At the Fair

Going Native

Looking for tips on landscaping your property with native plants? Conservation World provides the perfect location for examining a rain garden, prairie plantings and historically significant trees.

We've Got Answers

The Office of Law Enforcement's tent is a go-to place for questions about hunting, fishing, boating and a host of other natural resources topics. Here, Conservation Police Officers Chris Johnson (front) and Debbie Mansell (back) answer the questions of one fairgoer.

Private Land Programs/Natural Heritage/Mason State Nursery Tent

Test your knowledge about the many different pollinators in Illinois and learn how to create your own pollinator habitat. Monarch butterfly tag-and-release activities will occur at 11:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily. Learn about various private land habitat programs and don’t forget to visit the invasive plant demonstration site just outside the tent.

Standing on Ceremony

Whether they contribute their time and expertise leading educational tours at the Illinois State Museum, cleaning trails at an Illinois state park, teaching a safety education course or assisting biologists in the field, volunteers are valuable assets to the Department of Natural Resources. Recognizing a few of these volunteers is a time-honored tradition during the Illinois State Fair.

Fisheries Tent

See Illinois sportfish in the new Hawg Trough fish aquarium.  Can you identify the different types of catfish, bass, and sunfish, or know what a muskie or alligator gar looks like?

Wildlife

Interested in learning about wildlife conservation? This tent is for you! Test your skills identifying wildlife and waterfowl. Wildlife biologists will be available to help you learn about habitat management, how hunting is key to wildlife conservation and other topics! Staff members from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services will also be present to review large carnivore information and spread their knowledge as well! There are interactive exhibits and activities for all ages! 

Hanging with Smokey Bear

Attending the Illinois State Fair is an annual tradition for the Pruett family. Nine-year-old Mackenzie attended her first state fair when she was one month old, and she hasn't missed one yet. She and her sisters, Meadow (5) and Madilyn (2 1/2), have a traditional list of activities (and food vendors) that they clamor for each year, and one of those is Conservation World. Smokey will be in the Forestry tent at 11:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. daily. Come get your picture taken and shake Smokey’s hand.