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Monday, Aug. 21

State fair: Moo-Moo Classic brings humor in the least likely places Send a link to a friend

[AUG. 21, 2006] SPRINGFIELD -- Ten teams competed Saturday in the Moo-Moo Classic, a celebrity cow-milking contest in the Livestock Center on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. After the pails of milk were weighed, a team representing Illinois FFA was proclaimed the winner, but not without a few laughs along the way.

In the first heat, Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin's team, wearing matching Holstein costumes, was given a dry cow to milk. After discovering the prank, members ran off to find a replacement. They ended up with 2.7 pounds of milk but would have had more if alert judges had not found and removed full cartons of milk from inside their pail and metal washers that were taped to its bottom.

The state fair administration team won the first heat with 4.5 pounds of milk. WFMB radio also advanced to the finals with 3.6 pounds of milk. Illinois FFA, the eventual champion, won the second heat with 3.3 pounds of milk. The Illinois Association of Park Districts took second with 1.4.

In the finals, Illinois FFA totaled 4.5 pounds of milk, 1.6 pounds more than the state fair administration, which finished second. WFMB was third, followed by the Illinois Association of Park Districts. Other participants were the Illinois state treasurer's office, the Illinois attorney general's office, Illinois 4-H and Illinois State Police. Each participant was awarded a commemorative Illinois State Fair cowbell.

Jesse White tumbling team performs

Saturday was Park District Conservation Day. A ceremony at the Main Gate hosted by the Illinois Association of Park Districts opened the festivities.

"The park districts, forest preserves and conservation and recreation agencies in Illinois are well-known as some of the best in the country," said Ted Flickinger, president and chief executive officer of the state association. "Park District Conservation Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the countless benefits their programs and services bring to the citizens of Illinois."

The Jesse White Tumblers entertained a large crowd of onlookers at the ceremony with acrobatic flips, somersaults and jumps. Members leaped over fellow teammates, youngsters from the crowd, banners and even the park district association's mascot, the Eagle, sometimes using a trampoline and other times just their own strength.

When asked what he enjoys most about tumbling, Eric Maxey, 25, responded, "Being around the kids and showing them that tumbling can help them be in a positive way in life." Maxey's teammate, Ashley Smith, 16, remarked, "It's fun."
Other dignitaries taking part in the ceremony were Illinois State Fair Manager Amy Bliefnick, Illinois Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke and Leslie Sgro, assistant director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

2005 World Series trophy on display at U.S. Cellular tent

The Chicago White Sox 2005 World Series trophy was a big hit at the U.S. Cellular tent. Hundreds of Sox fans stood in line to get their picture taken with the trophy, and the first 500 were given a commemorative White Sox World Series baseball. There was no charge for the event, but a $10 donation to Chicago White Sox Charities and the United Way was suggested. U.S. Cellular has raised $125,000 so far on the trophy's 75-city tour throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana. The Tiffany-made gold and sterling silver trophy is worth $65,000. It stands 2 feet tall and consists of one gold-plated flag for each of the 30 major league teams, surrounding a silver baseball with gold laces.

USAC Silver Crown Championship Series

Tracy Hines claimed the "Tony Bettenhausen 100" Saturday at the Illinois State Fair one-mile track. Hines, who started on the pole, was credited with leading all 100 laps after Dave Steele, who originally crossed under the checkered flags first, was disqualified after failing to pass post-race technical inspection. Steele's car was weighed too light, giving Hines the victory.

Hines drove the No. 37 Indiana Underground Construction Beast/Chevy. The pole was the sixth in his career and his first since Pikes Peak International Raceway last season. It also marks his first pole on dirt since 1998, when he started first at the CalExpo Fairgrounds.

Racing concluded Sunday at the fairgrounds with the ARCA Series and Sportsman Nationals.

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