RICHVIEW, Ill. – Illinois Extension is excited to announce the return of the eleventh-annual Summer Twilight Series. This southern Illinois tradition brings farmers, educators, and community members together to explore the diversity and innovation of local agriculture.
Twilight meetings trace their roots back to a long‑standing farming practice: gathering to exchange ideas, compare methods, and troubleshoot challenges at the conclusion of a busy workday. Recognizing the value of these peer‑to‑peer conversations, Extension replicated the concept into an engaging educational series that invites participants to tour working farms, observe operations firsthand, and connect directly with producers and Extension educators.
The series offers four unique on-farm learning experiences throughout the growing season. Each event highlights a different farm or direct‑market operation, offering attendees a close look at a wide range of production practices, marketing approaches, and innovative strategies shaping local agriculture.
Beyond education, these events foster community. Each session includes time for networking, helping local entrepreneurs build valuable partnerships, and strengthening the regional food systems. The summer programs are scheduled on Monday evenings, from 6 to 8 p.m., on the following dates at the locations listed below:
- May 18 – Flower Girls Greenhouse, Richview, Ill. – cut flowers, bedding plants, and hanging baskets
- June (exact date to be announced soon) – Edmison Acres and Highland Cattle, Johnsonville, Ill. – farm marketing and managing highland cows
- July 20 – Pink Tiger, Goreville, Ill. – value-added products, ginger, turmeric, and peppers
- August 17 – Friendly Farms, Eddyville, Ill. – mums and pumpkins
There is no cost to attend these in-person programs, but registration is required. To register online for any or all of the meetings in this series, visit go.illinois.edu/2026twilightseries or call 618-695-2441.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the upcoming event, please contact Bronwyn Aly at baly@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your 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 500 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 five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.