Now in its second year, Sauk Valley Grown offers participants the opportunity to tour several local farms throughout the day before gathering for a dinner prepared by students in the Whiteside Area Career Center Culinary Arts program. The event showcases locally produced ingredients while highlighting the important role agriculture plays throughout the Sauk Valley.
This year’s tentative dinner menu includes prime rib, locally grown potatoes, roasted carrots, gourmet mushrooms, sourdough bread, and an apple dessert featuring donated apples. Johnson emphasized that the menu depends on donations from area producers, making each year’s meal a unique celebration of local food.
Participants will have the opportunity to visit several farms across Sterling, Dixon, and Amboy. Stops are expected to include Roots Market, JL Acres, Hullen Homestead, SNJ Hobby Farms, and All Good Things Foster and Family Lavender Farm. Visitors will also have the chance to tour the Whiteside Area Career Center. The farms represent a variety of agricultural operations, from established multigenerational farms to smaller homestead-style businesses, offering attendees a broader look at the diversity of local agriculture.
Johnson also explained that JL Acres practices regenerative agriculture, an approach focused on caring for the land and maintaining sustainable farming practices that give back to the environment while producing food.
Beyond the farm tours and meal, Johnson highlighted the community partnerships that have made the event possible. What began as outreach to local farmers has grown into collaborations with the Whiteside Area Career Center. Culinary Arts students prepare the meal, Early Childhood Education students provide childcare, and the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce helps promote the event and connect with sponsors.
Sauk Valley Grown is scheduled for Thursday, September 10th. Attendees may participate in the full day of farm tours, attend only the dinner, or choose whichever portion best fits their schedule. Registration is $50 per person, with organizers encouraging participants to register by September 3rd to assist with planning and tour reservations, as some farm tours have limited capacity.
Johnson concluded by encouraging residents to follow Illinois Extension for information about upcoming educational programs and community events throughout the year.
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