The Make a Farmer Foundation is preparing for its second annual Make a Farmer Festival, an event that blends family-friendly entertainment with a mission to support the future of agriculture and skilled trades.
The nonprofit was founded in 2025 following the loss of Carlson’s son, Jayden Hanson, who died in a car accident in 2024. The foundation was created to honor his legacy by providing scholarships to students pursuing careers in agriculture and the skilled trades.
In its first year, the organization exceeded expectations by awarding $23,000 in scholarships to eight students, including recipients from Whiteside County and Jo Daviess County. Carlson credited the overwhelming community support and the success of last year’s inaugural festival, which raised approximately $60,000, for making those scholarships possible.
The second annual Make a Farmer Festival will take place on Saturday, Aug. 8, in Prophetstown, Illinois, beginning at noon. The event will once again feature a wide variety of activities designed to appeal to all ages while raising funds for future scholarships.
Attendees can enjoy a car, truck, and tractor show that has expanded this year to include ATVs, motorcycles, lawn mowers, and other vehicles. The festival will also feature a silent auction, bounce houses provided by Farmhouse Bounce, additional children’s games, food, and live music from Next Thing Smokin’, a returning band that performed at last year’s event.
The daytime festival is free to attend, allowing families to enjoy the activities without an admission charge. Admission fees apply only for participants entering the vehicle show and for guests attending the evening beer garden, which opens at 6 p.m.
Carlson said the foundation’s mission extends beyond raising scholarship funds. The organization hopes to encourage more young people to pursue careers in agriculture and the skilled trades, industries that continue to face workforce shortages. She noted that farming is not limited to those who grow up on family farms, highlighting one scholarship recipient whose essay emphasized that anyone with the passion and dedication can become part of agriculture regardless of their background.
The foundation is also holding a side-by-side raffle to help raise additional scholarship funds. Raffle tickets are available for $20 each through members of the foundation or by contacting the organization through its Facebook page.
While the annual festival remains the organization’s signature event, Carlson said the board is already discussing the possibility of adding smaller fundraising events throughout the year, giving supporters more opportunities to get involved while expanding the foundation’s impact.
Community support has been the driving force behind the foundation’s early success, and organizers hope this year’s festival will continue building on that momentum while investing in the next generation of farmers, mechanics, welders, and other skilled professionals.
To learn more about the Make a Farmer Foundation, purchase raffle tickets, or stay informed about future events, follow the organization’s Facebook page.
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