2005 Year in Review

2005 Illinois State Fair Premium Books Now Available

State Fair Manager Amy Bliefnick today announced Premium Books for the 2005 Illinois State Fair are now available to contestants planning to participate in any of more than 8,700 competitive events ranging from the horseshoe toss to Illinois’ prize onion. The books, detailing all contest rules and regulations, can be accessed online. A limited number of hard copies also are available.

“The State Fair is the finest showcase of Illinois agriculture, and people from around the Midwest travel to see the best Illinois agriculture has to offer as competitors show their livestock and prize-winning fruits and vegetables,” Bliefnick said. “But it’s also tradition to watch visitors compete for the best smile and kids dress up to vie for the title of cutest little farmer. These are the fun family traditions on which the State Fair was built.”

State Fair Premium Books can be obtained online through the Illinois State Fair website at State Fair

Eight premium books are available: Livestock, Junior Department, Western Horse Show, Society Horse Show, Special Events & Twilight Parade, Miniature Horse Show and a General Book.

The Livestock Premium Book contains specific information about livestock entries and the divisions and classing of animals. Livestock competitions include: beef cattle, dairy cattle, draft horses, llamas, goats, sheep, swine, poultry and rabbits, as well as the popular husband and hog calling contests. The Junior Department book includes the following livestock divisions: beef and dairy cattle, goats, sheep, swine, poultry and rabbits.

Premium Books for the Western Horse Show, which runs July 12-23, and the Society Horse Show, which runs August 9-13 and 17-20, outline divisions between horses and riding styles.

The Special Events & Twilight Parade Premium book sets guidelines for entries to the Twilight Parade and other fair competitions.

Listed below is the State Fair competitions and their respective entry deadlines.

Livestock
Open Livestock – July 1
Open Rabbits & Poultry – July 10
Junior Livestock – July 1
(Jr. Livestock entries should be submitted to the exhibitors’ local county Extension office by that Extension office’s deadline)

General Show
Ag Products – July 15
All culinary not otherwise listed – July 15
Amateur Art – July 15
Amateur Talent – July 31
Bee Culture (Professional) – August 13
Bee Culture (Open) – Until judging begins
Bocce Ball – August 19
Christmas Trees – July 15
Culinary – July 15
Dairy Products – August 10
Floriculture – August 1
Gladiolus – August 1
Hobby’s – July 15
Horseshoe Pitching – August 13
Hosta – August 15
Junior Culinary – July 15
Junior Hobby’s – July 15
Junior Textiles – July 15
Rose Show – August 17
Twilight Parade – July 22

For a hard copy of a Premium Book, please contact Durinda Kirby at 217/782-0786. CDs of the books will be distributed to county Extension offices and agriculture science instructors with the help of state FFA and 4-H members.

The 2005 Illinois State Fair runs from August 12-21. Contest Rules for more than 8,700 Competitive Events can be accessed Online.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
June 6, 2005