It was too difficult to choose only one “2013 Friend of the Fair recipient. So the 143rd Annual Whiteside County Fair has recognized two individuals: Marilyn Green and “Popcorn Bob” Landon. Fair Board President Paul Vock awarded plaques to both, at a 6:40 p.m. ceremony before the grandstand on Thursday, August 15, 2013.
Since 1989, the Board has sought to honor those who have made an extra effort to support and make the annual fair as much fun as possible for all those who participate and attend the many shows and events.
“It is always a great pleasure to present this award,” Vock said, noting the Fair’s continued success depends on so many people doing so many different things.
Marilyn Green was the Superintendent of the Open and Junior Hobby Department for 22 years, serving from 1989 to 2011. Along with her daughter, Mekie Green, she made Hobbies the largest department in the Whiteside County Fair. Due to her hard work,it grew from 163 classes (1989) to 177 (2011), when Green retired. Thanks to Green, the Hobby Department has always been a fun and interesting place to visit, with its photographs, antiques, collections, and art work.
Known to other fairgoers as “Popcorn Bob”, Robert Landon has been a fairgoer for over 60 years. He began working at age 14 for Betty Hicks-Whitebread, in the 1950’s, and continued to do so until her passing in 1989. He continues her Hicks Carmel Corn business, which has been a staple at the Whiteside County Fair for 107 years! Nothing has changed, because “the recipe for success has been leaving the recipe alone. People like our corn, and we like to give them what they like,” Landon stated. He added he has enjoyed the Fair every year because of all the nice people he has met and gets to see every year. Two corn trailers sell his product; Landon also owns a taco trailer.
For more information about the fair, check out www.whitesidecountyfair.org.
Pictured left-to-right are daughter Mekie Green; Friend of the Fair honorees Marilyn Green and Bob Landon; Paul Vock, Whiteside County Fair Board President and Superintendent of Security.
In the back row, left-to-right, are the Board of Directors: Secretary Mary Beth Dombrowski; Todd Mickley, Publicity and Advertising; Howard Scott, Director of Exhibit and Display Buildings; John Mosher, Department G and HG Swine; Rob Vegter, Sponsors Chair; Brian Oostenryk, Department B and HA Dairy Cattle; Brad Noble, Department A and HA Beef Cattle; Treasurer and Director of Grandstands, Karl Kovarik; Mike Wiersema, Superintendent of Concessions and Commercial Exhibits; Marty Pierceson, Department F Sheep.
Not pictured are Glenn Frank and Dan Heusinkveld.