Large donation made to ag exhibit

The McLean County Farm Bureau has made a $1 million donation to the Children’s Discovery Museum in Normal for a new ag exhibit.

“From the Farm to a Healthy Me” opens in 2026 at the museum. This was the largest single gift the museum has ever received.

The new exhibit will be housed on the second floor and will be much larger than the current ag exhibit that opened back in 2006.

“We think about the future all the time,” said museum director Beth Whisman.

Highlights of “From the Farm to a Healthy Me” include an ag lab that covers weather, agronomy, soil and the STEM concepts of science, a colorful grocery store with hands-on interactive activities, a food truck which changes themes and menus for the season and an updated combine and tractor for kids to climb into.

An oversized check was presented to Whisman along with fundraising co-chairs Julie and Bob Dobski and Marlene Dietz during this week’s McLean County Chamber of Commerce Ag Awareness Breakfast in Bloomington.