Fairs

A program designed to teach elementary students about agriculture and connections to the Spanish culture earned the Cambridge FFA Chapter a national award at the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo.

Excited members of the Yorkville Christian FFA Chapter gathered at Spirit Farms for a private concert with country artist Hailey Whitters. The chapter won the 2024 Rock the Crop contest from Firestone Ag.

Growing specialty crops including vegetables, pumpkins, gourds, mums and gladioli have developed into award-winning projects for Ty Steffen.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced record-breaking attendance totals for the 2024 Illinois State Fair. More than 773,000 people attended the 11-day event, the highest number on record since industry standards were enacted.

Following a successful year at the Illinois State Fair with more than 70,000 people passing through the FFA Barnyard, the major state officers kept in “fair mode” as they traveled to the Du Quoin State Fair.

One of the goals in FFA is to prepare members “for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.”

Disaster assistance for producers and training new staff has been among the many focuses of the Farm Service Agency’s Illinois offices over the last several months.

The Illinois Soybean Association is observing its 60th anniversary this year that will culminate with an awards banquet in November.

For Cliff Behrmann, bacon runs in the blood. Behrmann is the owner of Behrmann Meat and Processing, a business started by his maternal grandfather and Behrmann’s father.

Jeanette Merritt’s role as the communications director for Indiana Pork combines her passion for agriculture with her professional expertise in marketing and communication.

An expanded display promoting state parks and recreational sites was featured in Conservation World at the Illinois State Fair.

County fair, state fair, Learfield Ag/Brownfield summer meeting and Farm Progress Show filled my August. Hot and worn out at the end of many of those days, but my cup is full.

Confetti, traveling and fair food, oh my. Many people joke that my teammates and I are now “owned” by Illinois FFA.

Richard Lyons of Harvel is the recipient of the 2024 Illinois Leopold Conservation Award.

For Du Quoin native Luke Davison, being named manager of the Du Quoin State Fair was like coming home again.

As summer presses onward, From the Fields contributor Mark Seib continues balancing farm and family life.

A Natural Resources Conservation Service display brought the field to the Illinois State Fair. The tabletop display demonstrated the interaction between water and soils with different characteristics and management practices.

A variety of popular musical acts, a full slate of harness racing and motorsports and an array of food and product vendors will reflect all the tastes of southern Illinois for the 2024 Du Quoin State Fair.

More than 850,000 people attended the Indiana State Fair this summer — almost 14,000 more than last year, making for a successful celebration of food, agriculture and entertainment.

Many farmers quietly struggle with mental health and are reluctant to ask for help. If you or someone you know needs help, reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Sixty young livestock exhibitors vied for the title of Grand Champion Overall Master Showman during the 2024 Illinois State Fair Master Showmanship Contest.

A giant cheese sculpture was unveiled and enjoyed by guests at the Indiana State Fair.

I’ve been busy with the granddaughters’ fair schedule of showing. The oldest one can now drive, so that helps a lot, but grandpa still drives the truck and trailer to the shows.

It is that magical time of the year — August fair season. In a lot of ways, I look forward to the fair more than Christmas. 4-H has always been a big part of my family.

This year’s Indiana State Fair theme brought together agriculture and artwork in unique ways — including an art competition launched by the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the Brooks Lamb Foundation for the Arts.

The Indiana State Fair celebrated “The Art & Nature of Fun” in collaboration with Newfields.

Indiana State Fair guests shopped locally made and grown products at the Indiana Grown Marketplace this year. The store featured 407 products representing over 90 Hoosier businesses.

Building on two consecutive years of record-breaking attendance, the Illinois State Fair will feature several star performers on stage, new and the usual vendors and a free parking promotion.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of serving as Farm Bureau president is getting the chance to witness firsthand the remarkable things our members are doing within their communities.

Construction is underway at the La Porte County fairgrounds, where a 27,000-square-foot show arena is being built by the La Porte County Agricultural Association.

The newly remodeled Multi-Purpose Arena will host a variety of family-friendly events during the Illinois State Fair.

For the second year in a row, Midwest Dairy is introducing a Flavor of the Fair ice cream treat that can be found at the Dairy Goodness Bar during the Illinois State Fair.

Members of Congress will return home for the traditional August recess. Then after a brief time back in Washington, they will once again be back home to campaign in October.

Sheep lovers can enjoy more than just 4-H and open sheep shows at the Indiana State Fair this summer.

The Indiana Brewers’ Cup Competition celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Indiana State Fairgrounds this July.

The Indiana State Fair announced 14 new attractions for 2024, bringing more excitement and fun than ever.

Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer something savory, the Indiana State Fair has a huge lineup of foods to try.

Three central Illinois farm families were honored for their conservation agriculture efforts.

The earth provides an overabundance of food, but the distribution of that food is the struggle.

As summer pushes onward, Mark Seib continues raising his crops in southern Indiana, where growth progress is good and the weather has been a wild card.

Wet and hot conditions in northern Illinois are impacting crop growth, as well as providing an opportunity for increased disease pressure this year.

Take note of Team USA’s opening ceremony blazers. They are made with USA-grown wool. Actually, the Ralph Lauren website lists it as USA-grown Responsible Wool Standard-certified wool.

The fairs have started and my granddaughters have been busy walking, setting up, washing and trimming their four market lambs and one yearling ewe.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced an intrastate testing requirement for lactating dairy cattle participating in livestock exhibitions in Illinois to minimize the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

One of the longest-running sponsorships in U.S. motorsports is also one of the largest. Hall Brothers Racing, headquartered in central Illinois, has been sponsored by the Dodge brand since 2001.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture has released a new master plan for the Illinois State Fairgrounds aimed at maintaining the core functions of the fairgrounds while increasing its year-round events.

In the southwest toe of Indiana, 25 miles north of the Ohio River and 12 miles east of the Wabash, the Seib family farm continues its legacy.

The Illinois Soybean Association will observe its 60th anniversary with special events and commemorations throughout the year.

The Illinois General Assembly approved a record $53.1 billion spending plan that included some good and bad news for agriculture-related programs.

Exceptional projects of FFA members from across the state will be highlighted during the 96th annual Illinois FFA State Convention, set for June 11-13.