March Madness was born in Illinois

Though everyone today associates March Madness with the mania of the March NCAA tournament, did you know March Madness was originally the name of an Illinois high school basketball tournament over a century ago?

The original tournament was a high school boys’ basketball tournament sponsored by the IHSA beginning in 1908. By the 1930s, over 900 schools were competing in the tournament. The term ‘March Madness’ was first used in an article of the IHSA magazine, “Illinois Interscholastic,” by the assistant executive secretary of the IHSA. The term ‘Sweet Sixteen’ was used to describe the field of teams participating in the University of Illinois’ Huff Gymnasium tournament.

The term began being used by the IHSA on official merchandise and for the next several decades, March Madness was the common phrase for the tournament. By the 1980s, the IHSA had acquired ‘March Madness’ and ‘America’s Original March Madness’ as registered trademarks. Use of the phrase is now subject to licensing fees to the IHSA, of which a significant portion goes to scholarships for Illinois boys and girls.

You can read more about the origins of March Madness here.

Artist of the Month: Gwendolyn Brooks

March 21 is recognized as World Poetry Day, and to celebrate we are highlighting a Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Gwendolyn Brooks!

Gwendolyn was raised on the South Side of Chicago, where she began writing from a very young age with her mother’s encouragement. In her teen years, she began submitting her poems to various publications, and later became a regular contributor to “The Chicago Defender” by the time she had graduated from high school. Her poems often ranged in style from ballads and sonnets to using free verse, and drew upon experiences of living in the inner-city.

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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.