USFWS Biologist Mike Redmer (right) discusses the Service's conservation role with a fair-goer. - FWS photo by John Archer.

Corn dogs, funnel cakes, cows, pigs, poultry, arts, crafts, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were all available to people who attended the 2007 Illinois State Fair, in Springfield.

Staff from the Service's Chicago Illinois Field Office attended the fair, showcased an outreach display, and were on hand to answer questions from numerous interested fair-goers.  This provided an unusual opportunity to discuss the Service's major roles in Illinois conservation (including the National Wildlife refuge System, Migratory Birds and Fisheries, Ecological Services, Law Enforcement, and Education Outreach) with diverse residents from throughout the state.

At the invitation of Illinois Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn, the US Fish & Wildlife Service and several other environmental organizations or initiatives shared space under his tent at the fair.  In doing so, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted the close working relationship and that has exists between the Service and his office, as well as the environmental issues of interest to both.   

This was the second consecutive year that Lieutenant Governor Quinn extended the invitation for the Service to occupy part of his tent during two days dedicated to his environmental initiatives.