McLean County Farm Bureau

Rules for the Road - Pekin
2026-02-26 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Tazewell County Farm Bureau, 1505 Valle Vista Blvd #5, Pekin, IL, 61554
Sit in this workshop at Tazewell County Farm Bureau to hear updates about new trucking regulations and get your transportation questions answered with with Illinois Farm Bureau transportation expert, Rodney Knittel.

A Night for Agriculture
2026-02-28 17:00 - 21:00 | West Expo, McLean County Fairgrounds, 1106 Interstate Drive, Bloomington, IL, 61705, United States
Join us for an exquisite evening to celebrate & support the local agricultural education efforts of McLean County Farm Bureau Foundation.Your support helps us:GROW Knowledge…through McLean County Ag in the ClassroomNURTURE the Future…through Ag Science & FFA GrantsCULTIVATE Excellence…through Ag Leadership Scholarships
Details & tickets: https://mcfb.cbo.io

Focus on the Future: Sustaining Farm Legacy
2026-03-02 10:00 - 15:00 | I Hotel & Conference Center, 1900 S 1st St, Champaign, IL, 61820, United States
Illinois Extension and Illinois Farm Bureau will host Focus on the Future in Champaign on March 2, 2026 from 10am-3pm at the I Hotel & Conference Center. The day will cover practical topics that matter to Illinois farmland owners & agricultural stakeholders, including:

Building Strong Landowner-Tenant Relationships: Tips for clear and effective communication to ensure successful farm management.
Understanding Today’s Farm Economics: Gain insights from experts like Jonathan Coppess and Gary Schnitkey to help navigate current financial challenges.
Conservation and Sustainability Updates: Learn about the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy and current efforts to improve soil health and water quality through agricultural conservation practices.
Regional Focus: A spotlight on issues and opportunities unique to your area.
Networking and Discussion: Connect with other landowners and professionals, share experiences, and enjoy lunch while discussing what matters most to your operation.

Registration is required both in-person & zoom options are available. The cost is $20. Click here for more details & to register.

Rules for the Road - Gilman
2026-03-03 18:00 - 19:30 | Ford-Iroquois County Farm Bureau, 1381 S Crescent Street, Gilman, IL, 60938, United States
Sit in this workshop at Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau to hear updates about new trucking regulations and get your transportation questions answered with with Illinois Farm Bureau transportation expert, Rodney Knittel.

Primary Election - Go Vote!
2026-03-17 06:00 - 19:00 | IL
Primary Elections will take place March 17, 2026.
Offices on the ballot include:

U.S. Senate (1 seat)
U.S. Representative
IL General Assembly – House & Senate
Statewide offices – Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer & Comptroller
County Board & Countywide offices
Referenda for specific taxing bodies

Three ways to cast your ballot:

Vote by Mail: Request a mail-in ballot by March 12
Vote Early: Feb. 5 – March 16 Click here for times & locations
Vote on Election Day – March 17: polls open 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Find specimen ballots: click here (or Bloomington voters click here)

McLean County Chamber Ag Awareness Breakfast
2026-03-18 07:00 - 20:00 | IL
McLean County Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 24th Ag Awareness Breakfast at the McLean County Fairgrounds on March 18th at 7:00am. The breakfast is open to the community. The program will highlight FFA Service Award winners, scholarship winners, and a keynote speaker. Click here for more information and to RSVP.

Rules for the Road - Virtual
2026-03-19 12:00 - 13:30 | IL
Join the Rules for the Road seminar from wherever you get service to hear updates about new trucking regulations and get your transportation questions answered with with Illinois Farm Bureau transportation expert, Rodney Knittel. A link will be sent to closer to the event date & a hard copy of the handbook will be mailed to your address.

Office Closed - Happy Easter!
2026-04-03 | IL

Young Leaders - Tour at Watershed Foods
2026-04-07 16:30 - 18:00 | Watershed Foods, LLC
Watershed Foods is a leading supplier for freeze-dried solutions and use cutting-edge technologies. Join us on the tour to learn more about their business, products, and how they became leaders in the industry.
The tour will be at Watershed Foods Facility in Gridley, 202 N Ford St, on April 7th at 4:30pm. The tour will last approx. 1.5 hours. Closed-toe shoes must be worn. The tour is limited to 12 people.

Prime Timers Meeting
2026-04-23 11:30 - 13:00 | McLean County Farm Bureau, 2242 Westgate Drive, Bloomington, IL, 61705, United States
Prime Timers will meet on Thursday, April 23, at 11:30 a.m. at the McLean County Farm Bureau Office, 2242 Westgate Drive, Bloomington. Lunch will be available for $5 per person (1/2 sandwich & soup from McCallister’s Deli). Reservations for lunch are required by April 21. The Prime Timers group is geared towards any Farm Bureau members of retirement age.

Office Closed - Memorial Day
2026-05-25 | IL

McLean County Fair Fanfare
2026-05-30 16:00 - 19:00 | McLean County Fairgrounds, 1106 Interstate Drive, Bloomington, IL, 61705, United States
The McLean County Fair Fanfare will offer a chance to celebrate and support the Fair with food and entertainment on Saturday, May 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the fairgrounds. The family-friendly event will feature six food vendors with a variety of ‘fare’ to choose from, a cash bar, live music from Kyle Yap, plus bounce houses and kids’ activities. No admission charge, and the event is open to the public.
The fairgrounds will also be hosting a 1/4 Scale Tractor Design Competition with tractor pulls starting at 7 p.m. at the grandstand (or in Barn D if it rains).
Members can pre-register for the event here.

