URBANA, Ill. — The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will take part in the 200th-anniversary celebration of Funk Farms, one of the oldest and most historically significant farms in the Midwest. The free event featuring food, local vendors, and live music will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, at Funk Farms, 5959 N 1100 East Road, Shirley, Illinois. 

In honor of the bicentennial, College of ACES Dean Germán Bollero will be a panelist discussing “Pioneers Built from the Soil Up: How the Funk Family Shaped American History,” a new book by acclaimed author Chris Bodenner. Bodener, Bollero, and the other panelists will detail the Funk Family’s support for family attorney Abraham Lincoln’s run for the Presidency; their outsized influence on global agriculture; their backing of the Union during the Civil War; their position leading Chicago’s Union Stockyards; and their role in the founding of Northwestern and Illinois Wesleyan universities.

“The Funk Family's legacy is a testament to visionary leadership in agriculture and education — their work has laid a foundation that continues to influence our practices and principles in modern agriculture and academia,” Bollero said. “This event not only commemorates the rich heritage of Funk Farms but also emphasizes the importance of sustainable agriculture and community stewardship — values that align closely with the mission of the College of ACES.”

Read the full release from the College of ACES.