Which state is the nation’s leading producer of corn, soybeans, and pumpkins? If you guessed “Illinois,” you’re right — and if you knew the answer, you might be a Midwesterner. Often referred to as “The Prairie State,” Illinois’s 57,000 square miles are carpeted with lush farmlands, quiet forests, and rolling hills. And there are so many talented quilters to meet in “The Prairie State.” We hope you’ll join us in meeting a few of them as we take you on a wonderful, wintry tour of Illinois within the pages of Issue 18.