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| Illinois Family Farms Table Runners (Credit: Laura Kovarik, ISGS) |
10,000+ FAMILY FARMS!!
That is how many family farms are enrolled in the Illinois Department of Agriculture Centennial and Sesquicentennial Farm program (according to the website).
When planning the Farms & Families: Across the Decades reception
for the FGS 2016 Conference, the original idea was to create displays on a select
few participants. But which ones? That became the question.
After wrestling
with how to pick which farms to showcase, the answer arrived like the
proverbial bolt from the blue – do them ALL!!
Again, the wrestling match began on HOW to do them all. So idea of writing every name was born. Where could so many names be displayed? On the tables. The final project took form.
Part of the table decorations will include runners
with every name and the date of original purchase of a Centennial and
Sesquicentennial farm in Illinois. EVERY ONE. Any family that has taken the
time to fill out the paperwork and seek designation deserves to be honored for
their genealogical work.
The names and dates will be handwritten on paper runners. Yes, the goal is to get all 102 counties and all 10,000 plus names on the runners before Wednesday, August 31. Will it get done? Right now, we are have over 3,000 names on runners.
Check the ISGS Facebook page for updates. And maybe you will just have
to come to the special event, "Farms and Families: Across the Decades," 7pm-9pm on Wednesday evening to see if we made our goal!
Not yet registered for the FGS 2016 National Genealogy Conference in Springfield, Illinois, August 31—Sep 3rd, 2016? Register today and add-on the special event, "Farm and Families: Across the Decades" which is sponsored by FamilySearch and co-hosted by the Illinois State Genealogical Society and the Illinois State Historical Society. Already registered? Sign-in again and add this or other events, luncheons, and workshops!
Laura Kovarik
Local Host Chair
Illinois State Genealogical Society
