Macon County Farm Bureau

Address : 1150 West Pershing Road, Decatur, IL 62526
Phone : 217.877.2436
Fax : 217.877.0137
Web : www.MaconCFB.org        

The Illinois Farm Bureau® Ag Mags are 4-page, colorful agricultural magazines for kids. They contain information about agriculture, bright pictures, classroom activities, and agricultural careers. Ag Mags are intended for children of all ages.To request these for yourself or the students in your classroom click here or call 877-2436 and ask for the Ag Literacy Coordinator! Remember to indicate the number of students you have.

Illinois State Learning Standards covered by each ag mag. (pdf file)

Special Edition: "Illinois" This Ag Mag teaches students about Illinois products such as hamburgers, pumpkin pie, and milkshakes through a 50’s diner theme. Includes math activities and “now and then” information. Can be used for Ag Week or anytime throughout the year.

Issue 24: "Beef" This issue teaches students about the nutritional value of beef, how cattle are shown and judged, products from beef, breeds of beef cattle, the stomachs of ruminant animals, cuts of beef, and beef industry career.

Issue 23: "Biotechnology" This Ag Mag features basic concepts and agricultural benefits of biotechnology. Many activities are included to help the students review after reading articles.

Issue 22: "Soil and Fertilizer" This issue features information about soil parts and layers, soil's function, types of fertilizers, and how fertilizers help grow more food. The featured activities in this Ag Mag are Soil Sammy and Edible Dirt. The Soil & Fertilizer Ag Mag is made possible through funds from the Fertilizer Research and Education Council and the IAA.

Issue 21: "Technology" Topics in this issue include tractors, drills and planters, combines, balers and other farm equipment.  The newset technologies such as Variable Rate Technology (VRT), Global Positioning System (GPS), and Geographic Inforamtion System (GIS) are described as well.  In the Career Corner, students can read about people who are using the newest technologies to succeed in the agriculture industry.

Issue 20: "Poultry" This issue features different types of poultry, a look at eggs, fun activities and careers in poultry

Issue 19: "Chosen Fields" This issue tells students about many jobs in agriculture and includes classroom activities.

Issue 18: "Nutrients and You" contains nutritional information about items in the food pyramid.   Activities include making a food pyramid abacus and a beef product dash.

Issue 17: "Pig-Out on Pork" contains information about caring for pigs, products made from pigs, breeds of pigs, careers with pigs, and much more.  Fun activities include math story problems, and making a pig feed sack.

Issue 16: "Toppings" contains information relating to farm ingredients in a pizza.  Topics include Math to Munch, Career Slices, Say Cheese and Yeast Feast.

Issue 15: "Critical Clues" (This ag mag is being phased out.) This is a farm safety issue. Topics include SMV Alert, Shocking News, Hot Stuff, Slip Slidin' Away, and Grain Drain. Classroom activities to demonstrate grain hazards are included. Hear from the best safety sleuths as you read the farm safety interviews and teach children about the hazards on farms.

Issue 14: "Delightful Dairy Moos" contains information relating to the dairy industry including different products, types of dairy cows and careers in this field. Activities relating to the material, such as making butter and ice cream, are also included.

Issue 13: "Simply Sheep-ish" contains information on the raising of sheep for wool and for food. Details are given on how sheep are shorn, how wool is processed and certain characteristics of sheep. Fun activities include wool spinning and math story problems relating to the sheep market.

Issue 12: "Corn Ag Mag" Students can learn about corn products in this issue from the IAA Foundation and the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. Includes activities on making biodegradable plastic and corn putty as well as career interviews.

Issue 11: "Core Items" contains information on apples including their historic and current production in the U. S., the nutritional value and pollination and grafting of apples. Activities include drying apples, making apple stamps and a science experiment to test apples for ripeness.

Issue 10: “Soybean” This Ag Mag contains information on how soybeans grow, the products soybeans produce, career interviews, and two soybean activities: “Soy Crayons” and “Beanie Baby.

Issue 9: "Pumpkin Ag Mag" Contains articles and activities related to raising pumpkins in Illinois. Includes math calculations, production information, recipes, career info and more.