MOLINE, Illinois (June 24, 2015) - Kids of all ages are invited to come play and learn about a day in the life of John Deere customers at the John Deere Pavilion's annual Learn & Play Day on Saturday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  At this free event, children will learn about life on a farm, see what it's like to work on a construction site, explore the world of forestry and more.

For hands-on fun, kids can test their driving skills in a battery-powered Gator™ obstacle course or put their muscles to work in a pedal-powered tractor pull. Other special exhibits include a petting zoo and a construction zone to test toy equipment in sand. Kids who complete all the "chores" in our Little Johnny's Farm area, including milking a cow (not a real one), will receive a special treat. Blacksmith demonstrations will also be conducted on site throughout the day.

"This is our biggest event of the year and we love bringing this learning opportunity to families because it's a great way to show kids how we are all linked to the land through agriculture, construction and forestry," said Kristen Veto, Assistant Manager of the John Deere Pavilion. "We always have plenty for children to do at the John Deere Pavilion, particularly with our newly expanded John Deere Discovery Zone, but on this day we celebrate with special activities both inside and outside our facility and it will provide hours of learning and fun for the whole family."

Also featured throughout the day will be a variety of informational booths from ag-related organizations including the Rock Island Farm Bureau, Rock Island 4H & Extension, Fischer's Honey Farm, and Country Corner.

The John Deere Pavilion Learn & Play Day is open to the public and is free of charge. The John Deere Pavilion is located at 1400 River Road in Moline. For more information, please call 309-765-1000 or visit us online at www.JohnDeerePavilion.com.

About the John Deere Pavilion

Located along the shores of the Mississippi River near the company's original Moline plow factory, the John Deere Pavilion has attracted more than three million guests from around the world since it opened in 1997. The 14,000-square-foot, glass- and steel-enclosed structure features a wide variety of fun and informative hands-on exhibits about Deere & Company's global businesses and products, its rich history and heritage, and how it's helping meet the challenges of a growing global population. The John Deere Pavilion is a free attraction and is open to the public year-round. For more information call 309-765-1000 or visit us online at www.JohnDeerePavilion.com.

Coal Valley, IL - July 7, 2015 - Niabi Zoo announced today that its male giraffe calf, Genesis, was euthanized due to ongoing difficulty recovering from a leg injury. His injury occurred a few days after his birth in February when his mother, Mimi, inadvertently stepped on him and damaged a tendon in his front left leg.

Niabi Zoo's veterinary staff had been providing constant treatment to his injured leg, but after nearly five months he had shown no significant signs of recovery. The healing process continued to be complicated by his rapid growth. "At this stage of development, Genesis was growing several inches per week, which had him at nearly eight feet tall and weighing several hundred pounds," said Zoo Director Marc Heinzman. "As he continued to grow so rapidly, that meant more and more weight for his injured leg to bear which was not conducive to the healing process."

Heinzman said reparative surgery was not an option, again because of Genesis's rapid growth rate. "Surgery on his damaged tendon was not something we could consider because he was growing faster than he could heal, in addition to it being nearly impossible to keep him off of that leg after surgery to allow it to recover properly."
"We're deeply saddened at his loss," said Heinzman, "but this extremely difficult decision was made for the sake of his welfare. The level of care provided by our animal keepers and veterinary staff was nothing short of exemplary, but the decision came down to our assessment that he is not able to heal properly and was most likely experiencing significant pain as his injury continued to linger."

The calf has been sent to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, where a veterinary pathologist will complete a full necropsy (animal autopsy).

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VETERANS OF QUINCY'S 126TH SUPPLY AND SERVICE COMPANY

SPRINGFIELD, IL (07/07/2015)(readMedia)-- WHO:

• Illinois State Military Museum Living History Detachment

• Illinois National Guard and Militia Historical Society

• Illinois State Military Museum

WHAT:

To relive the days of LBJ, jungle fatigues, Ho Chi Minh sandals and C-rations visit the Military Museum's Vietnam Encampment. Veterans from Quincy's Army National Guard unit will tell about their training, deployment to Vietnam and return home. Panel discussion at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Also, Museum Living Historians will establish Fire Base Castle on the Museum grounds to display equipment, uniforms and weapons used in Southeast Asia and during the Vietnam War Era.

WHEN:

• 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. July 18, 2015

• Panel discussion by 126th S&S veterans at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

WHERE:

• Illinois State Military Museum, 1301 N. MacArthur Blvd, Springfield, Ill., 62702, two blocks north of the intersection of MacArthur Blvd. and North Grand Ave.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Admission and parking are free.

For additional information, please contact the Illinois State Military Museum at 217-761-3910.

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