Following are the Tuesday, August 15, 2023, bicycle winner, Editor interviews, and photos.
Bike Winner Generous sponsors donate six bicycles to lucky youngsters during Fair Week. On Tuesday, August 15, Landon Wunderlich, age 9, of Tampico, chose a royal blue bike. It was donated by Kophamer & Blean Realty, 118 E. Main Street, Morrison. The rising third grader said he has a bike, “but it’s not here.” He was a lucky winner before. “I won a frisbee the last day of school last year.” Landon signed the required thank you card. He will not ride his bike to Tampico Elementary School when it resumes, because “it is too far to ride to school.”
Cake/Pie Walk One appealing Fair task filled by volunteers is judging baked goods. At 5:00 p.m. in the Brown Barn, these officials were at work tasting, evaluating, awarding placement ribbons, and properly placing plates inside display cases. They assessed Carrot Bars, Date Bars, and a trio of Brownies while the Editor watched. She was invited to offer her judgement of the darkest chocolate Brownie. “First place” based on one sample! Left-to-right are Beverly Hufman (first year to judge); Susan Kuehl (second year), and Drew Hoffman (1:02 hours as a judge so far.)
Junior Swine Judging included black and tri-colored barrows. Barrow describes a castrated male pig which is raised for approximately two years and then butchered. Todd Mickley stated “270 pounds is a ‘magic’ number” prior to slaughter, which takes about six months. Barrows are less aggressive than intact male boars, being easier to handle, and are at ease around others. Their meat retains a pleasing flavor and aroma, unlike boar meat. Judging involves oral evaluations of each animal, but one comment seemed obscure to the Editor. “His skeleton needs loosened up.” Why is that a problem? Can it be remediated? If so, how?
Reisy Door LLC owner Clint “Reisy” Reisenbigler sells, installs, and services garage doors in Erie, Fulton, Morrison, Prophetstown, and parts of Carroll and Henry Illinois Counties and Clinton County in Iowa. In business since 1999, this is a “small, family-owned business that strives to deliver 5-star service to every customer.” Capitalizing on his father’s nickname, Clint stresses “expert installation and preventative maintenance,” that should be done every two years. He offers technology, so owners can close a forgotten door from their phone, and installs surveillance cameras. Contact Reisenbigler at 563-212-3498 or see photos on reisydoor.com
U. S. Army Recruiter Sergeant Trevor Johnson brought an interactive feature from his Dixon, IL, office–barbells! He drew lots of attention throughout the day. He is an Active Duty Recruiter, serving in 2016 during “Operation Inherent Resolve” (Kuwait 6 months and Iraq 2 months.) Sgt. Johnson relishes the opportunities to travel the world while in service. Regarding Fair duty, he noted, “There’s good patriotism out here. Communities support us.” Morrison sixth grader Caleb McCaulley, 11, had a good time lifting. He lifts weights at a friend’s house.
P&T Jewelry is a new outdoor vendor along the food strip. Pam Mayberry Silva and Tara Balsey sell hand-stamped jewelry. Metal bands in several colors and widths are embellished with personalized text, symbols, and/or numerals. Simple bar pendants and adjustable bracelets can display messages or names. The women attended the Sterling, IL, Farmers Market and Pop Up Market; after the Fair they will sell in Oregon, IL, during Autumn On Parade, October 6-8.
Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey took these tractor photographs.
