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 Marian Haseley of Lincoln has been to every fair since 1937,
attending the first fair with her dad and two younger sisters when
she was 14 years old. Haseley said, "We had never been to a fair
before; we were so excited and enjoyed every bit of it. That was the
beginning of what will be 80 years of going to the Logan County
Fair."
Haseley said, "There have been many changes," [and the changes]
"always occur to make the fair better and to adapt to times and
circumstances. The fair will always be grounded in agriculture, but
seems to have transitioned to have a more diverse appeal."
Haseley said, "There was a time when 'Main Street' was packed with
farm equipment dealers, seed corn dealers and every other kind of
agri-business. The barns were filled with beef and dairy cattle,
hogs, sheep and horses. As the number of farms decreased, especially
those that raised livestock, so did the number of exhibitors and
vendors."
Haseley said the biggest change was when the old grandstand was
taken down. She said, "I really miss the character and history that
it added to the fair. We had a front row reserved box for many years
[and] were surrounded by the same families in the same boxes year
after year. We really enjoyed those evenings. I especially liked the
Society Horse shows."
 Haseley says, "My favorite part has always been the cattle shows. My
kids showed in the 4-H, Jr. and open shows, and also exhibited
vegetables and flowers. Those were always busy years, but great
times. Seeing and visiting folks you don’t often see is also a
favorite of mine. And like everyone else, there’s just something
special about a corn dog, lemonade shake-up and fries from
Culler’s."
Haseley says, "I also enjoy watching the judging of the Dairy and
Culinary Dept. and continue to do that each year. I hope to be there
this year."
Harold Goodman, who is in his late eighties, has also been coming to
the fair as long as he can remember and said he will be out at the
fair most days this year. Goodman said "The fair has been good for
the county," and "Our county has done what they can do to make the
fair better over the years."
Goodman and his family help to sponsor the fair. He has box seats at
the grandstand and enjoys many of the events there.
Goodman said, "A lot of effort is put out for the horse races." He
has always liked the tractor pulls, too, though Goodman said they
have changed from what they used to be. His sons Scott, Steven and
Stacy are in the pull, and Scott's son Austin will be involved this
year, too.
Goodman said the fair used to have many combines displayed and there
are still several out at the fair, but people do not often pause to
look at them anymore.
Some longtime fair events
The Logan County Fair Queen Pageant, for those between the ages of
16 and 21, started in 1939 and has been a popular part of the fair
nearly every year since then. During the years 1948-1952 there was
no pageant due to tough times after the war. In 2009, the Little
Miss Pageant was added for girls age five to eight.
Queen contestants are judged on speeches that show communication
skills, a swimsuit competition to show beauty and physique, an
evening gown competition to display their stage presence, and a pop
question that exhibits their ability to answer a question on the
spot.
Little Miss contestants are judged by an on-stage interview. The
darlings have added a new dimension of charm and often humor to the
pageant that is traditionally held on opening night, Tuesday.
 The queen and little miss present trophies and ribbons and assist
with drawings during the fair. They also represent the county at
various special events throughout the year such as parades,
festivals, and fundraisers. The queen competes in January for the
title of Miss Illinois.
Those who have been queen have fond memories of their reign.
2010 Logan County Fair Queen Bethany (Rae) Rademaker said, "It
installed a true appreciation for our Fair and our County as a
whole. Since I was queen I have joined the pageant crew as the stage
decorator, moved to the Little Miss Director, and I am now the
Pageant Director."
Rademaker said, "I cannot wait to dedicate these next years to the
fair and to our county. I feel I am getting the opportunity to give
back to the community who has rounded me out to be who I am today."
2000 queen Elizabeth Stoll Wrage has said it provides a lifetime
connection to the fair. She still helps with practices for the
contestants.
Two Logan County Fair Queens from the early years of the fair often
appear at the pageants: 1941 Fair Queen Irma (Kaesebier) Leesman and
1945 Fair Queen Evelyn (Oltmanns) Belcher, and both share fond
memories of their time as queen.
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Logan County Fair board President Dean Bruns has been involved with
the fair for 63 years. Bruns has also been working with the queen
pageant for many years and "just loves it."
