 The first event was the hog calling contest. Entries varied
drastically, with some contestants using props and family members in
their presentation while others simply displayed their best hog
call.The first competitor, Joe Rhodes, from Effingham, used the
former of these tactics. Dressed up in bluejean coveralls, a red
bandana, a straw hat and carrying a "slop bucket," Rhodes began by
sharing with the audience that this wasn't his first hog call.
"I lived on a farm where hog calling was a way of life," he said.
After a hog call that pierced nearly everyone's ears, Rhodes'
daughter came into the ring dressed in a pink hog suit with stuffed
hog in hand and mini stuffed hogs plastered on her clothing below
the knees.
Next up was the 16-year veteran and defending champion, Chris
Karr, from Seymour, who also came out dressed up like a farmer and
accompanied by a Harry Potter-themed wagon driven by Professor
"Bacon," an intelligent stuffed pig who was sporting a sharp pair of
spectacles.
Karr also incorporated the fair's theme, "Celebrate and Educate,"
into this routine by first educating the audience that 1,650 pigs
were at the Illinois State Fair and then celebrating the first
appearance at the Illinois State Fair of the magic pig, Pork Chop
Piggy Potter.
After unsuccessfully screaming "Piggy, Piggy, Piggy Potter" a
number of times, Karr asked the audience, "Have you seen him?"
"Of course not, he's a magic pig!" exclaimed Karr.
Finally, after more deliberation, Piggy Potter, an aptly dressed
stuffed pig -- who was sporting a matching wizard hat and outfit --
showed himself to the delighted audience.
The third contestant, Nathan Broaddus, from Raymond, decided,
unlike his predecessors, to focus on the call itself. Broaddus, who
worked on Borgic's hog farm for a year and a half, presented two
calls: the loading shoot call and the mating call with a bore. While
his calls received the biggest reaction from the audience, it wasn't
because they were outlandish; instead, it was because his calls were
by far the most realistic.
"I used to do them out (on Borgic's farm)," he said. "And now it
is something I do in my spare time."
Broaddus added that he will most likely return next year.
The last competitor, 4-H volunteer Jacob Rukin, from Lincoln,
took none of these routes and instead tried bribing the judges. His
efforts, though tempting, ended him in last place.
The winners were as follows:
The equally zany husband calling contest followed, with four
women competing for this year's husband calling champion.
The first competitor, Kelly Tierney, from Cornland, braved the
heat by dressing up as Abraham Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd Lincoln.
"It's been a long time since I've been in Springfield, and things
have changed!" Tierney said. "The girls are hardly wearing anything;
earrings are hanging off every part of the body possible, and food
is now on a stick."
"Do people use silverware anymore?" she added.
Finally, after many unsuccessful tries, Abraham finally showed up
in a Hawaiian T-shirt, bluejean shorts and tennis shoes, with a corn
dog in hand. Needless to say, Mary Todd Lincoln was surprised.
After the event, Tierney noted that this was her fifth year doing
the competition, three of which have earned her the first-place
title. This year's idea was apparently an epiphany on her husband's
part.
"He just woke up at 2 o'clock in the morning and said ‘Abe
Lincoln.'"
The second competitor, Terri Dickson, from Springfield, began by
saying she first saw husband calling contests on TV.
"I said ‘I could do that' because I have a big mouth."
In between screaming intervals of "Thomas" (her husband's name),
Dickson, well aware of the heat, said "I hope I don't pass out!"
Finally her husband showed, with two hot dogs and drink in hand.
The third caller, Susan Epich, of Mokena, and possibly the
competitor with the loudest and longest calls, had apparently lost
her husband, who had just stepped away to get her a refreshment.
"It's not that far," she said, "Where is my pop?"
Her husband eventually showed up with that refreshment, a glass
of water, in hand -- only to douse her with it.
The last competitor, Louise Sclafani, of Chicago, begin by
yelling "Jeff, Jeff, Jeff, Jeffrey!" Although her husband didn't
initially respond, Sclafani had a backup plan.
"When that doesn't work," Sclafani said, while reaching into her
backpack, "I use the cell phone."
