By DEBORAH BEHRENDS
Illinois Correspondent

DEKALB, Ill. — The DeKalb County Farm Bureau partnered with the DeKalb County Health Department and Kishwaukee Community Hospital to promote healthy lifestyles among farmers attending the Northern Illinois Farm Show in DeKalb on Jan. 6-7.

Held at the Northern Illinois University Convocation Center, the show offered numerous ag-related exhibits and information booths, including two separate health booths sponsored by the Farm Bureau, Health Department and Kishwaukee Community Hospital.
Farmers were invited to get a free H1N1 vaccination shot from health department nurses. Throughout the two-day show, the hospital also provided free blood pressure checks. Additionally, the groups had materials and information about maintaining a healthy lifestyle in production agriculture.

“The Northern Illinois Farm Show provides a venue to promote proper health and wellness for the benefit of farmers,” said Mariam Wassmann, director of information for DeKalb County Farm Bureau.
“We have a booth here each year and we try to think of current health- and safety-related topics. This idea came about from a brainstorming session. We always promote healthy lifestyles, and this is certainly timely.

Bette Chilton, RN, with the health department, said her agency works with the Farm Bureau annually to provide a variety of health screenings.

The first day of the show saw a steady stream of visitors getting shots, Wassmann said. Attendance was down the second day because of inclement weather. She said the health department administered 257 shots, and the hospital staff did 141 blood pressure checks.