. Since then, they’ve grown into a family of six with around 300 cattle from newborn to milking age, but continue to produce milk for Prairie Farms. There is no cost to attend the program, and visitors are welcome to bring their lawn chairs. Please be advised that some areas along the tour include steep steps and may be slick or muddy; restrooms are not available at the farm.
To register or for more information about the remaining Summer Twilight Series programs, call 618-695-2441 or visit go.illinois.edu/twilightseries. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Bronwyn Aly at baly@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.