For the second year in a row, ILICA constructed another high profile bioreactor that was the first of its kind in the county with partners Illinois Farm Bureau, NRCS, and the University of IL College of ACES. Conservation runs deep in the Ganschow family farm located in Bureau County, where Michael Ganschow chose to install a 12'x50' woodchip bioreactor near the edge of one of the family's fields to treat approximately 17 acres of tile drainage for nitrate removal. Under the lead of ILICA members Brian Brooks (Brooks Farm Tiling) and Joe Streitmatter (Streitmatter Land Improvement), ILICA completed a majority of this bioreactor's installation the day before an open-to-the-public field day, leaving as many aspects of the practice exposed as possible for viewing. During the 2 hour field day, approximately 50 attendees witnessed first-hand what goes into constructing this new conservation practice, what it does, how it works, and why it's important here in IL. All partners were on hand to answer questions from attendees, which included media, producers, and contractors. Attendees were treated to lunch at the end of the event.

Without the concerted effort and expertise of our volunteer members, associates, and partners involved, ILICA would not be capable of this critical type of industry and public education, which is so crucial to helping Illinois attain its nutrient loss reduction goals. THANK YOU to all the following involved with this great project.

Thank you also to Michael Ganschow and ILICA volunteers:

Brian Brooks, Tyler Brooks, Joe Streitmatter, Lee Bunting,

Bill Doubet, Bill Dean