How the Illinois Grande Prairie Helped Save the World from Hunger – Janet Roney
The Elkhart Historical Society is excited to introduce Janet Roney as the featured guest speaker for our Friday, October 24, 2025 dinner lecture program.
Janet is a multi-faceted individual with a background steeped in history, farming and writes a column for her local paper. She is an accomplished artist as well. Her realistic and detailed watercolors, oils and prints of the Central Illinois prairie landscape are showcased in many public and private collections. She is a graduate of Sullivan High School and a 1963 graduate of the University of Illinois.
Janet’s presentation will be “How the Illinois Grande Prairie Helped Save the World from Hunger.” The Illinois Grande Prairie was considered worthless by the first pioneers. The swamps created an unhealthy place to live as well as the soil being too wet to farm. Many saw the prairie unfit for anything but grazing cattle and hunting prairie chickens. Janet will explain how the Illinois prairie was transformed into the most productive agricultural region in the world. She will share photos of the remaining prairie remnants that can still be found in forgotten places. Much of Janet’s artwork has been inspired by these photos.
Cost per person is $45 which includes dinner/dessert and lecture. Doors open at 5 p.m. dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. For a complete menu and reservation form, visit our website: www.elkharthistoricalsociety.
Upon calling, please leave a message and you will be called back to confirm your reservation. Once confirmed, please mail your check, within 5 business days, to:
The Elkhart Historical Society, PO Box 255, Elkhart, IL 62634. You may drop your check off at The Country Bumpkin at 103 Gov. Oglesby Street, Elkhart, IL. Hours open: Wed-Sat 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Sun 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Name and address of venue:
Elkhart Christian Church Fellowship Community Center
206 South Gillett Street, Elkhart, IL
