The Peoria Chapter of the Initiative for the Development for Entrepreneurs in Agriculture (IDEA) will host a day-long tour in Bureau County, leaving promptly at 7:45 am, from University of Illinois Extension office in the Glen Plaza located at 4810 N. Sheridan Road (corner of Glen & Sheridan) in Peoria. A second pick-up will be available at 9:00 am in Bradford at the city park on Illinois Route 40 on the east-end of the business district. This year’s Four Farm Tour will focus on primarily animal agriculture—alpacas, fiber, bison, beef, pastured poultry, and sheep, in addition, to information on orchards and alley cropping, soil analysis, organic fertilizers, and pasture development. The cost of the tour is $25.00 per person this includes transportation (via fully equipped charter bus) and a delicious lunch buffet of locally grown food at the Chestnut Street Inn in Sheffield.  Advanced registration is required. To register, please complete the form and send a $25 check by August 1, 2008 to Prairie Rivers RC&D, 509 Front Street, Suite 5, Henry, IL 61537. For more information call 309-364-3979.

The tour itinerary is ~

7:30 am Check-in – Peoria County Extension Office Parking Lot , leaving promptly

at 7:45 am

9:00 am Travel to Bureau County with an additional pick-up of participants in the

city park on IL Route 40 in Bradford (at the east end of the business district)

• Tiskilwa Farms – Alpacas & Fiber
• Grubb Steaks – Bison
• Chestnut Street Inn, Sheffield, IL – Locally Grown Food Lunch Buffet
• Allan Sexton & Jeremy House Farm – certified organic grass-fed beef, pastured poultry, orchard & alley cropping for small farm production.
• At the Sexton & House Farm there will be discussions with AgriEnergy Resources on organic fertilizers, soil analysis, & pasture development
• Draper Farm – grass finished lambs

5:30 pm Arrive back in Peoria with drop off in Bradford at the city park at 4:45 pm