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At
only nine years of age, Sheldon Tibbs of rural Broadwell is already
an old pro on the racing scene.
He started his career at the age of 5 in the novice division.
He is now on his third car and thinking about the racing
competitions in his future.
Vanessa
Tibbs, Sheldon’s mom, is quick to point out that quarter midget
racing is truly a family affair.
While Vanessa and the other moms work the concession stands,
Sheldon’s dad, Scott Tibbs, along with Grandpa Bob Gordon, Uncle
Jerry Gordon and Cousin Brian Gordon comprise the pit crew.
During the week, Sheldon and Scott work side by side on the
two to three hours of required maintenance prior to race night.
They
congregate each Saturday night from late April through October at
the Rockin’ Horse Campground. The dirt track located between
Broadwell and Middletown hosts the event and draws about 50 racers
each week. Racers are
divided into 15 classes for various ages and weights of the driver,
as well as size of car.
Sheldon’s
safety while racing is not a concern for the Tibbs family.
“Kids are more likely to get hurt or killed coming to the
fairgrounds in a car than they are while racing,” Scott Tibbs
reassures. The racers
are strapped to their cars with a five-point harness, and sturdy
rollbars protect them from the inevitable crash.
With power generated by
an engine similar to that of a lawn mower, the kids certainly are
not moving at breakneck speed.
Still, they have to be on their toes as they race around the
track. “You’ve got
to know how the car handles and tell the pit crew what needs to be
adjusted,” says Vanessa.
(To top of second
column)
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Although
there are about 10 youth from the Lincoln area who participate,
quarter midget racing is not a well-recognized sport across the
state. In fact, the only clubs in the region are in Terre
Haute, Ind., Bunker Hill and Springfield, Ill., and the
Lincoln group.
After
a racer graduates from quarter midget competition they can move on
to mini-sprint cars or micros and then on to full-sprint cars.
Chris Urish of Mount. Pulaski is one local youth who has moved
through the racing levels and is now racing sprint cars.
The next step for Chris might be NASCAR racing.
Sheldon
Tibbs has already had a busy fair week.
His crossbred steer won Grand Champion honors at the 4-H
Steer Show and will sell in the auction on Sunday.
He also captured a greased pig at Friday night’s scramble
and was planning to play in the 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
Tonight, Logan County racing fans will be able to cheer on
Sheldon in the quarter midget Senior Stock Class in a car sponsored
by Garland Gerke Trucking.
The
quarter midget races will start at 6 tonight in the grandstand.
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Click
here for a list of food concessions at the 2000 Logan County Fair.
Click
here for a list of booths
at the 2000 Logan County Fair.
Kid’s
Day-Kid’s Way 2000
Special
contests for kids at the fair
[AUG.
3, 2000]
The
theme of Kid’s Day-Kid’s Way 2000 at the Logan County Fair is
"Mark the Millennium." Events for kids ages 2 to 12 will
be from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, in the South Exhibition
Building. Winners will receive prizes and tickets for Luehr’s
Ideal Rides.
Competition
and concessions -
1-3 p.m.
Competition
-
Jump
rope
-
Hula
hoop
-
Water
balloon toss
-
Obstacle
course
-
and
more!
Concessions
Contests
- 3-4 p.m.
- Longest and shortest
braid
- Longest and shortest
pigtails
- Mom/daughter look-alike
- Dad/son look-alike
- Mom/son look-alike
- Dad/daughter look-alike
- Sibling look-alike
- Best "2000"
attire
- Guessing jar
[Reid Conklen (at right) of New Holland, winner of the 4-H Best
Crops Exhibit, receives the Marvin Hasenmyer Memorial Award,
presented by Laurel Hasenmyer.]
 Oldest
4-H’er is a lucky man
[AUG.
1, 2000]
How
many years does it take to be considered the oldest 4-H'er around
the hog barns at the Logan County Fair? Here in the town of Lincoln,
67 years in 4-H seems to be the going rate. That's right, Herb
Rogers of rural Emden has been involved with 4-H since he was 16
years old. In the early years, Herb showed dairy and beef cattle.
Later he moved on to showing hogs.
Herb
mentioned that he has a few favorite moments from being involved
with 4-H. Not necessarily choosing one thing as a favorite, Rogers
stated, "Meeting a lot of kind people was and still is a
favorite part of being involved with 4-H. It seems as time goes by,
the more you show with 4-H, the more friendly people you meet."
Rogers also said that "the competitiveness was always a
plus."
Even
though Herb was never a 4-H leader, he always encouraged kids to
start young. "It's a great thing for kids to be able to be
competitive and to want to win, but winning isn't everything."
The motto of the 4-H club is, "To make the best better."
Rogers also says, "Kids should never give up. Even if they
don't win at first, their turn will come along."
