Illinois State Beekeepers Bring Honey Ice Cream To The 2009 Illinois State Fair

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois State Beekeepers Association is serving honey ice cream at the 2009 Illinois State Fair. 

The treat is made of honey from Illinois beehives, created at Whitey's Ice Cream in Moline and, according to the association, available exclusively at the Illinois State Fair.

Fairgoers wanting to sample honey ice cream should stop by the ISBA exhibit in the Illinois Building, which is located on Main Street next to the Welcome to the Jungle area.  It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Also at the exhibit, fairgoers can observe different kinds of honey from local counties in Illinois, including light, amber, honeycomb, beeswax, and dark, and view an actual beehive.

Rita Taylor, a Pleasant Plains native and association member, said the display is popular with both children and adults.

"We make sure to have someone at the exhibit that can answer and discuss any questions that fairgoers might have about the live displays," Taylor said.

Taylor has been participating in the ISBA exhibit at the Illinois State Fair since 1958.

"We have people come back year after year just for the honey ice cream," Taylor said.  "This is the only time of the year that people can come and get the honey ice cream, so we are hoping for a good turn out."

Organizations and associations participating in the exhibit include the Lincoln Land Beekeepers Association, Illiana Beekeepers Association, Cook-DuPage Beekeepers Association and Bees and Honey Open Class.

The Illinois State Fair will be held through Sunday, Aug. 23.