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On Saturday, August
2 beginning at 11 a.m., Manito Area Regional Economic Development (MARED),
Ag of the Past, and the Manito Sesquicentennial Committee are
planning an event to salute Manito’s 150 years of agriculture. The
event will be held in Manito’s Veterans’ Park and on Broadway in
downtown Manito.
Ag: Then and Now
will feature a variety of family-oriented activities designed to
celebrate Manito’s rich agricultural heritage. Farm equipment will
be parked on Broadway during the event.
Activities will
include a pork chop lunch beginning at 11 a.m., as well as a parade
at 1 p.m. featuring old and modern farm equipment and other farm
related items. Livestock and toy farm equipment collections will be
featured at Manito’s Village Hall. There will also be tractor
games, music, children’s games, and other activities during the
afternoon throughout the downtown Manito area.
A variety of food
and beverages will also be available throughout the day.
Dennis Hilst, local
drummer, and his band will perform on Broadway from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
The Flying D’Rito
Brothers sponsored by MARED will perform at Willett’s Winery in the
evening beginning at 7 p.m.
Welcome to the Village of Manito,
Illinois
The Village of Manito was surveyed and platted in
1858. It consisted of 110 acres. From its inception, the railroad played
an important part in the growth of Manito. A depot, post office, and
other private enterprises soon formed a "Main Street" in town that over
the years was the commercial center of Manito.
Manito is now a progressive community with a
population of 1,733. The original "main Street" still exists and houses
many new and progressive businesses. Also, a new "Commercial Marketing"
area has grown up along Adams Street or the Manito Blacktop that
includes a bank, savings and loan, grocery, general stores, churches,
service stations and more.
Manito is primarily an agricultural community. Most
of the business in the Village is in some way related to agriculture.
The diverse soil in the area leads to a broad range of crops and farming
methods. To the North and East of Manito are several thousand acres of
peat that is so rich that at one time in the Village's history it was
dried, processed and bagged. The Dirt Factory can still be seen off in
the distance. To the North, West and South of Manito lies sand. Sand is ideal for the
growing of melons and Christmas trees which, over the years, have brought
some notoriety to the area. Irrigation has been available in the area since the 1950's with center
pivots starting in the early 60's with 110 ft. deep wells pumping
1000 gallons of water per minute. Irrigation has enhanced
agriculture in the area by tapping into the aquifer which flows beneath
the area. Today, because of modern farming techniques, scientific
fertilization and irrigation, some marginal land has been brought into
full production.
Great schools, recreation facilities, hunting and
fishing areas, civic organizations, friendly neighbors and hometown
pride make Manito a great place to live and raise a family.
