Despite all the changes in our society, in at least one respect Illinois remains much the same as the day it was founded. It still is an agrarian state. Our forefathers might not recognize the sophisticated farm machinery and production techniques used today, but the fact is, Illinois' prosperity always has been tied to agriculture.

This is why county fairs are so important. They recognize the hard work of our farmers and youth and provide encouragement to those who will lead agriculture in the future. They also spread the agriculture message to fairgoers who do not live or work on a farm. And, this may be the only opportunity to make many of these people aware of the impact that agriculture has on their lives. Consider the following:

• More than 80 percent of Illinois is devoted not to shopping malls, but to growing crops and raising livestock. That amounts to 27.7 million acres of farmland, an area equal to the size of Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont combined!

• Sales of Illinois crops and livestock contribute $7 billion annually to the Illinois economy, and this figure does not even include revenue from food processing and other agribusinesses. A large portion of the state's commodity sales comes from foreign markets because Illinois is among the leading agricultural exporters in the United States.

• While farmers make up less than two percent of Illinois population, they are the foundation of a diverse industry that employs nearly 25 percent of the state's workforce. And that percentage is projected to grow in the coming years.

• Illinois, with 1,700 food companies, ranks sixth among all states. Food processing is the state's top manufacturing activity.

• Illinois is known for its corn and soybean production, which annually ranks either first or second in the nation. But, the state's rich agricultural resources also enable it to produce a wide variety of other commodities. For instance, Illinois currently produces nearly 25 percent of the Swiss cheese manufactured in the United States, or more than 55 million pounds annually. It ranks second in the production of creamed cottage cheese with a yearly volume of more than 38 million pounds.

• Illinois also is a pioneer in the development of new and expanded uses for its crops, like ethanol. Illinois leads the nation in ethanol production, converting 274 million bushels of corn into 678 million gallons of the clean-burning fuel annually.

County fairs have remained a celebration of Illinois' agricultural heritage because of the hard work and dedication of volunteer fair boards. Last year, 1,265 citizens from all walks of life gave their time to serve on a board. And they did an outstanding job. More than 3.3 million people attended the state's 105 county fairs, whether their visit was to show livestock, exhibit homemade food and baked goods, display artistic talents or simply enjoy the rides, shows and exhibits.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture supports the efforts of county fair volunteer boards by providing funding for premiums, the maintenance of facilities and agriculture education programs. In 2001, for example, $2.2 million was distributed to county fairs for premiums, the cash prizes paid to contest winners. Another $4.1 million was appropriated through two funds to help with the upkeep of fairgrounds and to finance new building construction. And nearly $1 million was allocated to recognize and encourage the work of 4-H and FFA members.

I invite you to join the millions of Illinoisans who have made county fairs a favorite summer pastime. Relax, have a corn dog and a lemonade shake-up, and enjoy the rides and attractions at your county's fair as Illinois salutes its number one industry — agriculture.

Norm Thompson was appointed acting bureau chief of the Illinois Department of Agriculture's County Fairs and Horse Racing in 2001 after seven years as a field coordinator for the bureau. He resides in rural Jacksonville on a farm that has been in the Thompson family for more than 100 years and has raced and trained Standardbred horses since 1958.

The opinions and views of guest commentators are their own and may not represent those of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives or the electric co-ops of Illinois.

4  ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING www.aiec.org