The expo has been held every other year since 1988 (with a hiatus during COVID pandemic). In total it has reached 43,500 students.
Past participants were rotated through a variety of different stations, listening to different aspects of agriculture in 6-minute sessions. The booths included beef, bees, goats, food safety, dairy, fiber arts, monarchs, poultry, equine, soybeans, corn, specialty crops, swine, sheep, soil and water conservation, machinery/equipment safety, 4-H, Ag. careers and Christmas trees.
Our last Expo had 1,300 grade school students from Crystal Lake, Johnsburg, Marengo, McHenry, Richmond, and Woodstock take part in the three-day event. Roughly 200 volunteers helped with Ag. Expo serving as group leaders, presenters, providing animals or materials, and setting up and tearing down. Special thanks to Harvard and Marengo FFA Chapters for their assistance with the event.
We would also like to recognize McHenry County Fair for the use of their facilities, AHW LLC for use of the tractor, Step It Up Rental for the curtains, TLC Photography for the great pictures, and all the volunteers that helped make the event possible.
You may also view pictures by clicking here.
2026 AG EXPO Teacher Information:
Location:
McHenry County Fairground’s location: 11900 Country Club Road, Woodstock, 60098
Arrival:
Please plan to arrive at the fairgrounds at the time you signed up for, this allows us 15 fifteen minutes to unload, assemble, and bring kids up to the booths. If a group is late, they may not get to visit every booth.
Weather:
Expect to walk between three buildings, two of which are unheated. Jackets are recommended.
Intro or follow up:
Consider utilizing our Ag in the Classroom resources on many of these topics to expand this introduction to the world of agriculture. Visit www.agintheclassroom.org for resources, for hard copy Ag Mags please call or email our office for availability.
Questions:
Our office can be reached at 815-338-1520 or email mcfbmgr@att.net.