Rogers
remembers that as he was growing up, he worked extremely hard to
have his pig become a champion at the International Livestock
competition, but he never made it. Thereafter, Rogers worked even
harder with his oldest son, but still no luck. Finally, working to
their heart’s content, Roger, along with his youngest son,
Matthew, got their barrow (pig) to the competition. At that
competition Matthew received the Grand Reserve Champion barrow. From
there Matthew also got his barrow into the Governor's Auction, where
he received $14,500 for his pig. Herb remembers being envious and
happy at the same time. He was envious that he had never gotten the
chance to be in that position, but happy that his son had won.
Herb
Rogers says that there is life after being in 4-H. He loves to
attend showings. "It's always intriguing to be on the sidelines
to see how eager the kids are to win," he says.
These
days Herb is still around the fairgrounds, accompanying his
grandchildren during the 4-H shows. Last year he helped his
granddaughter, Casondra, show for the first time. This year it will
be his grandson, Matthew's, first time to show.
The
emblem of the 4-H members is the four-leaf clover. Herb said
excitedly, "I can go out into a clover patch and automatically
find a four-leaf clover. I must be a lucky man to be involved in
such a great program for so many years."
[Cassie
Hewitt]
(To
top of second column)
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A
goat ate
Kara’s cup
Favorite, funniest fair events
[AUG.
4, 2000]
This
year’s Logan County Fair has proved to be an intriguing attraction
for visitors and vendors alike. From food to rides and other
attractions, the fair has it all.
D.J.
Fielder, 7, of St. Louis exclaimed, "The harness races are my
favorites! I got the chance to meet a participant of the races, and
his horse won, so I got to have my picture taken with the winning
horse!" D.J. was accompanied to the fair by his grandmother,
Janet Milleville, and his great-grandmother, Mabel Butler.
Milleville says, "My favorite thing at the fair is definitely
the food. I don’t care for the rides much." Mabel Butler
stated in agreement, "The fair food is also my favorite."
Dena
Hunter, 12, and her 7-year-old sister, Kara, both of Broadwell,
agreed that the funniest part of the day was when a goat from the
petting zoo ate Kara’s cup as well as the food in it. Dena and
Kara were planning to attend the tractor pull later that evening
with their parents.
Jane
Smith, who works for Taft’s Concessions of Springfield, said,
"Business this year has been on track compared to other years.
Although I spend most of my time working, I definitely enjoy it when
I get a chance to view the nearby exhibits."
Taft’s
employee Jamie Long added, "Meeting the people is the best part
of working at the fair. After a while, you get to know the repeat
customers and eventually you know what they are going to order
before they tell you."
[Cassie
Hewitt]
Chatting
with fans
At the
racetrack
[AUG.
4, 2000]
A
small but an enthusiastic crowd cheered on the horses as they roared
down the backstretch of the Logan County Fairgrounds racetrack. That
was the scene early Thursday afternoon as the harness races took
center stage at this year’s county fair. Harness racing has long
been a staple of the fair lineup and continues to be enjoyable for
veteran race fans as well as newcomers.
Second-year
attendee Roger Hunter of Mason City says, "Harness racing is
the only thing I come to see at the fair." Hunter was
accompanied by his friend Randy Elsberry of Lincoln, who stated,
"Harness racing is definitely my favorite, but the demolition
derby is a close second."
Dan
and Marilyn Meyer of Lincoln attended Thursday’s races along with
Dan’s sister, Mary Jane Novak, and her husband, Frank. These
couples have been attending the races for many years – some since
they were children.
Dan
and Mary Jane vividly recall childhood harness rides on horses owned
by their grandfather. Now they play the role of spectators, which
they enjoy nonetheless.
"The
main reason for watching the harness races is because I like the
horses," said Frank Novak. It seemed to be a unanimous vote on
the reasons behind attending the races.
Although
viewing the races is for mere entertainment, Dan Meyer offers a
theory for picking the winners of each race. Meyer explained,
"I consider the appearance, stride and build of each horse. I
also hope for a lot of luck."
Harness
racing continues Friday, beginning at 1:30 p.m., and Saturday and
Sunday at 1:00 p.m., so come on out and see what all the talk is
about.
[Cassie
Hewitt]
Greeters
at the gate
[AUG.
3, 2000]
The
first people to greet visitors who enter the Logan County
Fairgrounds are unsung heroes. The gatekeepers work diligently each
day of the fair from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. without receiving much
publicity or glamour. However, this is a job they wouldn’t trade
for anything.
[Jack Kuznik and Dave McGraw have manned the West
Gate for around 30 years.]
An
overall favorite of the gatekeepers is "meeting new
people."
According
to Dave McGraw, the best part is "remembering the old
acquaintances and meeting new people." McGraw first started
working the gates in 1966 and still loves every minute of the job.
