SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — New artifacts are on display at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum that mark the 16th president's ties to agriculture and higher education.

Museum officials in Springfield say the items include an original letter Lincoln wrote to a cousin during his 1860 presidential race. In the letter, Lincoln writes about helping plow land. There's also a sculpture of Lincoln showing him chopping wood and reading.

The exhibit includes Lincoln's personal copy of the first annual report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Lincoln created the agency in 1862 specifically to deal with food production. Broadcaster Max Armstrong donated the report to the museum in 2000.

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Online: http://www.presidentlincoln.org