WIU School of Agriculture

WIU School of Agriculture Please feel free to message us with any upcoming events so we can Post & Invite FB friends!

School of Ag is hiring - Please share.This is an agronomy focused research technician position previously held by Brent ...
06/04/2026

School of Ag is hiring - Please share.

This is an agronomy focused research technician position previously held by Brent Heaton.

Link to application is the QR code below.

WIU AFNR Day 2- We learned about teaching several soils and water activities and projects. Our Lead Teachers, Dr. Darla ...
06/03/2026

WIU AFNR Day 2- We learned about teaching several soils and water activities and projects. Our Lead Teachers, Dr. Darla Romberger DeShong and Riley Hintzsche, continue to deliver a world-class experience!

A big thank you to Ann Knowles for digging 2 amazing soil pits for us to learn from! We brought samples from each soil horizon back to the classroom to analyze and tested the water quality from Lake Ruth on campus.

Thank you to Illinois Agricultural Education (FCAE) project for sponsoring this experience!

06/02/2026

Ready to put your pitmaster skills to the test? 🍖🔥

Western Illinois University is looking for the best BBQ in the region for our 8th Annual Family Day BBQ Competition & Tasting! Whether you’re a local business or a backyard legend, this is your chance to sweep the podium and win big.

💰 THE STAKES
We’ve upped the ante with over $3,000 in total cash prizes, sponsored by Nature’s Grace!

Overall 1st Place: $1,500
Overall 2nd Place: $500
People’s Choice: $350
Best Ribs: $250
Best Brisket: $250
Top Student Team: $150

📅 THE DETAILS
When: Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 2–5 PM
Where: WIU Q Lot (Right before our first home football game!)
Crowd: Anticipating 2,000–3,000 hungry fans.

🧤 WHY COMPETE?
Meat Provided: We supply the brisket and ribs based on your capacity.

Easy Setup: Move in Friday, Sept 18th. We provide electricity and space for campers/RVs.

Early Bird Special: Register by August 23rd for just $50 (includes team shirts!).

🔗 HOW TO JOIN
Ready to show Macomb what you’ve got? Secure your spot at the smoker today:
👉 wiu.edu/familyday

Questions? Drop them in the comments or email [email protected]. Let's get cooking! 🪵🔥

WIU AFNR CASE Institute – Day 1 is in the books! 🎉What a great start to the week! We kicked off the institute with regis...
06/02/2026

WIU AFNR CASE Institute – Day 1 is in the books! 🎉

What a great start to the week! We kicked off the institute with registration and a fun snack share, giving participants a chance to bring a favorite treat from home and get to know one another.

Throughout the day, teachers gained experience using specialized equipment and setting up labs that will support the lessons they’ll be exploring all week. The day wrapped up with a wonderful dinner at Park Place in Macomb and a visit to The Full Scoop in Colchester.

A special thank you to our Lead Teachers, Riley Hintzsche and Dr. Darla Romberger DeShong, who are doing an outstanding job facilitating the curriculum while sharing valuable classroom insights and practical teaching strategies.

We also want to thank Allie Bode and the FCAE team for coordinating registration and helping ensure a smooth and successful week. This institute would not be possible without the sponsorship and support of the Illinois FCAE project!

A special shout-out to Dr. Joel Gruver for coming to the rescue with last-minute lab supplies to keep things running smoothly! We appreciate your support! 👏

We’re looking forward to another great day of learning tomorrow! 🌱📚🐾

06/01/2026

🎡 Get behind the scenes at one of Illinois’ biggest events! 📸🎥

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is looking to hire two student workers for the Office of Communications during the 2026 Illinois State Fair.

This paid opportunity is perfect for students interested in communications, public relations, social media, photography, or video production. Duties include:
📱 Creating social media content
📸 Taking photos
🎬 Producing videos for the Illinois State Fair

Student workers will gain hands-on experience covering one of the most popular events in Illinois while learning how media relations and public communications operate during a large-scale event.

📅 Internship Dates: August 10–23, 2026

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply and experience a summer full of fun, creativity, and unforgettable Fair memories!

Apply now: https://illinois.jobs2web.com/job-invite/56409/

Congratulations to Amanda Niemann for being named a 2026 Eldon E. Witt Ag Ed Scholarship recipient! This scholarship wil...
05/26/2026

Congratulations to Amanda Niemann for being named a 2026 Eldon E. Witt Ag Ed Scholarship recipient!

This scholarship will help fund Amanda's expenses during her semester of student teaching. Amanda will be recognized at the 2026 IAVAT Conference in June.

05/26/2026

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Ingles on the publication of her latest peer‑reviewed article, "Game-Design Based Learning in Engineering Education: Impacts on Career Readiness,” in the Journal of STEM Education: Innovations and Research. https://doi.org/10.63504/jstem.v27i1.2778

This publication—coauthored with an outstanding interdisciplinary team—adds meaningful insight to how game‑design based learning can strengthen students’ career readiness skills such as teamwork, conflict resolution, and project management.

Dr. Ingles continues to advance her research program while teaching full‑time in the School of Agriculture. Her commitment to integrating experiential learning, reflective practice, and workforce‑aligned skill development impacts young professionals in agriculture and STEM fields.

This work doesn’t just contribute to academic literature—it directly supports students’ preparation for the workforce by helping them build the competencies that matter most to employers.

Congratulations to Dr. Ingles and her collaborators on this important contribution to STEM education and student success!

Even after finals week, the work continues! This week, Dr. Ingles represented the Western Illinois University School of ...
05/22/2026

Even after finals week, the work continues! This week, Dr. Ingles represented the Western Illinois University School of Agriculture at the National AAAE Conference, where she learned from fellow researchers, served as a paper reviewer, and led discussion during a research session.

Dr. Ingles was also recognized with 2nd Runner-up honors for her article, “Reflective Practice in an Experiential Learning Program: An Exploratory Content Analysis of Reflective Writing in Experiential Learning Portfolios,” published in Volume 66 of the Journal of Agricultural Education. This article was co-authored with her Major Professor, Dr. Michael Retallick, at Iowa State University.

Her research focuses on helping future educators become thoughtful, reflective teachers — work that is directly applied in our agricultural education teacher preparation program at Western Illinois University. We are proud to see scholarship that not only contributes to the field of agricultural education, but also strengthens the learning experiences of our students.

Dr. Ingles would like to recognize and thank Dr. Retallick for his support and mentorship in this work. Their article can be found at https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v66i2.3029

It was an honor to stand on stage and celebrate the Western Illinois University School of Agriculture Spring 2026 gradua...
05/16/2026

It was an honor to stand on stage and celebrate the Western Illinois University School of Agriculture Spring 2026 graduates. This talented group represents the passion, leadership, and work ethic that make the future of agriculture so bright. There is no doubt they will go on to do big things and make a lasting impact on the ag industry and their communities.

A huge thank you to our faculty, staff, advisors, administrators, families, and supporters who help make student success possible every day. We are proud to play a small part in preparing the next generation of agricultural leaders. Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

Address

Knoblauch Hall
Macomb, IL
61455

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+13092981080

Website

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