The Illinois Hemp Growers Association and Illinois Products are scheduled to host daily “hemp-crete” demonstrations under the Department of Agriculture tent during the Illinois State Fair next week.

The family affair is open to the public and runs daily from Monday, August 15, to Saturday, August 20.  The 30-minute daily demonstrations are designed to education the public about hemp fiber and grain production, as well as provide a “hemp-crete demonstration” about the values of hemp-crete.

IHGA flyer

All but two demonstrations are set to start at 4 p.m. The demonstration set for Tuesday, August 16, is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m., and the demonstration set for Saturday, August 20, is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture tent is located on the corner of Main and Center Street. For the full daily schedule of events for the Department of Agriculture tent, click here. The Illinois State Fair is located at 801 East Sangamon Avenue in Springfield.

Founded in 2018, the Illinois Hemp Growers Association is a women-led benefit corporation supported by the sponsorship, donations, and dues of over 1,000 grassroots members. The IHGA educates producers and consumers while representing the industry’s best interests in Springfield and throughout the state of Illinois.

Rachel Berry, founder and CEO, stated on the IHGA website, “Our goal is to build the resources and relationships necessary to grow a sustainable and equitable hemp industry. The IHGA achieves its goal through public education, consultation and service, working with legislators and statewide media on the issues, and volunteerism.”

The IHGA, a women-led benefit corporation and grassroots organization, represents more than 800 members. A benefit corporation is a type of for-profit corporate entity that includes making a positive impact on society, workers, the community and the environment in addition to profit as its legally defined goals. The definition of “best interest of the corporation” is specified to include those impacts. The IHGA prioritizes public benefit over profit.

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The IHGA works to engage state and federal lawmakers and departments. The IHGA aslso prepares and distributes educational materials to the public and advocates for industrial hemp in the press, as well as provides affordable services to help people save time and make informed decisions.

“We practice servant leadership, a philosophy built on the belief that the most effective leaders strive to serve others, rather than accrue power or take control,” Berry continued. “We volunteer our time to increase our impact on the industry, help build community awareness, and encourage collective stewardship.”

The IHGA can be found on Instagram @illinoishga, Illinois Products @illinoisproducts, and the Illinois State Fair @ILStateFair. Twitter accounts include @IllinoisHGA and @ILStateFair. To learn about cannabis-friendly events in Illinois, click here.

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