Located in the heart of the Midwest and enjoying rich fertile soil, Illinois offers the ideal landscape for farming. That’s why when you travel throughout Illinois you’ll certainly see an abundance of corn fields. In fact, Illinois is listed as the second-highest corn producing state in the nation. Data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) found that in 2013, Illinois harvested more than 11 million acres of corn, yielding 2.1 billion bushels of corn. That’s about 15 percent of the 13.9 billion bushels of corn that were grown in the United States in 2013.

Only Iowa produced more corn than Illinois did in 2013, and NASS data forecasts that Illinois will produce about 100 million more bushels in 2014 than it did in 2013.

Learn more:
NASS 2013 Crop Production Report

On March 28, 1990, Bulls superstar Michael Jordan scored 69 points in an overtime win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jordan referred to his 69 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 1 block as his “greatest game.”

This was his fourth time scoring over 60 points, and his previous career high was 63 points against Boston in the ‘86 playoffs. Jordan finished the season averaging 33.6 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

The Bulls’ season came to an end with a loss in the Eastern Conference Finals to the would-be champion Detroit Pistons.

Learn more:
69 Points for Jordan (New York Times)
Michael Jordan - 69 point game (Youtube)

The first community college in the country was established in Joliet in 1901. Since that time, the state’s system has grown exponentially. Today, there are 48 community colleges located throughout the 39 college districts.

Illinois’ well-established network of community colleges has meant more and more students are choosing them over traditional four-year universities. More than 65 percent of Illinois’ higher education students attend a community college, including many returning students and working parents. The flexibility and affordability offered to students is a major impetus for students choosing community colleges. The average community college student pays only $3,500 per year in tuition and fees – an amount much less than traditional four-year institutions.

As the nation’s economy has evolved from a reliance on manufacturing to a more service-based economy, Illinois’ community colleges have been at the forefront of adapting their programs to better equip students for our modern economy.

Learn more:
Illinois Community College Board  
Community Colleges in Illinois
Illinois Community College Facts

Actress Marlee Matlin, known to many for her Academy-Award winning performance in “Children of a Lesser God,” was born in Morton Grove in 1965.

From a young age, Matlin had a passion for acting, starring in theater productions when she was just 7 years old. She gained attention during her role in the play “Children of a Lesser God,” which led to her casting in the movie version. Matlin won an Oscar for her work, becoming the youngest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar. 

Even with the loss of most of her hearing as an infant, Matlin never let her disability define her or get in her way. In 1995, she testified in front of Congress in support of a proposal to mandate the installation of closed captioning technology on all new televisions, something she has also traveled the globe in supporting.

Matlin was the keynote speaker at the Disability Awareness Cultural Dinner at Illinois State University last night, speaking in front of a sold-out audience about the importance of inclusion and acceptance of all people.

In addition to her philanthropic work, Matlin has starred in numerous movies and television shows, including “Dancing with the Stars,” “The L Word,” “CSI: New York” and “Desperate Housewives.”

Learn more:
Marlee Matlin – IMDb Profile
Marlee Matlin – Official Website

Once home to an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Mississippian Native Americans, the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville is one of only eight United Nations cultural World Heritage sites in the United States.

The area once included over 100 mounds, with the largest, Monks Mound, at nearly 100 feet tall. The grounds also included a circle of wooden poles known as Woodhenge, used as a solar calendar, and a series of plazas used for public gatherings and festivities.

While many of the original mounds no longer stand, others have stood the test of time, including Monks Mound with stairs allowing visitors a view from the top. The Cahokian Interpretive Center gives visitors insight into what life was like for the Mississippian culture and includes many artifacts excavated from around the site.

Learn more:
Cahokia Mounds - State Historic Site
World Heritage List - Cahokia Mounds
Sacred Destinations