Area families invited to learn about food and farming at Meet a Farmer Day

[June 08, 2012]  BLOOMINGTON -- Farmers know consumers have questions about food and farming. To answer those questions face to face, Illinois Farm Families and the Children's Discovery Museum in Normal are hosting Meet a Farmer Day on June 16. During the event, children will explore the importance of soybeans through interactive play stations in the AgMazing exhibit on the second floor of the museum. Meanwhile, moms and dads can enter to win a tour of a local family farm.

Who: Families -- moms, dads, kids, grandparents

What: Meet a Farmer Day -- a day dedicated to food education for the whole family

Where: Children's Discovery Museum, Normal

When: June 16, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Why: Because Illinois farmers know you have questions about where your food comes from

How: Interactive play stations in the AgMazing exhibit on the second floor of the Children's Discovery Museum

Illinois Farm Families are Illinois farmers who support Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Soybean Association and Illinois Beef Association through farmer-funded membership and checkoff programs, including the Illinois soybean checkoff. They are committed to having conversations with consumers, answering their questions about food, farmers and farming, and sharing what really happens on today's Illinois family farms. These farm families are passionate about showing how they grow safe, healthy food for their own families and others.

More than 94 percent of Illinois farms are family-owned and operated.

For more information on Illinois Farm Families, visit www.watchusgrow.org.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Soybean Association]