Lee County Fair looks back, thinks forward

AMBOY, Ill. — Even as the Lee County Fair board focuses on maintaining the strong traditions of the rural county fair, board members are committed to moving the fair forward.

This year’s fair schedule, with a variety of new events and returning favorites, is proof of that.

“We always want to make sure that we are forward-thinking. We don’t want to rest on being always a 4-H fair and junior show. We want to be sure we are looking forward and bringing opportunities to get people out to the fair and into the buildings,” said Katie Pratt, secretary of the Lee County fair board.

The biggest new addition to this year’s fair is an open show, in which anyone can exhibit items and earn prizes.

“We are really excited to offer an open show. We are going to try it on a very limited basis,” Pratt said.

The open categories are baking, floriculture and vegetables, photography and art. In the photography and floriculture classes, there will be a category for professional entries and for amateur entries.

“We are hoping to draw in some of our local businesses and we thought it would be nice to highlight them, like flower shops and photographers,” Pratt said.

Pratt said the idea came after discussion among fair board members and from talking to young people at the fair last year.

“In talking to some kids last year, they were saying, ‘I just want to bake a pie’ and ‘Wouldn’t it be fun if my grandma brought a pie and your grandma brought a pie.’ We were talking about the nostalgia and times when people would bring baked goods out to the fair and someone always won the blu e ribbon. That’s what we want to foster in bringing in the whole family,” Pratt said.

Several fan favorite events from last year will make a return to the fair this year. The Lee County Fair and 4-H Show starts July 27 and continues through July 30 at the Lee County 4-H Center and Fairgrounds in rural Amboy.

Xtreme Rentals will bring back “Bouncin’ on the Midway,” a bouncehouse and inflatables along with a mobile game room and a foam pit.

A petting zoo and pony rides, the barrel train and the County Fair Speedway remote control car racetrack returns. The Magic By Cory magic show returns to the fair.

New this year will be a circus.

“It’s not animals. It’s the thrill events and acrobats with the Cincinnati Circus Thrill Show,” Pratt said.

A mini show takes place on the midway on July 26, and the circus will present its thrill show at 1 p.m. on July 30.

The rodeo returns to the fair with a different rodeo company.

“T and A Bucking Bulls is new this year and we are excited for them because it’s an open show so anybody can ride. They will have mutton busting and a sheep scramble for the kids and there are traditional rodeo events like barrel racing, pole bending and bull riding,” Pratt said.

Two show ring events will continue to put the spotlight on tradition at the fair.

The antique showmanship class returns to the show barns. The antique showmanship is the last class of the beef show, goat show, horse show and beef show.

“It’s been around for a few years and it’s a really fun

Lee County Fair and 4-H Show

July 27-30

1196 Franklin Road Amboy, Illinois event. We invite people who have shown in the past to come in the ring and strut their stuff. It is a fundraiser so those people are nominated with a donation by someone else. If they don’t want to step into the ring, they have to buy themselves out of it,” Pratt said.

The event is held as a fundraiser with proceeds being directed toward maintenance and rehabilitation of the fairgrounds livestock facilities.

The Born and Bred in Lee County show class fea- tures animals that are local to Lee County.

“That is done through the Mike Draper Memorial. His widow, Sandy Draper, was a fair board member for years. Mike was very involved with the fair. Sandy said one of the things Mike always wanted to see at the fair was recognizing local livestock breeders and owners. So, that is where the Born and Bred class came from,” Pratt said.

All animals entered, breeding and market animals, show against each other. The animals are judged on the best representation of their breed or species.

To be eligible, the animal has to have been born and/ or bred in Lee County and entrants are required to fill out a form with the ani- mal’s origin.

This year, beef cattle, goats, sheep and swine are eligible to be entered in that class.

When it comes to the fair food menu, this year will see some changes.

“We don’t currently have a pancake breakfast on Friday, Saturday or Sunday mornings and we haven’t found anybody to fill that spot. The 4-H Federation food stand will be open and serving during the fair,” Pratt said.

One new treat this year is “Watermelon with Wyffels.” Wyffels Corn Hybrids will be serving free watermelon slices on Thursday while supplies last.

Food trucks also return to the fair, offering a variety of treats including fair food, barbecue, Hispanic food and ice cream.

There is plenty of meat on the menu again this year as the Lee County Pork Producers and Compeer Financial serve up pork chop sandwiches on Friday night and the Lee County Farm Bureau Young Leaders serve up steak sandwiches on Saturday night. The Marketplace vendors’ market will again offer a unique opportunity for young entrepreneurs on Sunday.

“Last year, we had a really good response with the Marketplace opening to kids who have their own businesses. We have all the kids who have their own businesses, they make their own jewelry or baked goods, goat soap, in one spot and it was really fun so we’re doing that again this year,” Pratt said.