Celebrating National Agriculture Day in Illinois

Tuesday, March 18^th is National Agriculture Day! While every state across the country will celebrate, this day holds special significance in the State of Illinois. With over 70,000 farms across the state, Illinois has a rich and long agricultural history.

Illinois and its prairie attracted many immigrants from its opening in the early 1800s to the mid- and late-nineteenth century. The immigrants came from other parts of the United States and from several countries in Europe. These farmers who started on the ground floor, worked and grew their farms over the years, slowly turning Illinois into a state on the rise in the 1800s. This includes farms like Walker Farms, the oldest farm on record in Illinois. Settled in 1786 in Crawford County, Walker Farms is still running strong. Today, several acres of Walker Farms are irrigated. They raise corn, soybeans and wheat. During the last half of the nineteenth century, the farms that were settled in southern and western Illinois developed more fully and the northern part of the state rapidly developed. Mechanization started to appear on larger farms and among groups who shared the cost of machinery.

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The Chicago River Goes Green: A St. Patrick’s Day Tradition

Every March, Chicago transforms into a sea of green—but nothing captures the city’s St. Patrick’s Day spirit quite like the tradition of dyeing the Chicago River green. This iconic celebration dates back to 1962, when city officials first poured dye into the river to detect illegal sewage leaks. The vibrant green color was such a hit that it quickly became a beloved annual tradition.

Led by the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local 130, this unique event kicks off St. Patrick’s Day festivities in true Chicago style. Using an environmentally safe orange powder (yes orange!), the river magically turns a shade of green that lasts for hours.

The tradition has become a symbol of Chicago’s rich Irish heritage and festive spirit, drawing crowds from around the world. Alongside the famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the green river is a must-see spectacle that reflects the city’s pride, community and love for celebration.

As the river glows green, Chicagoans and visitors gather to honor tradition, share in the joy and celebrate what makes this city unique.

Monarch Butterflies-National Learn about Butterflies Day!

On March 14, communities and nature enthusiasts come together to celebrate National Learn about Butterflies Day.

This special day is dedicated to exploring and appreciating butterflies, the delicate creatures that add beauty and color to our world.

In our great state, the monarch butterfly is the official state insect. There are four main stages in the life cycle of a monarch butterfly: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The entire process usually takes one to two months, although it can vary depending on the species. Adult butterflies typically live for about two to four weeks, although some species can live for up to a year.

Additionally, this butterfly has a wingspan of three and one-fourth to four and seven-eighths inches. The male has bright orange wings with black veins and black edging. The black border contains two rows of white spots. The female is dull orange with scales along the black veins. The body and antennae are black. The front legs are small and not used for walking. The caterpillar has rings of yellow, black and ivory on each segment and black and white stripes on the head.

They spend winters in central Mexico or the Gulf of Mexico. The monarchs that return in the spring are not the ones that migrated south but are their offspring. The larva eats milkweeds, which is our state wildflower, and adult monarchs visit flowers for nectar.

To learn more about the monarch butterfly, visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ website.

From Dublin to Chicago: the history of Irish Heritage in Illinois

Did you know Illinois has the seventh largest Irish population in the U.S.?

The rich history of Irish Heritage and culture in America began in the 18^th century, but grew largely in the 1820s, when more than half a million Irish Immigrants first arrived, many coming to Illinois. Besides Chicago, the early 19^th century wave of Irish immigrants settled largely in Randolph County, Gallatin County and Cairo. In the 1850s, the number of Irish in Illinois grew from around 20,000, to over 80,000.

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