MOUNT CARROLL, IL - Timber Lake Playhouse continues its 54th season with a new kind of play, The Big Meal by Dan LeFranc, which is directed by Chuck Smith. Opening Thursday, June 18th, the play takes place entirely in restaurants and tells the funny, complicated and sometimes heart-breaking story of one big, noisy family over the course of several generations. Eight actors play all the members of the family at various ages in the play that will run through June 27th.

The Big Meal follows Sam and Nicole from first meeting through almost 80 years of moments that define their families. A series of dates, holidays and celebratory family dinners create the backdrop for the extraordinary stories of an ordinary family

Of this, playwright LeFranc writes, "Perhaps because my parents both worked in the service industry, my most vivid memories of family take place around laminated menus and sampler platters. Like many Americans, we spent a lot of time going out to eat. [...] So often, in fact, that many of these places came to feel like an extension of our living room. We laughed, cried, and fought like crazy for an audience of countless waiters and diners."

As the characters age and their families grow, new revelations are brought to light. Artistic Director James Beaudry says, "The play uses those moments we've all experienced in restaurants and family dinners?crying children, a couple clearly breaking up two tables away, the tensions between rival siblings?and makes one family's story feel like everyone's."

LeFranc describes these moments that feel universal and define families?"the great joys and disappointments of my parents' marriages; [...] the wonderful and weird relationships I have with my siblings; how much I look like my dad; the dizzy bliss of falling in love; what happens to parents when their kids become parents; the way the familial pecking order shifts; family and friends who have fallen ill; how death brings countless lives to a halt; how my grandmother lights up when I finally come to visit ... ."

All of this is accomplished in under 90 minutes, and the effect on the audience is astonishing. Time Out New York says, "You will be amazed," while the New York Daily News called the play, "Packed with humanity and humor." The Big Meal does contain adult language.

The cast includes Brigitte Ditmars, Jaguer Heier, Judy Knudtson, Victoria Kuzlik, Paige ManWaring, Matt W. Miles, Brian Pauley and Cullen Rogers. Acclaimed Chicago director Smith returns to TLP for his fourteenth consecutive season. His previous work at TLP includes Working, An Inspector Calls, Tuesdays With Morrie, Smokey Joe's Café and more.

Following The Big Meal, TLP will present Peter Pan, Greater Tuna, Big Fish and Big River to round out the lineup. The Magic Owl Children's Theatre at TLP will also present a stage adaptation of James and the Giant Peach in August. Tickets to all shows are available at the theatre box office, by calling 815-244-2035, and online at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. Show times are available online.

Timber Lake Playhouse is located at 8215 Black Oak Road in rural Mount Carroll. This program is partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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WASHINGTON, June 15, 2015 - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that eligible producers may now formally enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2014 and 2015. The enrollment period begins June 17, 2015, and will end Sept. 30, 2015.

"The extensive outreach campaign conducted by USDA since the 2014 Farm Bill was enacted, along with extending deadlines, is central to achieving an expected high level of participation," said Vilsack. "We worked with universities to simplify these complex programs by providing online tools so producers could explore how program election options would affect their operation in different market conditions; these tools were presented to almost 3,000 organizations across the country. The Farm Service Agency also sent more than 5 million educational notices to producers nationwide and participated in over 4,880 educational events with more than 447,000 attendees. I am proud of the many committed USDA employees who worked hard over the last several months to provide producers support to help them make these important decisions."

The new programs, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, trigger financial protections for agricultural producers when market forces cause substantial drops in crop prices or revenues. More than 1.76 million farmers have elected ARC or PLC. Previously, 1.7 million producers had enrolled to receive direct payments (the program replaced with ARC and PLC by the 2014 Farm Bill). This means more farms have elected ARC or PLC than previously enrolled under previously administered programs.

Nationwide, 96 percent of soybean farms, 91 percent of corn farms, and 66 percent of wheat farms elected ARC. 99 percent of long grain rice farms, 99 percent of peanut farms, and 94 percent of medium grain rice farms elected PLC. For data about other crops and state-by-state program election results go to www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.

Covered commodities under ARC and PLC include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium grain rice (which includes short grain and sweet rice), safflower seed, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat. Upland cotton is no longer a covered commodity.

The 2014 Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past six years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is accepting applications for grants to help rural cooperatives develop new markets for their products and services. USDA is making the grants available to non-profit corporations and institutions of higher education through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program.

"Cooperative organizations are important catalysts for economic growth and job creation in rural America," Vilsack said. "The lack of investment capital is often the key factor holding many rural areas back from economic prosperity. The investments that USDA is making available will help organizations start cooperatives, expand existing ones, boost sales and marketing opportunities, and help develop business opportunities in rural areas."

USDA's Rural Cooperative Development Grant program improves economic conditions in rural areas by helping individuals and businesses start, expand or improve the operations of rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through cooperative development centers. Other eligible grant activities may include conducting feasibility studies and creating business plans.

USDA is making up to $5.8 million in grants available in Fiscal Year 2015. One-year grants up to $200,000 are available. In most cases, grants may be used to pay for up to 75 percent of a project's total costs. Recipients are required to match 25 percent of the award amount. The grants will be awarded prior to September 30, 2015. The recipients will have one year to utilize the awarded funds.

The application deadline is July 30, 2015. For additional information, see Page 34129 of the June 15, 2015 Federal Register or contact the USDA Rural Development State Office.

Earlier Rural Cooperative Development Grant funding from USDA helped to reopen a local Nebraska grocery store. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Cooperative Development Center (NCDC) used funding from an RCDG grant to provide technical assistance in forming a cooperative business that re-opened the only grocery store in the small town of Elwood, Nebraska. Community members formed a 10-member steering committee and worked with NCDC on business and finance issues and incorporation options as a cooperative. The cooperative was incorporated in May 2012 as the Elwood Hometown Cooperative Market and opened in February 2013. The Elwood Market keeps its vital place in the community thanks to support from USDA.

President Obama's historic investments in rural America have made our rural communities stronger. Under his leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities.

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When temperatures peak, heading for the nearest lake or pool is a fast and fun way to cool down. Unfortunately, accidents and illnesses can happen in the midst of fun, so be sure you know how to get care when you need it.

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