2016 Logan County Fair


Marcia (Haseley) Greenslate with her mom, Marian Haseley, at the 2013 Logan County Fair.  Marian has been to every fair since it began and she plans to be there this year for the Fair’s 80th.

Logan County Fair "Illinois' Cleanest and Best County Fair" celebrates 80th Anniversary

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[August 02, 2016]  This year, the Logan County Fair, known as "Illinois' Cleanest and Best County Fair," marks its 80th anniversary. Over the years, the fair has undergone changes, but still continues to draw crowds as the local social and agriculture event of the year.

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]

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