Southwestern Illinois brings the heat when it comes to production of horseradish.

Depending on conditions, farms in Madison and St. Clair counties grow between 60 percent and 80 percent of the horseradish in the world in a given year. This is attributed to the sandy, potassium-rich soils of the American Bottoms area near the Mississippi River. Commercial cultivation began there during the 1850s, and by the 1890s, the region dominated horseradish production.

Today, there are many farms and production facilities in the Collinsville area, which produces six million gallons of prepared horseradish annually. There’s even an International Horseradish Festival held on the first weekend in June every year in Collinsville that features root grinding demonstrations, a Bloody Mary contest, a Little Miss Horseradish pageant and much more.

Learn more:
The horseradish root has no odor until it is ground or grated. Here’s how you make prepared horseradish.
Horseradish is neither a horse nor a radish. It is related to mustard, wasabi and cabbage.

The influential singer/guitarist was born in Chicago on June 3, 1942, and raised in the Cabrini-Green projects as a teenager. While attending Wells High School, Mayfield met Jerry Butler and began singing with his group, The Roosters. An early manager convinced the young group that audience members might make barn animal sounds as a result of their name, so in an effort to make a strong impression on their audiences, the group changed their name to The Impressions.

From the late ’50s through the mid-’60s, the Impressions had a string of hits, but it was Mayfield’s singing, songwriting and production that was gaining the attraction of the groups peers. The Impressions 1965 hit “People Get Ready” became an anthem for the civil rights movement. He began making solo records in the late ’60s and finally left The Impressions after his monumental soundtrack to the film “Super Fly” was released.

Being self-taught, Mayfield was able to play many different instruments, though his main instrument after his voice was the electric guitar. His singing and guitar style have been huge influences for generations of guitarists weaned on the psychedelic rock stylings of Jimi Hendrix and others who were influenced by the singer.

Learn more:
Forgotten Heroes: Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield Biography

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? With the unofficial start of summer comes a host of outdoor activities all across the state.

Chicago is home to more than 50 farmers markets scattered throughout the city, offering fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy items. The Illinois Department of Agriculture has a listing of markets throughout the state.

Looking to explore a state park? Garden of the Gods offers breathtaking views of the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois along with numerous hiking trails and camping opportunities. Starved Rock State Park, located in Utica along the Illinois River, offers similar outdoor activities less than two hours southwest of Chicago.

Looking for family-friendly activities? Family Days Out has a comprehensive listing of fun things to do in Illinois for the whole family.

For even more weekend ideas, be sure and visit Enjoy Illinois, the official tourism bureau for the state with numerous ideas and opportunities to get out and explore Illinois.

Forbes Magazine recently released their list of the world’s most powerful women, the list of which includes CEOs, heads of state, entrepreneurs, celebrities, philanthropists and activists.

Many on the list are familiar names with Illinois ties, including Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.

Others are not as well-known but maintain high status in their respective fields. Ginni Rometty, chairwoman, president and CEO of IBM, was born in Chicago and graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston. She is the first woman to head IBM and is listed as the 13th most powerful woman in the world.

Ertharin Cousin, listed 47th, is the executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme. Born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, Cousin attended Lane Technical High School and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Cousin has also been named on TIME’s “100 most influential people in the world” list.

Ellen Kullman (26th), Rosalind Brewer (65th) and Gwynne Shotwell (90th) all have ties to Illinois and also appear on the Forbes list.

Learn more:
The World’s Most Powerful Women 2015

If you have never been to Murphysboro, Illinois, the honor that was recently bestowed upon it might cause you to take notice. Murphysboro, a quaint town located in southern Illinois, has solidified itself as a powerhouse for barbecue in the state of Illinois.

Earlier this month, the Illinois House of Representatives designated Murphysboro the “Barbecue Capital of Illinois.” Just to put it into perspective, two of the eighteen members of the Barbecue Hall of Fame live in Murphysboro. Those two men, Mike Mills and Pat Burke, are the minds behind 17th Street Barbecue and Pat’s BBQ. 

Every year, the town hosts a barbecue cook-off that draws aficionados from all over the Midwest to its rural location. This year they will be celebrating their 28th annual cook-off and are expecting over 60 different teams to participate in the competition.

Learn more:
Murphysboro cited among nation’s top BBQ spots – The Southern Illinoisan
Visit the “17th Street BBQ Cook Off” website