Members of the Edwards County Farm Bureau hosted their adopted legislator, state Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar, D-Chicago, and her daughters at their first-ever county fair.

The state representatiave, whose district covers the southwest side of Chicago and nearby suburbs, has been an active participant in Illinois Farm Bureau’s Adopt-A-Legislator program since 2021.

Guerrero-Cuellar spent two and a half days in Edwards County, attending several fair events, and even participating in a few. She toured agricultural conservation practices, raked hay, visited a vineyard and had several visits with farm and 4-H families.

While at the fair, Guerrero-Cuellar and her daughters attended the small animals, rabbit and sheep shows. They also toured the livestock barns, attended the rodeo and baked goods auction and visited the exhibits in the COUNTRY Financial Hall.

When visiting the livestock barns, several 4-Hers and their families discussed their animals with the lawmaker, and her family got to help care for and prepare some animals for show.

Guerrero-Cuellar’s daughters were 4-H sheep tag-a-longs with the Williams family of rural West Salem. By being tag-a-longs, each child showed a sheep, which was judged, and was then presented with a trophy for their efforts.

Guerrero-Cuellar was very open to talking with families, asking questions and learning about how animals are raised, why they are raised and how they are cared for.

The families she visited with were happy to answer her questions, show her their farms, conservation practices, and show her their animals. They appreciated her time commitment to learning about fairs, agriculture, farming and rural Illinois.

A rodeo was the grandstand event while Guerrero-Cuellar was at the fair. She was able to meet with the owners, and discuss how a rodeo works and the competitions. The family then attended their first rodeo, and was amazed at participants’ skills.

In addition to spending time at the fair, the lawmaker raked hay with Jason and Brenda Balding. The Baldings have a hay business, and taught the representative how to drive a tractor while taking hay.

Rebecca Perry is Edwards County Farm Bureau manager.