State Fair Time in Illinois « Back

Our Illinois State Fair is here—and the entire Bohnert family is filled with pure excitement. We love to show our Jersey cattle, and have pulled our cow truck and trailer more than 170 miles each way for the past two decades.

For us, it brings back old memories of our childhood and now that we have children of our own, it’s an overwhelming experience to watch them learn the ropes, help out and enter the show ring.

The kids—both big and small—have helped walk, feed and wash cows this summer and now that we are days away from the debut of the dairy show. We are full speed ahead, prepping cows and getting the trailer filled with feed and tack.

For the children, the best part of showing at the fair is giving the cows a bath and winning the pretty ribbons. Even though Bohnert Farms has triumphed in the show ring over the years, our satisfaction of showcasing our cattle goes beyond the blue ribbon success. We enjoy the opportunity to market our cattle and educate consumers about passions for Jerseys and for dairy farming. We take great pride in our dairy farm and love the opportunity to produce food for the world.

For my husband, Scott, and his brother, Brian, and sister, Tara, excitement for exhibiting their cattle at the Illinois State Fair began at an early age when their parents, Jim and Wanda, brought home a couple of Jersey cows from the local sale barn, triggering their 4-H project and outlining their future.

Our entire family loves the fair. It’s a rich tradition of people, dairy friends, showing competition that fills our heart and makes all the hard work pay off. Plus, our children are receiving a firsthand education about commitment and dedication that will follow them for a lifetime.