CBS News in Chicago recently did a story about Funks Grove Maple Sirup in Shirley, Illinois, and how repeatedly warmer winters are shortening the sap flow of the family farm's maple trees. The gist is that climate change definitely is affecting Funks Grove's annual harvest. https://youtu.be/N6OKuhKXwZA?si=mBzoSoN9uBL6hNwy Funks Grove tends to sell out of its maple … Continue reading Progressively warmer winters affect harvest at Funks Grove Maple Sirup
Tag: Funks Grove Maple Sirup
County approves engineering agreement for a segment of Route 66 bike trail near Funks Grove
The McLean County, Illinois, board recently approved an engineering contract to build a 4.5-mile addition to a Route 66 bicycling trail south of Funks Grove. According to the Bloomington Pantagraph, the county was chosen to receive state funds for the Route 66 bike trail starting in McLean and ending at an existing trail near Funks Grove. … Continue reading County approves engineering agreement for a segment of Route 66 bike trail near Funks Grove
Sugar Grove Nature Center in Funks Grove imposes sudden layoffs
The Sugar Grove Nature Center in Funks Grove, Illinois, imposed sudden layoffs and shut down its visitors center last week, shocking volunteers and former staff members. Sugar Grove Nature Center consists of over 1,000 acres of preserved forest, the nature center just off Route 66. It regularly hosted field trips and programs about Illinois history … Continue reading Sugar Grove Nature Center in Funks Grove imposes sudden layoffs
Glaida Funk, the matriarch at Funks Grove Maple Sirup, dies at age 94
Glaida Funk, the longtime matriarch of the landmark Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup near Funks Grove, Illinois, died Friday. She was 94. The Bloomington Pantagraph in nearby Bloomington posted a death notice, but arrangements were incomplete Sunday night at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home in Bloomington. We'll post more information when it becomes available. Terri … Continue reading Glaida Funk, the matriarch at Funks Grove Maple Sirup, dies at age 94
New farm operation complements Funks Grove Maple Sirup
A new organic farm run by three members of the Funk family is bringing new and complementary products to the sixth-generation Funks Grove Maple Sirup off Route 66 in Shirley, Illinois. Katie and Jonathan Funk and with her fiance, Jeff Hake, started Funks Grove Heritage Fruits and Grains. They don't plan to supplant Funks Grove Maple … Continue reading New farm operation complements Funks Grove Maple Sirup
McLean County in Illinois extends Route 66 Bike Trail
The board of McLean County, Illinois, this week voted to extend the Route 66 Bike Trail another 3.25 miles from Shirley, Illinois, to the hamlet of Funks Grove. The current trail runs from Towanda, Illinois, through the Bloomington-Normal metro area to Shirley. The new extension will bring its total length to nearly 19 miles. According … Continue reading McLean County in Illinois extends Route 66 Bike Trail
More 1990s video from Route 66 in a 1959 Cadillac
Anthony Reichardt recently uploaded more videos to YouTube from his travels on Route 66 during the early to mid-1990s in a 1959 Cadillac. At the least, the videos are valuable for historic reasons. Some of the places Reichardt visited have disappeared or changed radically. The first video is a chat with Glaida Funk of Funks … Continue reading More 1990s video from Route 66 in a 1959 Cadillac
Governor visits Funks Grove Maple Sirup during small-business tour
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner recently paid a visit to Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup as a part of a tour as part of National Small Business Week in Illinois. The Bloomington Pantagraph reported Rauner downed a shot of the company's signature maple sirup at the Route 66 landmark near Shirley, Illinois, then went back for seconds. … Continue reading Governor visits Funks Grove Maple Sirup during small-business tour
Warmer weather decreases sap harvest at Funks Grove Maple Sirup
An unseasonably warm winter decreased the annual sap harvest by a third at Funks Grove Maple Sirup near Shirley, Illinois. The co-operator of the fabled Route 66 business also said climate change may mean a permanent change in when maple sap is harvested at the nearly 200-year-old farm. I recently saw a report a warmer-than-usual winter led … Continue reading Warmer weather decreases sap harvest at Funks Grove Maple Sirup
Funks Grove Maple Sirup featured on Illinois Made series
The Illinois Office of Tourism features Funks Grove Maple Sirup near Shirley, Illinois, as one of eight businesses in a new Illinois Made series. According to an article in the Bloomington Pantagraph, Illinois Office of Tourism director Cory Jobe said Illinois Made contains videos, exclusive web content and travel ideas. “Travelers really want to travel to a destination or … Continue reading Funks Grove Maple Sirup featured on Illinois Made series