2006 Illinois State Fair contest details and rule books out, also available online

[APRIL 27, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois State Fair Manager Amy Bliefnick announced Wednesday that premium books for the 2006 state fair are now available to contestants planning to participate in any of more than 8,700 competitive events, ranging from the longest ponytail to Illinois' prize pumpkin. The books, detailing all contest rules and regulations, can be accessed online. A limited number of hard copies will be available beginning May 1.

These premium books are available: Livestock, Junior Department, Western Horse Show, Society Horse Show, Special Events and Twilight Parade, Miniature Horse Show, and General.

The Livestock Premium Book contains specific information about livestock entries and the divisions and classing of animals. Livestock competitions include beef cattle, dairy cattle, draft horses, llamas, goats, sheep, swine, poultry and rabbits, as well as the popular husband and hog calling contests, which will return this year to the first Sunday of the fair.

The Junior Department book includes the following livestock divisions: beef and dairy cattle, goats, sheep, swine, poultry, rabbits, as well as a new division added this year for meat goats.

Premium books for the Western Horse Show June 20-July 1, the Junior Horse Show July 11-16 and the Society Horse Show, which runs Aug. 8-19, outline divisions between horses and riding styles.

The Special Events and Twilight Parade Premium Book sets guidelines for entries to the Twilight Parade and other fair competitions.

State fair premium books can be obtained online through the Illinois State Fair website at www.illinoisstatefair.info.

Listed below are the state fair competitions and their respective entry deadlines.

Livestock

• Junior livestock -- July 1
  (Junior livestock entries should be submitted to the exhibitors' local county Extension office by that office's deadline.)

• Open livestock -- July 1

• Open rabbits and poultry -- July 10

General

• Ag products -- July 15

• All culinary not otherwise listed -- July 15

• Amateur art -- July 15

• Amateur talent -- July 31

• Bee culture, professional -- Aug. 12

• Bee culture, open -- until judging begins

• Bocce ball -- Aug. 17

• Blue-ribbon culinary -- June 2

• Christmas trees -- July 15

• Culinary -- July 15

• Dairy products -- Aug. 9

• Floriculture -- Aug. 1

• Gladiolus -- Aug. 1

• Hobbies -- July15

• Horseshoe pitching -- Aug. 12

• Hosta -- Aug. 19

• Junior culinary -- July 15

• Junior hobbies -- July 15

• Junior textiles -- July 15

• Rose Show -- Aug. 16

• Twilight Parade -- July 22

For a hard copy of a premium book, please contact Durinda Kirby at [phone]. CDs of the books will be distributed to county Extension offices and agriculture science instructors with the help of state FFA and 4-H members.

The 2006 Illinois State Fair runs Aug. 11-20.

[Illinois State Fair news release]

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