Editor’s note: Jerry Lindsey supplied the photograph.
Since 1989, the Whiteside County Fair Board has honored those who make an extra effort to support the annual Fair. They make the Fair as much fun as possible, for those who participate and attend the many shows and events.
The Whiteside County Fair Board is pleased to announce that our 2022 Friend of the Fair is The Venhuizen Family. Left-to-right are Nancy, daughter-in-law Amy, and son Tom.
The Venhuizen Family started participating in the Whiteside County Fair some years ago, when Kenny and Nancy both showed beef cattle, as young kids in 4-H. They got married in 1956 and had their children, Tom and Kim, who grew up showing beef cattle and added showing hogs.
The presentation ceremony took place Friday evening, August 19, before the grandstand. It was scheduled at about 6:15 p.m., between the Antique Tractor Parade and the Tractor and Truck Pull.
Kenny, with the help of Tom, enjoyed restoring antique tractors and displaying them on the grounds and in the parade. Kenny began tractor pulling in the 60s at the Whiteside County Fair, and then Kenny and Tom became the Superintendent of the tractor pull in the early 70s. The Venhuizen family was always there to help with the pull. Kenny built many pulling tractors over the years, and most donned the name, “Blue Max.”
After years of helping and watching his dad build pulling tractors, Tom started his tractor pulling career in 1977, by building his own modified tractor, “Panic.” After some hard years farming, both men retired from the competitor side of tractor pulling, but the call to the track was still strong for the Venhuizen men.
In the early 90s, Kenny purchased his sled called “Mean Green” and operated it at the tractor pull. Later in the 90s, Tom and Amy bought a sled as well. Their sled, called “The Mechanical Mule,” took over the pull, after Kenny sold his sled and retired from pulling.
The Venhuizen family has operated their sleds down the track at the Whiteside County Fair many times for many years, and last year was the final time Tom ran his sled down the track. He retired as well from pulling after 26 years of running the Mule. Sadly, Kenny passed in December of 2020. His presence in that special final time down the track was felt by many.
The Whiteside County Fair Board would like to thank the Venhuizen Family, for all they have done for this fair and the many other fairs to where they traveled. Congratulations to our 2022 Friend of the Fair, “The Venhuizen Family!”
Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey took this photo.
Left-to-right are Board member Dan Heusinkveld; Venhuizen daughter, Kim; Venhuizen daughter-in-law, Amy holding female child; Nancy Venhuizen and son, Tom; President Paul Vock; presenting a plaque. Other Board members wearing burgundy shirts were (back, partly obscured behind twin boys) Vice President Brian Oostenryk, Sr.; (front, also partly obscured by the twins) Matt Newman; Rob Vegter; (back, partly obscured) Jon Brackemyer; (front) Secretary Dana Fox; (behind) Brian Oostenryk, Jr.; (front) Treasurer Karl Kovarik; (behind) John Wiersema; Todd Mickley. Not in the photograph are Brad Noble and Mike Wiersema.
