2013 Food, Fuel and Fiber Network Tour & Workshop
August 20 - August 22, 2013
Taylorville, Champaign and Charleston Illinois
Bioenergy and sustainable food production practices will be the focus of this event. Educators will engage in networking activities, gain expertise, and explore opportunities for collaborating on research and education programs.
Draft Agenda
August 20 10:30 am Gather at the Taylorville, IL Extension Office
- Lunch - Taylorville, IL
- U of I / Dudley Smith Research and Demonstration facility near Pana – 228 acre (livestock grazing, tropical maize and cover crop) plus 9 acres biomass for heat and power, Climate study and cropping systems
- Big M Berry Patch / Big M Manufacturing – fresh fruit and veg production, biomass furnace manufacturing, wind turbine system for small farm
- Carbon Sequestration Center – Decatur site near Richland Community College / ADM
- Travel on your own to I-Hotel in Champaign, IL
- Dinner at Prairie Fruit Farm - Chef prepared local foods, sustainable farm operation concepts and tour
August 21 Begin at the I-Hotel
- Morning - Participate in the Energy and Biosciences Institute Symposium
- Afternoon - Tour EBI Energy Farm, Champaign-Urbana area
- Departmental Tours - Student Sustainable Farm, Fruit Research Farm, Solar Decathlon Homes, and Erosion Control Research and Training Center
- Evening – Farm to Table Dinner and tour of rooftop garden at Hendrick House
August 22 Begin at the I-Hotel
- Group discussions, planning, sharing resources
- Lunch “to go”
- Travel by charter bus to EIU - Renewable Energy Center Charleston, IL
- Return to C-U or some will depart directly from Charleston are for home
Rooms: Individuals need to coordinate and pay for their own hotel reservation ASAP!
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I-Hotel and Conference Center - 1900 S. First Street Champaign, IL 61820 / 217-819-5000
Southwest of the Assembly Hall (recently renamed “State Farm Center”) in Champaign will be our program home site.- Hotel charge: One room, one beds, $129.00 (plus tax) per night
- Hilton Garden Inn Champaign Urbana - 1501 S. Neil Street, Champaign, Illinois, 61820 / 217-352-9970. This hotel is less than a mile away from the I-Hotel
- Hotel charge: One room, one or two beds, $99.00 (plus tax) per night
- Note: SARE (Sustainable Ag Research & Education) funds may be available for this event. Contact your SARE State Coordinator before registering.
Registration Deadline: July 16, 2013. Rooms are released after that date. Space is limited
Other hotel accommodations in Champaign can be found here: http://www.visitchampaigncounty.org/plan-your-trip/accommodation
Two registration options:
- Full -$150.00 Includes Biomass Symposium, EIU Tour, Transportation and Meals
- Limited - $100.00 Includes Biomass Symposium, no Meals or Transportation
Registration link: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=8476
Contact Gary Letterly for more information at 217-287-7246 or letterly@illinois.edu