RFD Today January 05, 2026

Talking 2026 Illinois State Fair with State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza promotes making financial resolutions in the new year.  

Talking 4-H with Illinois 4-H Director Kevin Carey. Jeremiah Fairbanks with Morton Buildings discusses farm building "checkups".Highlighting the collegiate farm bureau chapter at the University of Illinois with Robby Holtschlag.  

John Shadowens, University of Illinois Extension Community Economic Development Educator discusses the challenges and issues independent grocers are facing in Illinois.Illinois Ag in the Classroom's Kevin Daugherty provides monthly update. DTN agriculture meteorologist John Baranick talks drought monitor. 

Talking skin cancer and prostate cancer screenings with City of Hope. Learning about Norbert, the skateboarding pig in Buffalo Grove. Commstock Investements Joe Camp previews a new market week.  

Illinois FFA President Natalie Pratt discusses her first six months in office.  Troy Uphoff details his participation in the National Corn Growers Association yield contest.IHSA Friday Friday Friday segment features Dave Nanninga from IllinoisHighSchoolGloryDays.com. 

A best of show on New Year's Day featuring:Rick Collins with Firmitas and his work on barn restorations.Dakarai Howard with the Illinois Department of Agriculture at a community food plot hosted by the Crete-Monee FFA Chapter. Jacob Burks from AgMarket.net reliving his days on the rodeo circuit.  David Grindle with the International Association of Fairs and Expositions on the financial impact of county fairs.  

Recapping last weekend's damaging storms with meteorologist Ed Shimon from the National Weather Service in Lincoln. Highlighting a Champaign County Farm Bureau program called Farm Smarts: A Fresh Look at Farm Fundamentals. Looking back at 2025 with the Illinois Soybean Association and Midwest Dairy.  

Licensed professional counselor Rachel Brown reflects on 2025 and looks ahead to 2026.First ever Illinois FFA State Sentinel Paige Sierens discusses the first six months of her term.  Talking IDNR First Day Hikes with Troy Gilmore at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site. Meteorologist Paul Otto at Freese-Notis Weather recaps last weekend's storm and looks at New Year's Eve and New Year's Day weather.  

Highlighting Illinois' newest FFA chapter, Routt Catholic in Jacksonville. Recapping 2025 with Lindsay Croke from IL Corn.Joe Camp at Commstock Investments previews a new market week.