This poster will use concept mapping to tell the story of how—through a series of partnerships and unfounded optimism—relationships and resources were collected to initiate organic research and outreach in Illinois. The many participants involved will contribute text and graphics to complete their individual sections. The efforts of the Organic Task force, an extension led effort, helped pave the way for the founding of the Windsor Organic Research Trial (WORT), a study of transition pathways that involves researchers from the Illinois Natural History Survey and several University of Illinois Departments. Through WORT we have engaged experienced organic farmers and identified new research needs. Opportunities provided by the New Agriculture Network and the Illinois Organic Conference have greatly enhanced WORT outreach efforts. The site and interactions have attracted other researchers and fostered new research ideas. Despite successes, we are daunted as we look into the future and face pressures on time, personnel, and financial resources. Our desire to deliver results and advice to farmers and the public as well as to provide educational opportunities to students is frustrated by the constant pressure to obtain financial or capital resources needed to feed the effort. The Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Program is working to help this collection of people and organizations succeed in their efforts to evaluate and improve organic agriculture in Illinois. Viewers will decide for themselves and tell us whether or not we have made a silk purse out of a sow's ear or just created a boar.