Teens and young adults will test their knowledge of regenerative agriculture at a contest held during this summer’s Heart of American Grazing Conference in Effingham. The contest check in begins at 10 a.m. Friday, July 16 at the Effingham Conference Center.

The Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition and the Illinois Forage and Grassland Council will host the 2026 Heart of America Grazing Conference on July 15–16, 2026, in Effingham, Illinois, in conjunction with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and University of Illinois Extension.

Dan Sanderson is the recipient of the 2025 Illinois Leopold Conservation Award®.

The 2025 Illinois Forage and Grassland Council outstanding service awards were presented during the Illinois Forage Expo held July 30 at the Don Brown and Eric Stiegler farms.