By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Visitors to this year’s Illinois State Fair, which runs through Aug. 19, can help reduce hunger in Illinois by donating a non-perishable item.

“All donors will receive a discount coupon for some of their favorite fair food when they bring a bag, box, or can of non-perishable food to the State Fair,” said Illinois 4-H Media Coordinator Kelly Wagahoff.

Wagahoff explained that the food drive is back for its 11th year.
“(This) program continues to grow and provide food to nearly 1.5 million Illinois citizens,” Wagahoff said. “Since the program began, 4-H has collected more than 2.3 million pounds of food and 4-H youth and leaders have contributed over 2 million hours of volunteer service at food banks, pantries, shelters and meal programs throughout the state.

“Citizens are encouraged to join forces with 4-H youth to help eliminate hunger by getting involved in this campaign. All donated food will be taken to and distributed through the Central Illinois Food Bank.”

This year’s 4-H parade entry was titled Celebrate and Educate: 4-H Making a Difference. The float comprised of the giant Schnuck’s Shopping Cart along with volunteers who collected donations that visitors brought to the parade. Schnuck’s food store is a supermarket chain in Illinois.

The Honorary Chairperson for this year’s 4-H CAN Make a Difference Food Drive is First Lady Patricia Blagojevich.

This designation is not new for the Illinois Governor’s wife.
Blagojevich has served as the Honorary Chair for the past five years. More than 280,000 4-H youth will working with her on this campaign to reduce hunger in Illinois.

4-H is partnering with the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) on this program. Other sponsors include the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Beef Assoc., Illinois Pork Producers Assoc., US Bank and WFMB Radio. “For the past 10 consecutive years, the program has received the Statewide Food Drive of the Year Award from the Illinois Food Bank and America’s Second Harvest for outstanding leadership and service to citizens in need,” Wagahoff said.

The USDA profiled the 4-H CAN Make a Difference Food Drive in its nationally distributed Programs of Excellence report as America’s No. 1 youth development program.

“The Illinois Hunger Coalition reports that 1.5 million of the state’s citizens deal with hunger ever day and almost half this number is children,” said Sharon Petefish, University of Illinois Extension Specialist. “This is especially disturbing to 4-H youth since Illinois is one of the world’s largest food producers.”

For more details, contact the University of Illinois Extension office or call Illinois 4-H at 217-244-9671.

Other fair events

Food, of course, is a popular fair topic. Fairgoers are invited to try the Illinois Product demonstrations in the IDOA tent. At least five food companies will showcase their products each day. The fair is always about food on a stick, too. This year there will be eggs on a stick with a contest to create the best breakfast food on a stick.

To get down on the farm, stop at the Milk-A-Cow booth run by the Illinois-Illini Dairy Club. Gene McCoy, a retired U of I specialist said, “The two U of I students – Herb Newman and DeWayne Dill - envisioned the booth as a way to promote the dairy industry, provide children with a hands-on experience with dairying.”

Located in Barn 25Q the cost is $1. For fair details, visit www.illinoisstatefair.info