SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) tent at the Illinois State Fair exemplifies fair officials’ commitment to reemphasizing farming as the central theme of the exposition, which continues in Springfield through Aug. 23.
The new and improved tent was moved from its location in the "Heartland" area to the corner of Central Avenue and Main Street, just east of the Coliseum. Its proximity to the midway and increased exposure to foot traffic makes the location ideal for educating fairgoers about how agriculture affects the everyday lives of people in Illinois and elsewhere, according to new State Fair Manager Patrick Buchen.
"Our core for 167 years at the Illinois State Fair had been agriculture, but we thought it was time to make farming as central and as highlighted as we possibly could. We thought we’d start making that point with a beautiful tent containing a lot of activities highlighting all of Illinois agriculture," said Buchen, while several dozen fair attendees around him noshed on watermelon, peaches, and sweet corn and sipped apple cider slushies in the cool of the tent last Friday.
The food was provided by the Illinois Specialty Growers, whose volunteers served "summery" snacks that also included cantaloupe slices, popcorn, salad and ice cream. In addition, Illinois Product vendors were providing samples and selling products ranging from salsa, sauces, meat products, seasonings and honey.
Many Illinois ag commodity groups are also represented in the ag tent, lending a spirit of camaraderie to the atmosphere.
"We reached out to the specialty growers and all of the commodity groups that are Illinois agriculture. They came together to help us build an interactive display where people can come in and get a bite to eat, enjoy all the displays and just get back to agriculture," said Buchen, who showed cattle at the fair as a youth involved in 4-H.
The tent also offers kid-friendly displays, daily "Chopped" contests, education and interactive presentations, displays and education on the use of drones in agriculture, ag tours of the fairgrounds and giveaways. Fairgoers can visit the "Ask a Farmer" booth, sponsored by the Illinois Farm Families program, where central Illinois farmers are available to answer consumers’ questions about farming and food.
While farm families no longer travel by wagon and spend a week at the fairgrounds, as when the Illinois State Fair opened in 1853, the tent strives to reframe for the general public the central role agriculture and farm families play in the history of the fair. It succeeds in that measure, though Buchen thinks the tent will only get better with time.
"This is a start," he said, gesturing around the bustling, activity-filled space."We have a lot more we want to do as we go down the road."
New IDOA Director Philip Nelson stopped by the tent Friday and addressed those in attendance, saying he hoped everyone was enjoying the Illinois food available for sample and purchase.
"I also encourage you to look outside the tent and see some of the changes and modernizations of equipment in agriculture. That’s all been for a purpose – producing a safer, more efficient food supply," he said.
"Faces of Illinois Agriculture" is the theme carried throughout the tent exhibits. Events held in the tent during the fair include the Illinois Leadership Council Agri-Business Awards, Illinois State Fair Wine Competition, Illinois Cured Meat Show, Ag Education Awards, Outstanding Sheep Producer Awards, Illinois Beef and Illinois Pork Assocs. Families of the Year Awards, Cutest Little Farmer Contest and more.
