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Lake County Fair preserves area's agricultural heritage

From fried Oreos to stomach-dropping carnival rides, this year's Lake County Fair has everything one would expect at a county fair.

However, the fair still sports a strong agricultural theme, and teaching children and adults about those deep roots and the importance of farming is the aim of a couple of hands-on exhibits.

The Lake County Farm Heritage Society's exhibit allows people to look over tractors and even drive them while learning about the source of their food.

“(People) think food comes from the refrigerator or a grocery store. There's no connection,” said Tod Buenger, the organization's vice president. “Farming is the source of food. It feeds the world.”

Buenger said the group's purpose is to preserve the history and equipment of the county's farm heritage.

“Lake County isn't all subdivisions and lakes,” he said. “There's a rich farming heritage here.”

The tractors showcased are 50 to 60 years old and while they move very slowly, they are very powerful.

Six-year-old Nathan Mills from Gilberts was excited to get behind the wheel of one of the machines.

“I liked everything. I got to drive it around and steer. It was so fun,” Nathan said.

Visitors can also learn about rope making using machines that are more than 100 years old. Younger guests can ride a train of barrels pulled by a tractor.

The Lake County Farm Bureau's indoor, interactive, miniature farmhouse exhibit called Ag Adventure! teaches children about basic farming tasks, such as milking a cow and harvesting crops.

The cow and crops aren't real, but staff member Chris Sosinski of Antioch said children can see the work that goes into the food they eat.

“Agriculture is the foundation of our food,” Sosinski said. “If they don't realize that at a young age, bad things can happen ...(Agriculture) is already lower than it used to be.”

For tickets and details about the Lake County Fair, visit lcfair.com

  Chloe Schilling, 6, of Evanston drives a 1942 John Deere tractor with Don Schreiber at the Lake County Farm Heritage Society's exhibit Wednesday during the Lake County Fair in Grayslake. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
  Alex Blaul, 5, of Grayslake drives a tractor around the Ag Adventure! exhibit Wednesday during the Lake County Fair in Grayslake. The interactive miniature farm, hosted by the Lake County Farm Bureau, shows children how to milk a cow, ride a tractor and plant vegetables. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
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