Bring your lunch and join us to learn about the history of fairs in McLean County on Thursday, August 14, from 12:10 to 1:00 p.m. with Don Meyer, ag historian and guest curator of the Museum’s current exhibit Challenges, Choices, and Change: Farming in the Great Corn Belt.
County fairs have been held at a myriad of locations in and around Bloomington-Normal and across McLean County. In recent decades, most think of the 4-H Fair as our summer fair (held since the 1920s) and recall its locations at Bon-Go Park, Fans Field (east side) Farm Bureau Field, and now the Interstate Center. Meyer will share stories about the locations of the county fairs that were celebrated 50 years before 4-H, with many of those locations now covered by houses, businesses, and streets!
Don Meyer has degrees from ISU and U of I, and taught agriculture for six years at Lexington. He served as a Farm Adviser and County Director for the McLean County Extension Service for 27 years. In retirement, in addition to volunteering with the Museum, Meyer shares an ag history column for eight McLean County newspapers and on WJBC, offers ag history bus tours for local groups, is a licensed farmland broker and auctioneer with The Loranda Group, Inc., and teaches on-line continuing education courses for Novalis Learning.
The Museum's Lunch & Learn series is made possible with the support of our presenting sponsor, MCK CPAs & Advisors. This series provides unique learning opportunities every second Thursday of the month over the lunch hour (12:10 to 1:00 p.m.) in person and live via youtube.com/mchistorymuseum.