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Stroll through your local neighborhood and you may see 10-pound jack-o’-lanterns galore, but Plainfield resident Phil Groenewold’s yard is turning heads with a striking 2,492.5-pound pumpkin on display.

The feat broke an 11-year-old state record by 347 pounds at the Bluegrass Championship Weigh-Off in Kentucky on Sept. 12.

Groenewold shared that there wasn’t one distinguishing factor that led to the pumpkin’s success. However, he picked the pumpkin two weeks early to ensure he could make it to the championship in Kentucky. Care and attention were two primary ingredients in Groenewold’s high-performing routine, which consisted of using the right seed, adding nutrients to the soil and watering the plant with 80 gallons per day. 

Oct. 26 marks the annual celebration of National Pumpkin Day to honor the festive foods and fall activities that are centered on the iconic squash. Groenewold’s record-breaking pumpkin is the ultimate way to honor the holiday this season.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is hosting the first-ever Illinois Product Expo in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 16 from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Isadore and Sadie Dorin Forum at the University of Illinois Chicago, located at 725 W Roosevelt Rd.

The event aims to connect consumers with a diverse range of Illinois-made products while highlighting farmers, entrepreneurs and small businesses.  

Although the weather reflects otherwise, fall is right around the corner and farmers across the state are gearing up to share agricultural experiences with Illinoisans.

Visiting a pumpkin patch is a staple fall activity for many, but the agritourism experience is relatively novel.

County fair season is in full swing across Illinois, bringing residents closer to agriculture and history.

Steeped in rich history and tradition, county fairs have been a staple of showcasing the innovation and techniques of modern farming. In 1841, the Union Agricultural Society held its first annual fair in Naperville and shortly later, other counties began hosting their own fairs including Knox in 1851 and McHenry in 1852. Illinois held its first state fair in 1853. Activities at the fairs included livestock judging, plowing contests and horse races. As technology progressed, it was also common to see car races and airplane demonstrations.