The educator workshops will bring teachers and instructors on board for day long programs on a number of different topics ranging from History to Biology to the Navigation of our waterways, which they can then bring back to their classroom. This is also a chance for teachers to learn about the opportunity of student workshops, which will be conducted in various locations throughout the school year. Living Lands & Waters has been conducting educational workshops since 2003, but this experience could only be attended by teachers and instructors.  "We developed these workshops to give teachers a hands on look at our river environment with lessons they could take back to their students.  The instructors who attended were so engaged, but all said this would have much more of an impact if their students could be on the barge for something like this," says Tammy Becker, coordinator of the LL&W's Educational Workshops.  Over the years, LL&W held 92 teacher workshops for more than 1,700 teachers and educators. There were over a 100 different presenters in these presentations and over 60 different topics covered.

"This is a big collaborative effort that will affect so many students nationally.  A first hand look at our rivers will have an impact on these kids for years to come," says Chad Pregracke, LL&W founder.   LL&W plans to begin focusing on High School Juniors and Seniors. "We plan to work with teachers to customize workshops to dove-tail with the curriculum they are currently concentrating on, be it ecology, history or economics," said LL&W founder Chad Pregracke.

"This is really taking the education of our rivers to a whole new level and it could not have been done without the help of the many businesses who believe in what we're doing," expressed Pregracke.  The floating classroom was made possible by the generous support of five of LL&W's long-term partners: ADM, AEP River Operations, Ingram Barge Company, Caterpillar and Cargill as well as a number of Unions who gave so many hours of labor to help complete this project.

Chad Pregracke started Living Lands & Waters in 1998 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the beautification and restoration of America's major rivers and to the education of people about environmental issues. From his single boat beginning, LL&W has grown to an internationally known organization with a fleet of barges and workboats.  LL&W engages thousands of volunteers each year in river cleanups, hands-on environmental education workshops, the Great Mississippi River Cleanup, Adopt-a-River-Mile programs and the Million Trees Project.  Recently, LL&W founder Chad Pregracke was honored by the Points of Light Foundation.  This distinguished honor, established by former U.S. President George H. W. Bush was awarded during a televised ceremony from the Lincoln Center which featured all of the living former presidents.   Chad ads this honor to many others he's received in recognition of his achievements since founding LL&W.  They include a Jefferson Award, and awards from the American Institute for Public Service; Heroes of Conservation Nomination and Field & Stream Magazine.

New laws ensure efficient recycling, waste management and plumbing practices; protect ecosystems

RIVERWOODS - July 26, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed three new laws strengthening environmental protections in Illinois. The new laws protect ecosystems while also taking steps to ensure the state has sound recycling, waste management and plumbing practices. Today's action is the governor's latest to safeguard the environment.

"We all have a responsibility to do what we can to protect our natural resources for future generations," Governor Quinn said. "These laws will make sure that we are using the best recycling and waste management practices to preserve natural resources, while also preventing invasive species from invading our ecosystems."

Sponsored by Rep. Karen May (D-Highwood) and Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest), House Bill 4986 establishes the Task Force on the Advancement of Materials Recycling to review recycling and solid waste management planning in Illinois. Task Force appointees will have two years to analyze recycling and waste management policies, initiatives and funding in Illinois. They will then report their findings and recommendations to the governor and General Assembly. This law will ensure Illinois' waste management and recycling practices are efficient and identify ways to maximize productive use of waste materials.

HB 4986 also establishes recycling and composting standards that each county waste management plan must meet. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will be authorized to provide grants to counties and large municipalities in order to help them reach these standards. The law is effective Jan. 1.

Governor Quinn also signed House Bill 4496 updates the plumbing standards code with new green technologies and plumbing practices in Illinois. Sponsored by Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills) and Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest), the bill requires the Plumbing Advisory Council to submit recommendations for updated standards to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) by Jan. 1. IDPH will then review these recommendations and submit amendments to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules by May 31, 2013. This bill was an initiative of the Lake County Forest Preserve and will ensure Illinois' plumbing standards better protect public health, more efficiently utilize natural resources and are consistent with leading technologies and methods.

The law is effective immediately.

The governor also signed House Bill 3892 and House Bill 3888, both sponsored by Rep. JoAnn Osmond (R-Antioch) and Sen. Suzi Schmidt (R-Lake Villa). HB 3892 allows the Lake County Forest Preserve District to sell a structure on forest preserve land without selling the land itself. The bill also allows the forest preserve to sell surplus property without advertisement if three-fifths of the members of the forest preserve board believe the sale is in the district's best interest. The law is effective immediately.

HB 3888 requires that any vehicle, seaplane or watercraft in navigable Illinois waters must have all aquatic plants or animals removed from its exterior before being transported away from the body of water. This law will protect aquatic ecosystems in Illinois from invasive species. These species threaten the ecological stability of the habitats they invade, causing severe and permanent damage. Similar laws are currently in place in other Midwest states. The law is effective Jan.1.

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - July 26, 2012 - Audubon-Manning Veterinary Clinic (AMVC), long recognized by Iowa farmers as an industry leader in assuring livestock health and welfare, is credited with also providing a valued service to farmers in six other states.  The AMVC model of excellence and strong community commitment helped the Audubon business earn the July Iowa Farm Bureau Renew Rural Iowa Entrepreneur Award.

AMVC is a veterinary clinic, first and foremost, which offers services to small and large animals, but on a much larger scale.  Dr. Daryl Olsen, one of AMVC's founders, says, "We offer services and management for 100,000 sows in seven states, which in turn, give birth to 2.5 million pigs and employ 450 people. We just listened to our customers and we tried to offer the services that they need.  It's helped our business grow and find the best ways to serve our farmers," says Olsen.  "We have grown to seven states now and we do that by hiring good people.  We have employees at management levels, CBA's, PHd's, agronomists, vets but also we get the typical person who will work directly on farms."

Michelle Sprague, ISU grad, works at AMVC and oversees herd health. "I chose AMVC when I graduated because it seemed like a very progressive company that did a lot of things right, that cared about the community, the swine industry and the business as a whole.  You can also tell that the employees are happy and it's fun to work here.  Since I wanted to end up in rural Iowa, this is a great fit for me personally as well," says Sprague.

Randy Dreher, Audubon hog and cattle farmer, says AMVC's commitment to farmers is unparalleled. "Not only do we look to them for insight, but it's a valuable service for them to be a sounding board for my operation: to know what things I need to look for, not just for a profitability standpoint, but for livestock health as well," says Dreher, a local Farm Bureau leader.

Renew Rural Iowa (RRI) is an IFBF initiative supporting new and existing businesses through education, mentoring and financial resources.   Visit with Renew Rural Iowa staff and partners at the Iowa State Fair on August 16 in Farm Bureau Park.  For more information, go to www.renewruraliowa.com.

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