BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – John Grant and Kacie Kaufman graduated from Illinois Farm Bureau’s Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow (ALOT) program, a comprehensive leadership development course, on March 20. Grant and Kaufman, members of McLean County Farm Bureau, were a part of the 25-member graduating class in 2025. Now in its 46th year, ALOT has graduated more than 1,200 leaders since 1979. The seven-session course featured experts in communication skills, political process, ag economics and global issues.

McLean County has a recipient of an Illinois Farm Bureau Rural Development Grant aimed at elevating rural communities. Mt Hope-Funks Grove Fire Protection District was awarded $5,000 for a QTAC Trailer for Firefighting Skid Unit. The QTAC Trailer will be used for a pumping skid unit to aid in extinguishing grass and field fires. It will also be used for areas that are hard to gain access to with a brush truck. “We will be

McLean County Farm Bureau is pleased to announce a $1 million gift to grow knowledge of agriculture with the new Farm to Healthy Me Exhibit at the Children’s Discovery Museum planned to open in 2026. The 5,786 square foot exhibit “From the Farm to a Healthy Me” will be housed on the second floor of the Museum in Uptown Normal, and it will be more than double the size of the current agriculture exhibit which