State FFA officers will serve as grand marshals for Twilight Parade
The 2023-24 Illinois State FFA officers will serve as grand marshals for the Illinois State Fair Twilight Parade Thursday.
The parade steps off from Lincoln Park at 5:30 p.m.
Two of the officers are from the Springfield area: President Thaddeus Bergschneider of Franklin and Secretary Riley Kessler of New Douglas (Staunton FFA).
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"These FFA leaders represent the future of agriculture in Illinois,” said Jerry Costello II, Illinois Department of Agriculture Director. “I am proud to have ag education grow immensely over the past two years, including in our urban communities providing young adults opportunities in our state’s number one industry.”
State membership in the organization has nearly doubled since Gov. JB Pritzker announced in 2022 that every student in the state of Illinois taking an ag class would have their FFA dues paid. Membership is now just over 40,000.
"Here in the Land of Lincoln, we are making agricultural education more accessible for all young Illinoisans because it is our current students who represent our future agricultural leaders—young minds who will grapple with and solve the challenges of tomorrow," Pritzker said.
The other officers are Vice President Eric Wisely of Nashville; Reporter Cooper Nelson of Canton and Treasurer Benjamin Bremmer of Pearl City.
Bergschneider graduated from Franklin High School and Kessler graduated from Staunton High School, both in the spring.
The officers were elected at the Springfield convention on June 15.
Pritzker and other guests will cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the fair at the Main Gate at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
Leaving Lincoln Park, the parade will head east down Sangamon Avenue before turning left at the Main Gate and on the fairgrounds. The parade will follow Main Street then turn right onto Illinois Avenue.
The parade route will close to traffic at 4 p.m., with detour signs along North Grand Avenue and Veterans and J. David Jones parkways in place. The route is expected to remain closed until 9 p.m.
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No public parking will be available for parade viewing in Lincoln Park and the Nelson Center. Patrons of the Nelson Center will be able to access the center using Third Street and Black Avenue.
The Parade Run begins at 5 p.m.
Beginning Thursday, parking will be prohibited on neighborhood streets south of Sangamon Avenue. These changes will remain in effect until the morning of Aug. 21.
Harness racing washed out
Thursday's harness races at the Grandstand have been washed out due to heavy rain in Springfield.
There were cards scheduled for 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Racing will resume Friday at 11 a.m.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788: sspearie@sj-r.com: X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Twilight Parade steps off from Lincoln Park and heads to fairgrounds
