Dixon Springs Agricultural Center - Illinois Extension

05/25/2026

Illinois Extension offices will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. On Memorial Day, we honor and remember those who have laid down their lives for our freedom.

Our offices will reopen on Tuesday, May 26.

05/22/2026

Dixon Springs Ag Center invites you to the 2026 Field Day on July 14!

For just $5, enjoy a delicious farm-to-table meal made from ingredients harvested from the Ag Center. Choose from various educational sessions on topics important to you, including:

-high tunnel vegetable production
-biological insect control
-heat stress management in tomatoes
-forest management
-invasive species identification and control
-pollinator prairie establishment
-ticks of Illinois - bite prevention and identification
-animal science research projects presented by interns and graduate students.

For more information and to register to attend, visit go.illinois.edu/dsacfieldday26

05/16/2026

Congrats to Kylee Ogelsby who was one of our I-BELIEF interns last summer!

05/16/2026

Home First is designed for rural, small-town, and regional communities where visitors are already present, emerging, or being reconsidered as part of broader community and economic objectives.

This hands-on workshop assists county and municipal partners, local leaders, and other community champions as they consider their local identity, community conditions, and shared purpose. Through this resident-first workshop design, communities will identify next steps and visitor strategies useful to the place over time.

For questions, contact: [email protected] or [email protected]
or
Register at go.illinois.edu/HomeFirstVienna

05/13/2026

05/10/2026

🌷 Mothers give so much — strength, care, and love that shape our families. This Mother’s Day, let’s also make sure they have the support they deserve.
We’re sharing trusted online resources to help moms care for themselves and their families, from wellness tools to parenting guidance and community support.

Celebrate, uplift, and share these with the incredible women in your life. 💛
--https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/family-files
--https://extension.illinois.edu/family

05/10/2026

05/09/2026

Stewardship Week 2026 was a smashing success! Over three full days, we engaged 73 classrooms across 17 schools in 9 counties, reaching an incredible total of 1,183 students! With this year’s program, Stewardship Week has now impacted a cumulative total of 77,849 students since it's beginning.

Thank you to all who attended, presented, and volunteered at this year's event!

05/07/2026

Classes from Harrisburg and Eldorado were excited to build on their hydroponics experience this year, extending their learning beyond school walls with a special trip to the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center. During the visit, they explored high tunnels and participated in lessons focused on farm-to-table processes. The day also included a guided nature hike, where students observed local ecosystems and gained a deeper appreciation for the natural resources that support agriculture.

Thanks to funding from Sol Systems through the Eldorado Impact Project, these students were able to grow their own food in their classrooms and learn about food systems, agriculture, and the importance of eating healthy.

05/07/2026

Youth gardening classes are back again at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in 2026 with an additional opportunity to make some tasty recipes with harvested produce. Youth can participate in gardening classes, cooking classes, or both! After learning more about where their food comes from and taking an active role in the growing process, participants will then head to the kitchen for Illinois Junior Chef cooking classes to learn knife skills, cooking techniques, and nutrition basics.

Read more: go.illinois.edu/DSACYouthGardenCooking
Register: go.illinois.edu/DSACyouthclasses

05/06/2026

Learn some tips on how to slow the spread of invasive species from our very own Forestry Extension and Research Specialist Chris Evans!