Illinois State Fair

The successes by farmers and the accomplishments by the state’s Department of Agriculture were highlighted to open the Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Agriculture shared accomplishments made in 2022 to support the state’s No. 1 industry.

The Illinois Pork Producers Association celebrated reaching 1 million pounds of pork donated to regional food banks through its Pork Power program at the place where it all started 14 years ago.

For the past year, Thomas Titus has added “president” to his already lengthy list of titles that include dad, husband, showpig producer and pork producer. Titus has served as president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association.

Transparency is among the priorities of the Illinois Pork Producers Association in its efforts to promote the consumers’ preference for “the other white meat.”

Over 636,700 visitors walked through the Illinois State Fair gates this year, beating the previous record of 508,900 in 2019. Weekend attendance during the fair saw an increase of nearly 95,000 people over 2021.

Though summer quickly came to an end, the Illinois FFA Major State Officer Team has continued to put its leadership abilities to the test. At the annual Illinois State Fair in Springfield, the state officers carried on the tradition of working the FFA Barnyard.

Educating state and national legislators about important issues for farmers is one of several goals for the Illinois Soybean Association. “One of the biggest things with the new farm bill coming up is keeping the crop insurance,” said Steve Pitstick.

Promoting homegrown food provided the centerpiece at the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s tent at the state fair. During the opening weekend of the fair, free local food samples were provided at an artisan market.

The bow has been tied on the 2022 Illinois State Fair. While it will be a few weeks before official audited attendance numbers will be available, there are several factors that point to a successful year.

The road to Illinois FFA major state office is not a smooth path and the lucky few who are named state officers learn quickly that their term is not easy, either. However, it is among the most fulfilling journeys on which a teenager can embark.

The Illinois State Fair, an 11-day showcase of agriculture and family fun, kicked off Aug. 11 with the theme “Grow With Us.”

The people who meet Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Addisyn Calloni as she travels around to county fairs throughout the state would never guess it, but speaking to large groups of people hasn’t always been a favorite thing for Calloni.

The Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research held its annual meeting via Zoom. The board voted to continue to support the Illinois State Fair.

Early in 2021, four Illinois college students were selected to serve as the Midwest Dairy ambassadors. Throughout the year, this group promoted the dairy industry and supported Midwest Dairy’s mission to give consumers an excellent dairy experience at a variety of industry and consumer events in Illinois.