Once again, the Illinois State Fair has come to Springfield. Last August many '58s sent in their memories about this annual institution. The prevailing view was that we recall the Fair fondly and assume it will endure.Today a story in the New York Times reports that Midwest state fairs are in deep financial trouble. They have lost money steadily, because city folk no longer care about farming (fairs began as agricultural expositions) and they can find more sophisticated entertainment at the flick of a switch.
What can we say? Folks no longer want a carnival ride, soft-ice cream, or a lemon shake-up? Before we all mutter about cultural decline, take a look at this other story in the Times: food competitions at fairs are thriving, but now the contests are over bagels, biscotti, and ostrich burgers.
If you plan to attend, here's some advice in the SJR on how to eat wisely, as befits our senior years. Your comments are welcome!
3 comments:
IF I could be there I would eat Miss Fisk´s French Fries in baskets full. I would wash them down with many lemon shakeups. I would eat several swiss cheese sandwiches in the dairy building (after wowing the Butter Cow) AND then head to the Illinois building for fresh southern Illinois peaches. AND head back to the French Fries.(AND there was a stand near the pig building that had great ham sandwiches! :-)GREAT EATING and to heck with "senior status."
Lee
YOU asked for it.
After fifty Years of winning best of shows and best arrangements, mostly Blue Ribbons...Beveridges Motherinlaw Now age 85 still competes and wins in the floriculture division... Below are her this years wins.
We should have such energy at her age. LOL
And another bit of BOB's Trivia...
He married the FIRST Sangamon County Fair 1959'Queen...YvonneSMITH - )They celebrate 45th Wedding Anniversary next week. C.E. a groomsmen and the person responsible for getting this couple together. LOL....
What a Great family of BLUE RIBBON Winning Ladies.
Beveridge KNOWS how to Pick them.
SMITH-WYETH-WHEELER
SPRINGFIELD , IL
4th Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 1
"BEAUTY AND THE BEAST" MINIMUM 4 FEET TALL
2nd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 1
"EASY ON THE EYE"
3rd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 1
"I'VE GOT PLENTY OF NOTHING" ALL DRIED
3rd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 1
CARDTABLE - "REMEMBERING"
2nd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 1
EXHIBITION TABLE - "AROUND THE BEND"
2nd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 1
NICHE - "ICY HOT"
4th Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 1
PEDESTAL - "ADVENTURE"
4th Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 1
TABLE - "FREEDOM RINGS"
4th Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 3
"CIRCULAR"
2nd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 3
"COLOR SPEAKS"
3rd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 3
EXHIBITION TABLE - "ILLINOIS HOME GROWN" SOME FRESH
4th Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 3
HOSTA, LARGE - 1 LEAF MORE THAN 5" WIDE
2nd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 3
MANTEL - "BALANCING ACT"
4th Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 3
NICHE - "SURPRISE"
3rd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 3
PEDESTAL - "FAN FARE" - SOME FRESH
2nd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 4
"AUTUMN LEAVES" - ALL DRIED
3rd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 4
"STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT" - ALL FRESH
1st Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 4
CARDTABLE - "OPPOSITE ATTRACTS"
2nd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 4
EXHIBITION TABLE - "DAY DREAMING"
4th Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 4
HOSTA - 1 LEAF LESS THAN 5" WIDE
3rd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 4
MANTEL - "DUPLICITY"
3rd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 4
NICHE - "TOOLS OF THE TRADE"
4th Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 4
PEDESTAL - "SHOCK WAVE"
2nd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 4
TABLE - "GO TEAM"
3rd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 6
"PLUM CRAZY"
3rd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 6
"WILD WILD WEST" - ALL DRIED
3rd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 6
CARD TABLE - "GOLD RUSH"
1st Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 6
EXHIBITION TABLE - "UNWINDING"
1st Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 6
MANTEL - "BURNING LOW" - USING CANDLES
1st Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 6
NICHE - "SERENITY"
2nd Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 6
PEDESTAL - "STORMY WEATHER"
1st Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 6
TABLE - "SPRING HAS SPRUNG"
5th Place DIVISION II - GENERAL
L-FLORICULTURE
DIVISION 9-HOSTA
ARRANGEMENT
NICHE - "SEEING IS BELIEVING" - ALL FRESH
Hi Bob's Wife,
I have it on good authority that the runner-up in the first Miss Sangamon County contest was Carolyn Baldwin Quinlan! (Don't know if this was the same year you were crowned.)
She competes most years in antiques, mostly Haviland china, and this year won 6 out of 7 ribbons. There's a State Fair Museum in the grandstand and she has many attic items that she plans to donate, including ribbons and letters dating back to 1895.
Will
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