To correlate with the Illinois bicentennial year celebration and to commemorate the agricultural background and influence of our state, Chris will share his program entitled “The Farmer is the Man”. The program intermingles traditional and contemporary folk songs of the farm that tell the stories of the hardworking people who struggled to live this way of life for generations. These poignant songs are a way to view the past and future of the family farm.
Singer/songwriter and folk musician, Chris Vallillo of Macomb, IL has a natural affinity for American roots music. He performs on six-string and bottleneck slide guitars and harmonica; weaving a portrait of the history and lifestyles of the Midwest.
A recipient of the Illinois Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award for music composition, Chris has been acclaimed with various honors and performs widely across the Midwest with a multitude of other artists.
The Volunteer Millers of de Immigrant windmill will be hosting The Farmer is the Man at the Windmill Cultural Center on Monday, June 18 at 6:00pm. The center is located at 111 – 10th Avenue in downtown Fulton, across from the authentic Dutch windmill. This specific program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. 
Programming is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served following the presentation. The facility is accessible to persons with disabilities. For more information, visit the Windmill Cultural Center and de Immigrant Windmill Facebook page, Fulton Illinois Tourism Facebook page, www.cityoffulton.us website, or call 815-589-3925.
