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Four decades of conservation work across Campton Hills and the Fox River Valley will be in the spotlight next month when Garfield Farm Museum hosts its 35th Annual Awards Dinner on May 8.
The evening ceremony will recognize individuals and families who have helped preserve open space and local history in the region.
Here's what will be celebrated:
Land preserved near Meissner-Corron: Nancy Cornelison and her sister Marcia Johnson will be honored for selling their 40-plus-acre family property adjacent to the 620-acre Meissner-Corron Forest Preserve, helping make the preserve more intact.
McDonald receives environmental award: Brook McDonald, who has led the Conservation Foundation as president and CEO for 30 years, will receive the museum's Environmental Preservation Award for his four decades of work in land conservation across the Chicagoland area and Fox River Valley.
Underground Railroad connection recognized: Gilbert and Danielle Wukitsch will receive the Historic Preservation Award for placing their property on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The home was built by Joseph Bartlett, an abolitionist who helped freedom seekers travel north through the area.
The Goldenstein family and the Conservation Foundation will also be recognized for preserving nearby farmland through Campton Township's Open Space Program.
The event takes place at the Dunham Woods Riding Club in Campton Hills, with a 6PM reception, 6:45PM dinner, and 8PM awards ceremony. Tickets are $65 for museum members and $75 for guests. Contact [email protected] or call 630-584-8485 to receive an invitation.
The awards are held at the former Oak Lawn Farm, which the museum says is one of the world’s largest draft horse breeding facilities in the world in the late 1800s. It survives in part as the Dunham Woods Riding Club that consists of 40 acres, several historic barns, and the late 1830s Solomon Dunham farmhouse converted to a clubhouse.
The museum will also share a progress update on its $4 million fundraising goal ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2027.
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