Landowner Property Rights Meeting
2026-06-23 18:30 - 20:00 | IL
Get the latest updates on rules and regulations for renewable energy projects, battery storage, utility/transmission lines and other issues at a Landowner Property Rights Meeting June 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the McLean County Farm Bureau office.
Illinois Farm Bureau attorneys Laura Harmon and Garrett Thalgott will share updates on recent legislative changes affecting siting and zoning of various types of projects.
The discussion will also include tips for negotiating leases and easements and an update on transmission line projects.
Farm Bureau membership is required, but there is no registration fee to attend the meeting. Light refreshments will be provided.

Prime Timers Meeting
2026-06-25 11:30 - 13:00 | McLean County Farm Bureau, 2242 Westgate Drive, Bloomington, IL, 61705, United States
Prime Timers will meet on Thursday, June 25, at 11:30 a.m. at the McLean County Farm Bureau Office, 2242 Westgate Drive, Bloomington. Lunch will be available for $5 per person (sandwich & side from McAlister’s Deli). Reservations for lunch are required by June 23. The Prime Timers group is geared towards any Farm Bureau members of retirement age.

Office Closed - Independence Day
2026-07-03 | IL

Young Leaders Tour: Kilgus Farmstead
2026-07-09 17:30 - 19:30 | Kilgus Farmstead, 7111 2150 East, Faribury, IL, 61739
Kilgus Farmstead is known for its dairy & meat products. On the tour, we will see the operation, learn about how they manage their land, & hear about their selling direct to consumers journey. The evening will end with a sweet treat at their Country Store, where you will also be able to shop.
The tour will be at Kilgus Farmstead, 7111 2150 East, Fairbury, IL 61739, in Fairbury on July 9 at 5:30pm (located just south of town). The tour will last approx. 1.5 hours. Closed-toe shoes must be worn. The tour is limited to 30 people.
After the tour, the group will head to Gigs Place Bar & Grill for a networking hour. Let us know if you plan to attend below.

Young Leader Ag Industry Tour
2026-07-13 - 2026-07-19 | Northern New England
The annual Young Leader Ag Industry Tour is headed to the Northern New England – Vermont, New Hampshire, & Maine!
When: July 13-19th, 2026
What to expect: Diverse, smaller-scale family farms and specialty production, including maple, dairy, blueberries, potatoes, and high-value produce, along with a strong emphasis on soil health and climate resilience. This ag industry tour highlights farm management, technology, and agronomic practices across Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Registration: This opportunity is available to Farm Bureau members ages 18-35. Registration will be open March 16 – March 31. Registering does not guarantee you will be selected for the trip. The trip attendees are determined by lottery system with 10 spots reserved for first time attendees. 35 spots available. Accepted participants have sponsorship options available to help cover trip costs. To register, or inquire more about this opportunity, please email membership@mcfb.org.
Tentative Agenda

Foundation Golf Outing
2026-07-13 09:00 - 15:00 | IL
The MCFB Foundation Golf Outing is July 13, 9:30 AM. Location TBA.
The Foundation’s focus is to support local ag education efforts through scholarships, grants, and Ag in the Classroom programming.
Click here to sign up and get more information.

IFB Farm Talk
2026-07-14 11:30 - 14:00 | IL
Farm Bureau members are invited to join Illinois Farm Bureau President, Philip Nelson and legislative staff for a Farm Talk Tuesday, July 14 with lunch provided at 11:30 a.m.
Speakers include:

Philip Nelson, IFB President
Rebecca Barnett, IFB Director of National Legislation
Mark Raney, IFB Associate Director of State Legislation
Bill Bodine, IFB Director of Business & Regulatory Affairs

Event location: 440 County Road 1700 E., Philo, IL 61864
Please RSVP by Tuesday, July 7 to the Champaign County Farm Bureau at (217) 352-5235 or emily@ccfarmbureau.com.
Additional Farm Talks are scheduled for Aug. 11 in DeKalb County and Aug. 26 in Franklin County.

Farm History/Rt 66 Bus Trip
2026-08-15 08:00 - 12:30 | IL
Get your farm history kicks on Route 66 with a bus tour through northern McLean County!
Join us Saturday, August 15 for a drive down memory lane with Don Meyer, ag historian and guest curator for the Museum’s Farming in the Great Corn Belt permanent exhibit, and Candace Summers, the Museum’s Senior Director of Education.
Highlights include:

1833 “Old Chicago Trail”
Black Hawk War stockade site
Matthew T Scott house & farmland
“Memory Lane,” remnant of the 2-lane 1920s highway
Duncan Manor
Sprague’s Service Station, Normal
and more!

Cost: $50 for Farm Bureau/Museum members, $55 for non-members
Coffee and donuts will be available at 7:45 a.m. Bus will leave from the McLean County Fairgrounds promptly at 8:15 a.m. and return approximately 12:30 p.m. Seating is limited to 50 passengers, with a minimum of 28 people required to secure the motor coach.
Registration is due by July 26, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Register online or call the Museum at 309-827-0428 to pay with a credit card. Payment must be made at the time of purchase.
The trip includes transportation by Peoria Charter Coach to all sites, bottled water, and a snack.
