Children's farm exhibit to open

The Children’s Discovery Museum officially will open its brand-new “From Farm to a Healthy Me” exhibit to the public April 9, bringing hands-on learning, interactive play and fresh opportunities for connection to the community.

The long-awaited opening of the 5,786-square-foot exhibit marks an exciting milestone, offering kids a place to explore, create and discover while strengthening the Museum’s role as a vibrant hub for education and creative expression.

“We’ve more than doubled the footprint of the Museum’s former agriculture exhibit,” says Museum Executive Director Beth Whisman. “We’re proud of our community and this entire floor reflects the Central Illinois economy. We’ve worked with local ag experts to capture real agricultural experiences so children can learn where food comes by actively engaging with the exhibit’s features.”

From floor to ceiling, the exhibit, made possible with many local donors and a lead gift of $1 million from McLean County Farm Bureau, features:

• Two different drone interactives that highlight technology’s role in ag

• Hand-sculpted pigs, cows and chickens reflecting the texture and character of real animals, along with a vet and animal care center 

• An updated combine that lets kids experience the motions and visuals of harvesting … just like riding in real equipment!

• A new John Deere tractor with multiple driving experiences, big enough for kids and adults

• Oversized features in the new toddler space that focus on Illinois specialty crops and pollinators; the crawl-through designs encourage movement and sensory exploration, complete with a ride down a watering-can slide

• A ball drop maze representing the journey of grain from the field, through trucks, grain elevators, and processing, to the world

• An “Ag Lab” connecting agronomy, weather, soil and STEM concepts of science, technology, engineering and math

• A kid-sized food truck with changing menus to fit seasons, family traditions and cultures

• A colorful grocery store complete with a bakery, pizza kitchen and deli counter with hands-on interactives for ag-based food and household products

• Healthy Me, which opened in 2021, relocates to the second floor to better connect themes of ag, food, nutrition and health

The second-floor “From Farm to a Healthy Me” exhibit replaces “AgMazing” which opened in 2006.

“Farming has changed significantly in the last 20 years,” explains Whisman. “We’re gratified to partner with the McLean County Farm Bureau, Compeer Financial and many other donors to educate a new generation of playful learners. Visitors learn all the ways agriculture affects their lives, and we hope it inspires many future ag-related careers.”

Funding the Exhibit

The Children’s Discovery Museum Foundation fundraised to pay for the second-floor exhibit including the lead gift in March 2025 from the McLean County Farm Bureau. The fundraising committee, led by Larry and Marlene Dietz and Julie and Bob Dobski, began working in 2022 for this update.