Illinois: Erie woman named 2011 Illinoisan of the Day : promote independence in agriculture for people with disabilities and their families: July 18 2011

Press release submitted by Illinois State Museum Foundation

(7/18/2011 Springfield, IL) Brenda Besse, of Erie, has been named a 2011 Illinoisan of the Day by the Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation. She will be honored on Tuesday, August 16, at this year's fair in Springfield.

Besse, 52, was nominated for her years of service to AgrAbility Unlimited. This cooperative project between government and citizen groups works to promote independence in agriculture for people with disabilities and their families. Her commitment to farm safety includes farm equipment-handling demonstrations for thousands of grade-schoolers. Besse has also brought notice to her community by bringing home some ninety tournament championships from the National Amputee Golf Association.

Each spring the museum foundation seeks nominations of Prairie State residents who volunteer in their communities, work to brighten lives of their neighbors and represent the best of Illinois citizenship. Several area residents joined in nominating Besse. Her name was announced July 16 at the foundation's annual fund-raiser, the Corndog Kick-off, held on the fairgrounds in Springfield with Besse in attendance.

As part of this year's ceremony during the Illinois State Fair, Besse will be a guest on her special day. She will be driven through the fairgrounds in a convertible with an antique tractor escort to the Farm Bureau stage under the Commodities Pavilion. Then Besse will be introduced and honored with gifts including a proclamation from Governor Pat Quinn.

Other winners this year are Jim Winch of Pleasant Plains, Robert "Bob" Vose, Sr., of Springfield, Tom Hennigh of Effingham, George W. Obernagel III of Waterloo, Harold Steele of Dover, William Allaman of Oquawka, Geraldine McGuire of Winchester, Annette LaMore of Manteno and for the first time a joint award to spouses Jerry and Diane Rodhouse of Pleasant Hill.

The nonprofit State Fair Museum Foundation works to preserve fair artifacts and memories. Its collection will be free and open to the public during the fair, August 12 - 21, under the north end of the Grandstand.