Bruns said he considered resigning from the fair board a few years
ago feeling he was getting too old, but he was convinced to
reconsider. Others told him he could just talk to people and make
them feel good that they came. He says, "I have always loved
people."
Bruns said he likes every part of the fair, loves seeing kids show
their calves and sheep and watching programs at the grandstand.
Bruns said his favorite part of the fair is the scrambles when kids
catch the pigs, goats, and chickens. He said, "It is wonderful to
see."
Bruns said during fair week, he gets out to the fair at eight in the
morning and is often riding through the grounds on a golf cart until
late evening. He sees many people he knows and sometimes gives them
rides to their cars. Bruns said kids love to ride in the golf cart,
too.
The 4-H competitions are another popular part of the fairs.
University of Illinois Extension Advisor, John Fulton, who is on the
fair board of directors, says 4-H competitions have been part of the
fair since it began. Fulton says the number participating in these
competitions is higher than it is in many other counties.
The 4-H competitions have long included rabbit, poultry, beef, goat,
sheep, and steer shows plus non-visual and visual arts, flowers, and
textile.
David Irwin, another fair board member, has worked with the fair for
the last twelve years. He said a family member has been on the fair
board almost since the beginning, since his grandfather and uncle
also served as board members in years past.
Irwin said this year will be his eighth one for getting sponsors
lined up for concerts that bring in well-known country artists. The
first year of the concerts, the fair board decided on a Thursday if
they could get $10,000 in sponsorships rounded up they would have a
concert; by Monday they had over $12,000.
Irwin said getting the concerts set up is a lot of work, but it is a
lot of fun seeing everyone enjoy the concert.
Seeing the people you do not see all the time is one of Irwin's
favorite parts of the fair. He grew up showing Holstein dairy cows
and some of his family still shows cows. Irwin also looks forward to
watching the hog shows.
Swine, sheep, and cattle shows have been part of the fair since it
began. As far back as 1856, an agricultural fair with cattle shows
was held on the east side of Lincoln.
Over the years, the fair has had entertainment such as daredevil car
shows, concerts with Lawrence Welk cast members Roy Clark, Marty
Robbins, and Lee Greenwood. The first year, a dog act provided the
entertainment.
Past fairs have also had ostrich and camel races and elephant rides.
Amusement rides have been part of the fair since the 1950s. Ads from
1956 show the cost then was ten cents per ride.
Memories of the fair
Several of those who grew up in Logan County and attended many fairs
shared their fond memories of the events:
Former Lincolnite Jill Werkman says, "My favorite memory is every
year for 42 years my mom and I would come and eat corn dogs and
French fries and then sit first row at the Demolition Derby with our
plastic tablecloth because if you can't get covered in mud what's
the point."
Susan Pech Goergen, who grew up in Lincoln and now lives in
Groveland, has been to at least 20 fairs. Goergen says, "The
grandstand show was always a big deal. Acts included country music
stars, Lawrence Welk performers, comedians and Daredevil acts. I
will always remember the wonderful trinkets and toys sold behind the
grandstand (a perfect marketing strategy). I adored my hand painted
silk parasol."
Goergen says, "I believe it was 1962 or 63' that they had an amazing
daredevil car show that included driving through a ring of fire on
two wheels!"
Barbara Dunn Raycraft's dad was on the fair board at one time.
Raycraft says, "I have picture of him and several others on an
elephant [and] a clipping from the paper naming him and other
dignitaries as drivers in ostrich and camel races!
Judy Pochel VanTieghem says she also remembers riding an elephant at
the fair in 1967.
Terri Tibbs recently moved back to the area and has many fond
memories of the fair. Tibbs' sister, Allison, showed cattle for many
years and Tibbs once drove a car in the Demolition Derby. Tibbs
says, "Not only is it the smells, the sounds and the excitement;
it's seeing old friends and the nostalgia that only the Logan County
Fair can bring."
Though the fair has undergone some changes over the years, it is
still a place for wholesome family fun and catching up with friends.
[Angela Reiners] |
