Fairs

The historic Champaign County Fair will once again be chock-full of fun and include daily grandstand entertainment of the four-legged and horsepower varieties, as well as a country music star.

A new rodeo, T and A Bucking Bulls will be at the Carroll County Fair on Aug. 7.

The Boone County Fair Association announced that multi-platinum hit-maker Justin Moore will headline the fair Aug. 9, with special guest Noah Hicks.

A group with 12 gold albums, three platinum albums, one double-platinum album, a double-platinum single and dozens of No. 1 singles will perform at the Fairbury Fair on Aug. 15.

Country music singer and songwriter Gretchen Wilson will perform at the 99th Ford County Fair on June 27.

Farmer Games is a new activity at the Lee County Fair on opening day, Thursday, July 24.

Looking for unique local crafts, great music, tasty treats, auto shows and numerous other activities for you, family and friends? The Kendall County Fair has it all.

A fast-paced rodeo, metal-crunching demolition derby and thunder of Illini State Pullers-sanctioned tractor pulls are just some of the many fan favorites at the Livingston County Agricultural Fair.

It will be a “Red Carpet A-Fair” at the 104th Marshall-Putnam Fair, celebrating a tradition of excellence.

The action-packed, high-energy Ready Go Dog Show is coming to the Ogle County Fair.

Gate admission to the Stephenson County Fair this year includes general admission to all grandstand events.

For the first time in nearly 40 years, the Warren County Fair Association is building a new facility as the fair approaches its 100th anniversary.

The 122nd Will County Fair opens with Family Day on Aug. 20 with general admission at $1 per person and all rides are also $1.

The Jasper County Fair will return for its 101st year July 19-26 at the Jasper County Fairgrounds.

The LaPorte County Fair, Indiana’s oldest county fair, is set to return for its 179th year July 5-12 at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds.

The Lake County Fair is set to make a grand return Aug. 1-10 celebrating its 95th year of bringing community, agriculture and entertainment together at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point.

The 106th annual Newton County Pun’kin Vine Fair is scheduled to take place July 7-12 at the Newton County Fairgrounds in Kentland.

The theme of the 2025 Indiana State Fair is “The Soundtrack of Summer” presented by Get Prepared Indiana.

The newly named Corteva Coliseum was unveiled at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The facility features more than 150 events for more than 1 million guests each year.

Meet Mindy Orschell, AgriNews’ new From the Fields contributor in southern Indiana.

The All-Breed Classic Open Horse Show will be a must-see event Aug. 1-3 at the Lake County Fair.

Along with cattle sales, junior activities and shows, the Illinois Beef Expo included a trade show where numerous companies provided information to cattlemen at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

At a very young age, sisters Claire and Jemma Dorsey started showing cattle, which has developed into a passion and award-winning endeavor.

Though FFA Week may last a mere seven days, the state officers find it important to sport an attitude of pride and excitement for the FFA every day.

The Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center is hosting the 2025 World Food Championships again. The event will be held Oct. 16-19 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion, where it was held last year.

The Hayden family of Hayden Grove Farms was honored as a finalist for the 2025 Indiana Farm Family of the Year Award.

Pilar Bravo from Marion County was crowned the 66th Miss Indiana State Fair at the Corteva Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center. It is the first time since 1981 that a contestant from Marion County has won the title.

Two central Illinois agriculture teachers already had plenty on their plates as they watched and listened to the news.

Before 2024 slides into history, some noteworthy farm and food updates, please, to ensure these stories go with it.

George Obernagel of Waterloo was the recipient of the Illinois Corn Growers Association’s top award, The World of Corn.

The Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center announced a new naming rights partnership for its iconic coliseum — now called the Corteva Coliseum.

The largest drive-through light show in Indianapolis — Christmas Nights of Lights — is returning to the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

As we head into the holiday season, please support those who support your community. There are many reasons to shop in your local, rural communities.

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.