The Children’s Discovery Museum will open a major new second-floor exhibit, “From Farm to a Healthy Me,” to the public on April 9, expanding hands-on learning and interactive play for families across Central Illinois.
The 5,786-square-foot space more than doubles the size of the museum’s previous agriculture exhibit and focuses on connecting kids to farming, food, and health. Museum leaders say the exhibit was designed with input from local agriculture experts to reflect the region’s economy and give children a better understanding of where food comes from.
Features include interactive drone displays, a kid-sized food truck and grocery store, a combine simulator, a John Deere tractor experience, and an “Ag Lab” exploring science and technology concepts. A toddler area highlights specialty crops and pollinators, while the exhibit also incorporates the museum’s “Healthy Me” section to tie together agriculture, nutrition, and wellness.
The project was funded through community donations, including a $1 million lead gift from the McLean County Farm Bureau. Museum officials say the updated exhibit replaces the former “AgMazing” display and aims to inspire curiosity and potential careers in agriculture for a new generation of learners.
