Celebrating Our Teachers: 2025 Teacher Appreciation Event Recap
Last Wednesday, September 10th, the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center was filled wall-to-wall with gratitude, laughter, and celebration for our annual Teacher Appreciation Event. Despite being right in the middle of Homecoming Week, our dedicated educators still carved out time to join us—and we couldn’t be more thankful.
This year’s event was busier than ever, with a full house of 34 sponsor booths packed to the brim with giveaways. Teachers went home with supplies ranging from markers and paints to Kleenex and Clorox wipes—classroom essentials that make a big difference throughout the year.
Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors
A heartfelt thank-you goes to our sponsors who made this event possible:
- Presenting Sponsor: MidwestOne Bank
- Silver Apple Sponsors: AERON Lifestyle Technology, Agri-Industrial Plastics, Jefferson County Health Center, Libertyville Savings Bank, Pilot Grove Savings Bank, Cedar Rose Spa, Roth & Norton Family Dentistry, and TrafFix Devices Inc.
- Food Sponsor: Dexter Laundry and the Pekin Iron Chef Club, who provided delicious snacks that everyone enjoyed.
- Beverage Sponsors: Weaton Companies & Cider Works, for keeping our guests refreshed.
- Decor Sponsor: Miller Realty, whose beautiful touches helped create a welcoming and festive atmosphere.
- Kid’s Room Sponsor: McDonald’s, along with volunteers from Fairfield Public Library, Jefferson County Conservation, and VanBuren County Conservation, who kept little ones entertained while parents relaxed.
We also extend our thanks to our Chamber Board committee, Ambassadors, and volunteers, who helped everything run seamlessly.
Highlights of the Event
- 34 sponsor booths overflowing with free school supplies and teacher goodies.
- Over 30 winners of raffle prizes, including gift baskets, prizes and $250 gift cards awarded to one lucky winner from each school district: Fairfield, Maharishi, Van Buren, and Cardinal.
- A lively, full-house atmosphere that showed just how much our community values its teachers.
Wrapping Up
The Teacher Appreciation Event is always one of the Chamber’s favorite traditions, and 2025 was no exception. It’s an honor to come together as a community to celebrate the educators who give so much of themselves each day.
Thank you again to our sponsors, volunteers, and most importantly—our teachers—for making this year’s event such a success. We’re already looking forward to next year!
Event Photos
We captured some great moments throughout the day! A few highlights are included below, and you can view the full photo album HERE.
