Community News
Star Farmer Interview: Jonathan Griffel
Jonathan Griffel, a recent 2011 graduate at Gillespie High School and current resident in the Gillespie community, has been awarded Star Farmer of Illinois. The American Star Awards represent the best of the best among thousands of American FFA Degree recipients. Finalists for the award have mastered skills in production, finance, management and/or research. There are 4 different award areas: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement, and American Star in Agriscience. Griffel’s Star Farmer journey started back in high school, during his senior year. Each state FFA association recommends four American Star Award candidates—one for each of the four award areas. Then, the National FFA Organization selects four finalists per award area (16 in all) and finally, a Star Award finalist is chosen.
Jonathan Griffel is a apart of Griffel Family Farms (established in 1856), in which they are proudly sixth generation farmers. Griffel has been a part of this farm his entire life, from the moment he was born to where he is standing now – it is a family heritage. Never once did Griffel have to question his father about the farming technique because his father was standing right along side him the entire time when he was a youngster. “I learned mostly everything from my father, Dave, and then my grandfather, Danny.” Coming into high school with a 15 year farming background, Jonathan said he was still able to learn new material from his FFA director and agriculture teacher Mr. Rick Spencer.
Jonathan has always been a part of the family operation, Griffel Family Farms. But unlike many other FFA students and young area farmers, Jonathan started his very own Supervised Agricultural Experience which consisted of him starting his own scaled down farming operation. Under this cognitive process, Griffel was responsible for everything – from planting and fertilizing to weeding and harvesting.
As a farmer on his family farm, Griffel puts in about 10 hours a week on average. Many summer weeks are very long and tenacious, as the winter weeks are slower and do not require as much work. Griffel raises many different crops and works on their 60 head cow calf operation. Throughout the past four years, Griffel has raised corn, soybeans, wheat, grasshay, and alfalfa. On the family farm, Griffel uses both fertilizers and pesticides. Therefore, the Griffel Family Farm is not an organic farm because of the use of pesticides. An organic farm cannot use pesticides, but it is very difficult to be an organic farmer mainly because the cost to produce crops organically – many farmers say it is hard to show a profit.
Griffel has many honorable awards to add to the family farm. He has been selected the Section 15 Star Greenhand, the Section 15 Star Farmer, the District 3 Star Farmer, and the State Star Farmer. He also has won the State Profeciency Award in both Fiber and Oil Crop Production. Griffel would never dream about living anywhere else or doing anything else, “I enjoy this farm life because it allows me the opportunity to succeed through hard work and dedication.” Griffel told us, he sees farming to be a major component in his future whether it be returning to the farm to step in and take over or just returning to help out his father during the planting and harvest seasons.
Griffel will be attending University of Illinois in Springfield in the fall of 2011.
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SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College has announced its full-time and part-time President’s and Vice President’s lists for the spring 2025 semester. Part-time students are enrolled in six to 11 credit hours while full-time students are enrolled in 12 or more credit hours.
Students who earned a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) are noted with an asterisk and earned President’s list honors. Students who earned between a GPA of 3.5-3.99 earned Vice President’s list honors. The excerpt below features Macoupin County students.
FULL-TIME STUDENTS
Bunker Hill – Logan R. Helling
Carlinville – Reid P. Evans*, Brody M. Reif
Gillespie – Maris E. Brill, Austin L. Grace*
Girard – Max Allen*, Katie Angulo*, Mick B. Downs*, Josh Hagerman, Reed Lewis, Michael S. Prose*
Mount Olive – Jakobb E. Brown*, Georgia G. Kampwerth
Palmyra – Alexis R. Bowman*
Staunton – Paige N. Horstmeyer*, Michael J. Matesa*, Lauren R. Mathis, Brandon Mo
Virden – Zorah E. Austin*, Michaeh N. Barnhouse*, Maddie Carver, Jackson R. Pierce*, Morgan C. Snell*, Grant M. Strickler, Courtney N. Ulinski*
PART-TIME STUDENTS
Benld – Christopher Young*
Carlinville – Alex C. Nance*, Jerry D. Nance Jr.*
Gillespie – Jessica L. Tiek*
Girard – Lindsey J. Ferguson*, Jackson R. Henke*, Natalie Moriconi*
Mount Olive – Kara A. Harmon*, Justin D. O’Neill*, Hayden Wylder*
Virden – Candace L. Carlile*, Lillian M. Carlile*, Natalie M. Little*, Josie P. Patterson, Luciano Pierce*
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The 2:18 Missions Team, a dedicated local outreach group based in Gillespie, is excited to announce its upcoming cookout fundraiser to support its community initiatives. The event will take place on Saturday, June 21st, at Randy’s Market in Benld.
From approximately 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., community members are invited to enjoy delicious homemade food while supporting a worthy cause. The menu will feature pork chops, pork burgers, hot dogs, and refreshing water — perfect for a summer day of good food and fellowship.
“All proceeds from this event will go directly toward our mission efforts to serve and uplift our community,” said a spokesperson for 2:18 Missions Team. “We’re grateful for the support of our neighbors and look forward to seeing everyone there!”
Come out to Randy’s Market in Benld on June 21st to enjoy a tasty meal, support local endeavors, and connect with others in the community.
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CARLINVILLE, IL – On June 14th, concerned citizens are invited to join a coalition of grassroots organizations to nonviolently protest in front of the Macoupin County Courthouse at 201 E. Main St. in Carlinville, IL, from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. This protest is one of over 1,400 protests taking place nationwide with millions of participants as part of the NO KINGS National Day of Action and mass mobilization in response to the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration.
Trump’s unconstitutional actions include suppressing free speech, detaining people for their political positions, deporting American citizens, defying the courts, and much more – all while enriching himself and his billionaire allies.
“Now Donald Trump is planning a military parade in Washington, D.C. on June 14th. This display of might is intended to intimidate opponents and solidify his image as a strongman, while paying for it with taxpayer dollars.”, said Kelley Hatlee, a volunteer organizer with the Macoupin County 50501and Indivisible movements. “Instead of allowing this military parade to be the center of attention, the NO KINGS nationwide protests make action everywhere else the story of America on June 14th: people coming together in communities across the country to reject strongman politics and corruption.”, said Hatlee.
“We’re showing up together as neighbors, friends, and fellow community members to say NO to authoritarianism and yes to a government that serves everyone,” said Chelsa Pruden, a volunteer organizer with Macoupin PRIDE and Macoupin County 50501 and Indivisible. “We’re tired of watching powerful people trample our rights and our voices. This protest is about reminding everyone, especially those in power, that real strength comes from the people.”
Participants are encouraged to make protest signs that convey their personal messages. Packaged, nonperishable food items will be accepted for donation to local food pantries to help low-income families who will be hit hardest by Trump’s policies.
The NO KINGS protest in Carlinville is organized by a volunteer coalition of the Macoupin PRIDE and the Macoupin County 50501 and Indivisible grassroots movements. The coalition has created a Facebook page titled “Macoupin County 50501 and Indivisible” for concerned citizens to follow.
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