Illinois Farm Families Invites Families to Connect at Chicago’s Taste of Randolph

Illinois Farm Families® (IFF), a group of farmer volunteers committed to providing accurate information about what happens on today’s farms, are inviting Chicago families to stop by and visit with them in their booth at Chicago’s iconic street festival Taste of Randolph, June 17 – June 19, 2022.

“People have a lot of questions about how food is grown and produced,” said Gracie Pierson, Consumer Engagement Manager with Illinois Farm Bureau who serves on the Illinois Farm Families coalition. “There’s a lot of information out there with conflicting messages that make finding clear, accurate answers difficult. As farmers, we want to be a part of the conversation. We welcome the opportunity to provide answers to many of the questions people may have about today’s farming practices.”

Farmers who produce corn, soybeans, pork, beef, and dairy are voluntarily staffing the Illinois Farm Families booth at Taste of Randolph. Local registered dietitians will also make appearances to answer families’ questions about nutrition and how Illinois-produced foods can have a healthy place in their meal planning. Other booth attractions include displays of Illinois farm products, a photo wall, and stories of today’s farming innovations in practice. Visitors who pose at the booth’s photo wall and share their pictures to Facebook or Instagram will be entered for a random drawing to win a free BBQ tools prize package.

Lindsay Mitchell, Illinois Corn’s Director of Communications who also serves on the Illinois Farm Families coalition, is looking forward to IFF’s farmer volunteers having the opportunity to interact one-on-one with Chicago families.

“Living in the city, many families don’t encounter farmers beyond some of the city’s urban growers’ initiatives or farmers’ markets. One of our missions is to meet people where they are to have open conversations about farming, share how it’s progressed over time, and answer questions about how the food we grow and the land we care for impacts them and their community. Taste of Randolph presents a unique opportunity to do all of that.” 

Illinois Farm Families will be at Taste of Randolph on Friday, June 17 from 5 – 10 pm and Saturday, June 18 and Sunday, June 19 from noon to 10 pm. The first 1,000 families to visit their booth on Saturday and Sunday will receive a free reusable canvas grocery tote bag.

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ABOUT ILLINOIS FARM FAMILIES

Illinois Farm Families (IFF) represents farmers of all commodities across the state of Illinois. IFF is committed to engaging in conversations with those curious about food, farmers, and farming, and sharing what really happens on the 96% of Illinois farms that are family owned and operated. IFF is supported by farmer-led organizations, including Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Soybean Association checkoff program, and Midwest Dairy. For more information about Illinois Farm Families, please visit www.WatchUsGrow.org.