[to top of second column] |
 The winners were as follows:
- First place: Kelly Tierney
- Second place: Terri Dickson
- Third place: Susan Epich
- Fourth place: Louise Sclafani
All champions received $100 thanks to Hog Inc. and $50 in premium
money. Second place received $30 and third received $15.
DockDogs leaps into the hearts of many at Illinois State Fair
One of this year's new attractions drawing large crowds at the
Illinois State Fair is the popular canine competitive sport,
DockDogs. Located in the Gate 2 area of the fairgrounds, DockDogs
features a variety of dogs, predominantly golden retrievers, who
compete to out-jump each other.
Spokesman Brian Sharenow has been a part of DockDogs since 2000,
the year the program started hosting sanctioned competitions. The
competition consists of a trainer throwing a toy into a 36-foot pool
and a dog running and jumping off of a platform, or dock, to
retrieve it. To calculate the length of the jump, DockDogs has a
specialized computer program that uses a digital image to determine
the exact distance.
DockDogs is now a worldwide competition. Events are conducted
throughout the United States and also in Canada and Europe.
Since 2000, there have been two records set, one for indoor and
one for outdoor competition. The outdoor record was set by a
greyhound named Country with a jump of 28 feet, 11 inches. Canines
named Wylie and Gunnerboy hold the indoor record with leaps of 25
feet, 3 inches each.
DockDogs has performances scheduled daily throughout the fair at
10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. The 10 a.m. performance serves as the
first round of the competition and is for all dogs entered. The
preliminaries take place at 1 p.m. and the finals are at 5 p.m.
Monday events
Senior Citizens' Day
Campus Town: Illinois College in Jacksonville, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Illinois College will have a variety of students and faculty
performing and singing throughout the day. The college also will
have a children's activity area where children can take pictures of
themselves as Lady Blue and Blueboy, the school's two mascots.
Hometown Pride: Kankakee, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Local politicians and a live radio show highlight Kankakee's
Hometown Pride event lineup. State Reps. Lisa Dugan and Careen
Gordon and state Sen. Debbie Halverson will appear to promote
Kankakee. WKAN radio will broadcast live throughout the day, and
sports premiums promoting Chicago Bears training camp will be given
away. Kankakee also will promote the city's annual Labor Day events,
the Kankakee Regatta boat race and the Herscher Labor Day parade.
Grandstand entertainment: Harness racing, with noon post
time, and the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, 8 p.m.
In the state fair tradition, the Grandstand will offer harness
racing to fairgoers for free. The Illinois Symphony Orchestra will
take the Grandstand stage at 8 p.m. with a free performance. Karen
Lynne Deal, music director and conductor, will lead the orchestra in
a performance that promises to inspire the audience. The Illinois
Symphony Orchestra performs in Springfield and Bloomington, drawing
musicians from across Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri and
Wisconsin.
Arena: Truck and tractor pulls, 7:30-9 p.m.
The Illinois State Fair's motor sports tradition continues with a
truck and tractor pull competition, sponsored by the Illinois
Tractor Pullers Association. If you're looking for a breathtaking
display of raw power, look no further than this event.
Red Hat Day luncheon and contests, 11 a.m., director's lawn
The Springfield chapter of the Red Hat Society will host Red Hat
Day and a lunch at the Illinois State Fair. All Red Hat chapters in
Illinois have been invited to attend. The activities will occur on
Senior Citizens' Day, when admission for people 60 and older is
free. Comedy acts, belly dancers and performers such as Elvis
Himselvis will entertain members of the Red Hat Society throughout
the afternoon. Lunch, catered by Johnny's Restaurant, will be served
from 11 a.m. to noon.
National Best Spam Recipe Contest, 2-4 p.m., Hobbies, Arts,
and Crafts Building
There are more uses for Spam than the average person may be aware
of, and the national Best Spam Recipe Contest aims to prove it. The
Illinois State Fair will host a regional event in two age groups,
7-17 years old and 18 years and older, with the top three recipes in
each division moving on to the national competition and earning cash
prizes. The food items must contain one 12-ounce can of Spam and can
be an appetizer, side dish, sandwich, salad or entree. Join the
contestants and see what crazy Spam concoctions they come up with!
[Text
from
Illinois State Fair news release received from the
Illinois Office of Communication and Information] |
