Sunlight on the morning of Tuesday, August 17, 2021, shown on those who had been up before the sun appeared. At 7:40 a.m., outside the grand, newly-built Grandstand, this patch of Whiteside County Fairgrounds was deserted. It also was quiet, even as some Food Court vendors opened their stands, and equine owners exercised their horses. Staff of many facets of the Fair were on task to trouble shoot problems, answer questions, even use a forklift to move a wrack of bleachers, and celebrate the Sesquicentennial WCF. Connie Barr, Superintendent of the Textiles and Fine Arts Department, and Todd Mickley, Director of Publicity and Advertising, were spotted chatting outside the Grandstand.
Mickley noted there will be fireworks on Wednesday, August 18, after Home Free performs on stage. Before US FMX Freestyle Motocross begins at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 19, skydivers will land in front of the Grandstand.
Banners along the east face acknowledge sponsors. Four up top are major donors who contributed to the new Grandstand: Dravis Landscaping, Inc. of Sterling, IL; Community State Bank, Farmers National Bank, and Quality ReadyMix, are Morrison businesses.
A new feature debuted Tuesday in the space at the north side of the Grandstand: General Store, Whiteside County Fair. Morrison High School athletic teams sold food and drinks there previously. Visitors now can shop for takeaway Fair items: blue t-shirts; bleacher seat cushions; jarred soy candles; commemorative Sesquicentennial coins; koozies; a tractor-themed, metal plaque with sticky tape on the back. Water and soft drinks are also available.
Brenda Grimes, left, of Cordova, IL, is a White Oaks Therapeutic Equestrian Center (WHOA) volunteer. Sandi VanDerLeest sits on the WHOA Board. Besides merchandise and beverages, they sold WHOA raffle tickets for a 36″ Griddle Cooking Station, lid, and griddle accessories–valued at $515. A winner will be selected Saturday, August 21, at 5:00 p.m.
Six+ hours earlier Board members, left-to-right, Rob Vegter, Mickley, and Mike Wiersema, had stood proudly before the unopened mercantile store.
Reserved Seating for Saturday, August 21, totals 1346. At approximately 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, only three remained, allowing fans of Demolition Derby drama to sit. It will become a sellout before the day ends. Forty-two, front row seats (from the 1346) are available at no charge for persons with physical disabilities. Spanning the length of the Grandstand, six concrete pads (charted in bright pink) are designed to hold wheelchairs.
In the Food Court, the Editor overheard part of a conversation between current- and first-time WCF vendors. Their topic was Elephant Ears: fried, flat pastry, sometimes called Fry Bread which originated with the Navajo People. The men discussed toppings. Keim’s Elephant Ears Express is based in Granger, IN. They were invited to the WCF by Mike Wiersema, who is in charge of Concessions and Commercial Exhibits. Alex Keim, far right, is the Owner of a sweet treat business, selling a product that ranks in the Top Ten of Favorite Fair Foods. Hyleigh Robinson and Alex’s father, Robert, are here to help. Robert stated, “It’s a family thing. Alex’s mother and wife help, [as do] Alex’s in-laws.” Keim’s Elephant Ears Express likely will do a good business this week.
