News from Garfield Farm

Champion Your Favorite Breeds at Illinois’ Only Rare Breed Show May 19th

CAMPTON HILLS, IL:   For 27 years, Garfield Farm Museum has invited American Livestock Breeds Conservancy members and other rare breed owners to exhibit their favorite breeds at the museum’s annual Rare Breeds Livestock & Poultry Show and Sale. This year’s show will take place on Sunday, May 19th from 11am – 4pm. The show highlights the need to preserve rare domesticated animals from extinction. It also provides Rare Breed enthusiasts with an opportunity to show off their favorite animals to the general public and to interact with other exhibitors and prospective buyers. For many visitors, the show may be the first and perhaps last time in their lives they might ever have to see some of these highly endangered breeds.

      For breeders or owners who are passionate about their breed, it is very important for them to attend as rarely are there duplicate animals representing their breed. There is the time and expense of attending the show but how else are interested parties ever going to see that rare breed up close? That is why Garfield Farm Museum has invested time and energy beyond any monetary benefits as the museum knows how important it is to promote this historic genetic diversity.

    Anyone who would like to display animals at the show, contact the museum at 630-584-8485 or info@garfieldfarm.org for registration information. There are no fees for exhibitors. The museum provides pens, water, and bedding. Exhibitors should bring feed along with any displays they want to set up or products they want to sell. Lectures or demonstrations are welcome. Check out the Garfield Farm Museum Page on YouTube for videos from previous years’ shows.

    In addition to seeing the animals, visitors and exhibitors can tour the 1846 Teamster Inn and Tavern, watch demonstrations of sheep shearing and wool spinning, or enjoy refreshments from Inglenook Pantry. There is a $6 donation for adults and $3 for children 12 years and younger. A portion of the proceeds from the show are donated to the ALBC.

     Garfield Farm Museum is five miles west of Geneva, IL off ILL Route 38 on Garfield Road. The 370 acre museum is supported by donations and is the only surviving historically intact former 1840s Illinois prairie farmstead and teamster inn being restored as an 1840s working farm museum.