The Quilt Challenge

One of the designated fat quarters that can be purchased
at the listed locations

This year will be the first annual Quilt Challenge to raise money for the Textile Department at the Henry County Fair. The rules are simple: Everyone has to use one of the 55 "fat quarters" cut from a selected bolt of fabric. This can be used to create a quilted or non-quilted item using any fabric of your choice that compliments the "fat quarter." But make sure a portion of designated fat quarter is embedded in the project.

Fat quarters can be purchased for $5 and can be found at the Quilt Box in Kewanee, The Village Smithy in Bishop Hill, Quilts in Bloom in Geneseo or by contacting Eva Dynes at 309-853-1321. The fat quarters will be available while they last. If item made is entered at the Henry County Fair all entry fees will apply. The project can be entered in the Department M1 (Textiles) in Class 1620 (Quilt Challenge Class). Premiums awarded for this class will be 1st $35.00, 2nd $15.00, 3rd $5.00.

Free Midway Entertainment

There is great free entertainment on the midway! Both kids and the young at heart will adore the fast paced, slapstick comedy show of Granpa Cratchet. There is tons of audience participation and lots of hugs for the kids after the show in Granpa Cratchet's "puppetmobile."

Granpa Cratchet has toured all over North America and has appeared on CBS, NBC, FOX and numerous radio shows. He will appear all week and the exact performance times will be available shortly. Check out this video below of Granpa Cratchet interacting with an audience member!  

Another must see show is Southern Illinois Premiere Acappella group BLEND. It is back by popular demand June 24th, 25th and 26th at 8 p.m. in the MEC Tent singing music from the 50's and 60's with "a twist of fun." These guys are unbelievable. Be sure not to miss this show!

Henry County Fair on Twitter

The Henry County Fair is now on Twitter! Follow @henrycofair

Fairbook Now Online

The Art Hall section of the 2014 fairbook can be found on this blog by clicking the fairbook top tab.

The Art Hall allows local artists an opportunity to showcase their work to the general public. The departments are:

Agriculture Products (which also includes vegetables)
Floriculture (plants)
Textiles (sewing and all types of needle work)
Fine Arts (art as well as photography)
Antiques and Collections
Culinary Baking (baking and canning)
Junior Show I (ages 8-12)
Junior Show II (ages 13-19)

Anyone can enter! The classes have been modernized by the new art hall superintendents Tamra Dynes and Eva Dynes, which just happens to be both my mother and sister respectively.

One of the cool new classes is found in the fine arts department under photography is "selfie." So if you or someone you know takes great selfies be sure to enter it in this years fair!

The complete fairbook should be in hard copy soon at local banks and businesses.

Eric Paslay

Rising country singer Eric Paslay will be coming to the Henry County Fair on June 27^th. Even though I’m not a country fan, my taste leans more towards Halestorm, I still am VERY excited for such a big performer coming to the Henry County Fair.

Paslay has performed on Good Morning America and Fox and Friends. He has opened for bands such as the Eli Young Band, Jake Owen and Little Big Town. He has co-written for other artists such as Lady Antebellum and Rascal Flatts. Below is one of his music videos for his hit song "Friday Night."

Tickets are on sale now, click here to go to the Henry County Fair website for more ticket information. Just think Woodhull native Missy Vail (who I will talk about in another post) and the rising star Eric Paslay! This is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity to see some of the country music’s greatest musicians at a local event so be there Friday Night (for real) Henry County because it’s going to be awesome!! 

Queen History

 1977 Miss Henry County Fair Queen
 (picture provided by Cambridge Public Library)

Believe it or not, the Henry County Queen Pageant has not been going on for 155 years. The first Miss Henry County Fair Pageant was held in 1960. Isn’t it ironic that the event most associated with a fair is one of the later events to be added to the fair program? Twenty-seven girls entered in the pageant and the winner received $200 cash, a trophy, three dozen roses and a diamond ring. The pageant was a success because it drew the largest fair crowd in many years.

 In the newspapers clipping found in Frances Johnston’s scrapbook it was noted that contestants should wear “closed toed” opera pump shoes, with no ankle straps. But it was not necessary that they be new. The preliminaries were held at the Cambridge Community Center with the four finalists selected would appear in front of the grandstand where the winner would be chosen. The article noted that each of the finalists would receive a pair of hose and a flower to hold at the crowning ceremony.  

The very first Henry County Fair Queen was Glenna Lee Moore, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gleen Moore, and was crowned by Governor William Statton. Ms. Moore went on to place 9^th at the Miss Illinois State Queen Contest. If anyone knows about Glenna’s whereabouts, have photos from that event, or memories they would like to share, please post it in the comments section.

Exhibitors

It is a common MYTH that only 4-H’ers can exhibit at the Henry County Fair. NOT TRUE! In reality there are three divisions at the fair: the 4-H fair, which I will discuss at greater length in another post, is just one.

 The other two divisions are called Open and Junior Open. The Open is for people of the world ages eight and up! The Junior Open is for people of the world who are less than 19 but older than eight as of September 1, 2013.

 The only difference is that 4-H’er has the opportunity to participate in all three divisions. People under 19 years of age may participate in only two divisions and us old folks over 19 in only one. All the information you need to know about the fair is in the fair book.

 There are many different departments (areas) in which to exhibit. Livestock is the most well-known. Cattle, hogs, horses, and sheep are shown throughout the week at the fair. But there are other lesser known departments also, such as Baking, Textiles, Floriculture, Hobbies, Antiques, and Fine Arts.

 To exhibit at the fair you must fill out an entry form found in the fair book and will be online at http://www.henrycountyfairil.com/. There will be an entry fee for each item exhibited. In addition, you will also be required to purchase an exhibitor’s pass, which will allow unlimited gate entry for the entire week.