Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor • Chuck Hartke, Director
Office of the Director
State Fairgrounds • P.O. Box 19281 • Springfield, IL62794-9281 • 217/782-2172 • TDD 217/524-6858 • Fax 217/785-4505
July 19, 2006
Dear Friend of Agriculture:
You are cordially invited to celebrate AG DAY with us at the Illinois State Fair. The awards program and luncheon begin at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 15, 2006 on the Director’s Lawn, State Fairgrounds in Springfield, IL. The enclosed invitation serves as your admission ticket to the fairgrounds and to the luncheon on the Director’s Lawn. Public parking for a fee is available inside Gate 6.
In planning your day’s activities, visit the attractions and exhibits in the “Heartland – Illinois Salutes Agriculture” located in the Gate 2 area of the fairgrounds. Stop in for the Illinois Product Sampling inside the IL Department of Agriculture tent, as well as the Farmers’ Market,Kids Ag-tivity Tent, wine garden, agricultural sand sculptures and other exhibits. You are also invited to bid on the Grand Champions during the 5:30 p.m. Commodity Auction and the 6:00 p.m. Governor’s Sale of Champions in the LivestockCenter. New to the Sale of Champions venue is your opportunity to bid on the Land of Lincoln Champions. Please join us as we celebrate many facets of agriculture.
Special Thanks to our 2006 Ag Day Awards Luncheon sponsors:
Assoc. of IL Electric Cooperatives
Assoc. of IL Soil & Water Conservation Districts
Eli’s Cheesecake from Chicago
Farm Credit Services
Governor’s Rural Affairs Council
Grain and Feed Association of Illinois
Horsemen’s Council of Illinois
Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation
Illinois Agri-Women
Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs
Illinois Association of Meat Processors
Illinois Beef Association
Illinois Corn Growers Association
Illinois Council on Best Management Practices
Illinois Council on Food & Agricultural Research
Illinois Crop Improvement Association
Illinois Department of Agriculture’s
- Bureau of Marketing and Promotion
Illinois Department of Agriculture’s
- Sustainable Agriculture Program
Illinois Farm Bureau
Illinois Farmers Union
Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association
Illinois Finance Authority
Illinois Grape and Wine Vintners Association
Illinois Lamb and Wool Producers
Illinois Pork Producers Association
Illinois Soybean Association
Illinois Soybean Check off Board
Illinois Specialty Growers Association
Illinois Water Authority Association
Midwest Dairy Association
Rural Partners
University of IllinoisCollege of Veterinary Medicine
SUIC – College of Agricultural Sciences
If you have any questions, please contact Karen Fraase in the Bureau of Marketing and Promotion at (217) 785-7799. See you at the Fair August 11-21, 2006.
Sincerely,
Charles A. “Chuck” Hartke
Illinois Director of Agriculture