SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois State Fair is up and running.
Again this year, the connection to agriculture is strong — especially on Ag Day, Aug. 15. But throughout the fair, ag tours are featured.
Interactive agricultural tours give fairgoers a chance to take a behind-the-scenes look at Illinois agriculture on the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
“Ag tours provide a wonderful opportunity for those not directly connected to the agriculture industry to learn more about our state's No. 1 industry,” Illinois Ag Director Raymond Poe said in a news release.
“At each stop you learn something new from those who live, eat, breathe and sleep Illinois agriculture. These folks are passionate and full of information, from how long it takes for milk to travel from the farm to the grocery store, to how long it takes to train a champion race horse."
This twice-daily tour departs from the Illinois Department of Agriculture tent. Each tour takes fairgoers on a tram ride guided by FFA members throughout the fairgrounds, learning about beef, dairy, swine, horse racing, goats, rabbits, corn, soybeans and pollinators. Each participant receives a goodie bag full of items from the various commodity groups.
The tours have been a huge success so far, Poe said.
On Aug. 11, 4-H and Google announced a collaboration at the Illinois State Fair. 4-H and Google are coming together for a computer science (CS) collaboration that will teach kids technical skills like coding. A $1.5 million grant from Google.org will establish a CS program that will reach more than 100,000 young people across 22 states in its first year.
The collaboration will include an effort to reach communities where youth traditionally have limited access to computers, internet or CS training. With Google’s support, 4-H will equip community educators with training, devices and the support of Google CS experts.
“No matter where kids live or what they aspire to be, these are skills that will help them succeed,” Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of National 4-H Council, said in a news release from the group.
A different twist on agriculture was celebrated with hog and husband calling Aug. 13. The winner of the hog calling contest was repeat champion Andrew Metheney of Georgetown, Ill. Metheney's realistic squeals were enough to beat out the competition once again this year. This is Metheney's second consecutive win against runner up Chris Karr, who is a 10-time champion.
The winner of the husband calling contest was Lisa McLaughlin of Petersburg, Ill. McLaughlin's husband call had the crowd howling with laughter as she took the stage to recite her own, original song that she stated she had used to call upon her husband.
Not all events are agriculture related. On Saturday, Kids Day at the fair, the American Business Club of Springfield presented several specially-engineered tricycles to children with disabilities.
The fair also paid tribute to veterans. Medal of Honor recipient, Specialist 5, James C. McCloughan, was the keynote speaker on Veterans & Gold Star Family Day. He received the Medal of Honor for his service during the Vietnam War.
A private first class at the time, McCloughan risked his life to rescue wounded and disoriented personnel. Despite being wounded by shrapnel and small-arms fire, McCloughan refused medical evacuation, according to a news release.
“What I did is not about the medal, it is about the lives that were saved," he said.
After his war service, in a 40-year career as a high school teacher and coach, he earned a number of awards including being named to several sports halls of fame in Michigan.
The 2017 Illinois State Fair ends Aug. 20. Visit www.illinoisstatefair.info.