[Ace Hinman meets and greets at the East Gate.]
Harrison
Turley, a 10-year veteran gatekeeper, says, "We get especially
busy from about 4:00 on. The demolition derby is my favorite, and it’s
also one of the busiest days."
Ace
Hinman has been working the Logan County Fair gates for 40 years.
Hinman exclaimed, "This job is great; the people are great; and
best of all, people really don’t complain, and that makes this job
easier."
So
if you head out to the fair this week, give the gatekeepers a warm
hello. They’ll appreciate the friendliness.
[Cassie
Hewitt]
At
the fair
Businesses
meet the public
[AUG.
3, 2000]
The
midway walk and Exposition Building of the Logan County Fairgrounds
has proven to be the perfect site for local businesses to advertise.
Business such as P&M Communications have been manning booths at
the Logan County Fair for 13 years, elaborated owner Bob Metz.
"Business really excels after the fair, especially for two
months afterwards," Metz exclaimed.
There
were also a few first-timers at the fair this year, including
businesses such as Lincoln Logan Insurance Service and Drake Eyecare
Center. These businesses are hoping to gain a boost in customers due
to advertising at the fair, similar to that of P&M
Communications.
Although
advertising comes first, the employees of these businesses have
still found time for leisure activities. Harlan Atteberry and Robert
Jeckel, both of Lincoln Logan Insurance Services, feel that some of
the best things about the fair are "meeting people and visiting
the livestock barns." When Jeckel was growing up, "Coming
to the fair was my summer vacation. I was always showing animals, so
I practically lived at the fair."
For
area businesses, the fair proves to be an outstanding way to meet
new people and gain customers.
[Cassie
Hewitt]
Flowers,
arts, ceramics, rabbits take center stage
as the fair opens
[AUG.
2, 2000]
Competitions
were the order of business Tuesday morning as the Logan County
Fairgrounds in Lincoln played host to the beginning of the 64th
annual Logan County Fair. Contestants from all over the area took
aim at various titles in competitions featuring floriculture, arts,
ceramics and rabbit showing.
Judging
for the floriculture competition began at 11 a.m. as anxious
competitors put the finishing touches on exhibits. Pat LaForge of
New Holland has been involved in flower competitions at the fair for
"about 15 to 20 years." LaForge, along with her husband
Wayne, produced 81 entries for this year’s fair. LaForge excitedly
stated that competing "takes a lot of work, but it’s
definitely worth it!" Pat’s accomplishments in past
floriculture events include winning the Steve Gleason Memorial Award
last year. This award is presented to the contestant who displays
the best arrangement of three different types of cut flowers.
[Pat
and Wayne LaForge relax after presenting exhibits at the
floriculture competition.]
Also
presenting at the floriculture competition was two-time defending
state rose champion Dan Keil of Decatur. Keil and his daughter
Shawnda compete throughout the area at competitions including the
Macon County Fair, Illinois State Fair and Heart of Illinois Fair.
He noted, "We like to support the different fairs, but the
Logan County Fair always has one of the better flower shows. This
fair seems to show more flower exhibits than other fairs."
The
ceramics competition was overseen by Scotty Hinman of Lincoln, who
also teaches a ceramics class at the Lincoln Park District. As the
assistant superintendent in charge of ceramics, Hinman noted that
this year’s competition included 17 entries. According to Hinman,
her job is to "place the pieces in the correct category and to
make sure they are presented nicely. I am also present during
judging and when the exhibit closes so that the contestants can get
their things."
The
art competition shares the same building with ceramics. Art judge
Andrea Niehaus, a Lincoln resident, said, "I look for entries
with completeness, balance and originality. I like to see people put
their thoughts into perspective. It’s nice to see the
individuality of the artwork."
Amanda
Baker was one of the 152 artists exhibiting at this year’s fair.
The 12-year-old student at Zion Lutheran School in Lincoln won the
first prize blue ribbon for her colored pencil drawing. This was not
Amanda’s first taste of victory in the art field. She stated,
"I’ve had several first-place finishes, including a ‘Best
of Show’ award when I was 6 for a watercolor drawing."
[Amanda
Baker proudly displays her colored pencil artwork and blue ribbon.]
While
floriculture, ceramics and art competitions took center stage on the
midway, the livestock area was playing host to the 4-H Rabbit Show.
Among the competitors was 10-year-old Kaleb Gordon of Lincoln. Kaleb
garnered two first-place awards for New Zealand White rabbits. When
asked to name his favorite part of the fair, Kaleb exclaimed,
"I like everything, but mainly I just love rabbits!" He
also said, "I’ll be back Saturday to show my dogs."
[Kaleb
Gordon and his New Zealand White rabbit display their first-place
trophy and awards.]
[Cassie
Hewitt]
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