Recently, the Union Co Farm Bureau has been our “home base” for our team meetings and in addition to sharing their meeting space, they are also annual investors in the UCCEO program. We are so grateful for their generous financial committment, their graciousness in letting us use their meeting space and their continued support of us. On Monday we met there for a special reason: to hear directly from Kenzie Dillow, Manager of the UCFB, about the important work they do.
Kenzie stepped into her role as manager in January 2023. She holds a degree in Communications from SIU and previously worked as a producer at WSIL-TV. Born and raised in Anna, Kenzie grew up on a farm, raising and showing sheep. Her deep Union County roots and love for agriculture shine through in her enthusiasm and passion for her work.
The UCFB has the largest membership of any similar organization in Union County. They are an invaluable resource for all things farming and a strong advocate for farmers, landowners, and the community. One of their standout initiatives is Ag in the Classroom—a fantastic free program that helps schools teach students about where their food comes from, sustainability, erosion, and so much more.
AJCHS student Raegan Jones (The AJ Wildcats) had some great takeaways from Kenzie:
“On Monday we talked to Kenzie Dillow from the Union County Farm Bureau. It was a very informative visit and I found it very interesting.
I loved talking about the specialty crops and different animals that we don’t typically think of as agriculture. It got me interested in ag entertainment as a career or side career. I really enjoyed getting to learn about the ag related businesses like Bison Bluff Farms, Rolling Oak Alpaca Ranch, pumpkins, and Christmas trees. Kenzie’s presentation also made me want to consider going into the Ag in the Classroom program.
I learned a lot of valuable information on this visit and it broadened my horizon for things I might want to do in college.”
A huge thank-you to Kenzie for your hospitality, energy, and knowledge and to the UCFB for their ongoing contributions to UCCEO. We had a wonderful morning with you and learned so much about the Union County Farm Bureau and the many opportunities and resources it provides.
