I have some really great memories of trips to the Illinois State Fair......
Dad and mom carting me up there with my various 4-H computer projects.
Riding the "Sky Glide" with Dad and Grandpa Honnold.
Getting 25 cent ice cream sandwiches at the Prairie Farms trailer.
Picking up all sorts of "freebies" from the various booths/stands -- Republican tent and Governors tent (both with free cold water), Illinois State Police, Secretary of State, and many others.
Getting honey ice cream from the beekeepers.
Sampling foods made in Illinois on the 2nd level of the Illinois Building.
Walking thru Happy Hollow.
Walking thru the area with Ag Equipment on display.
REALLY tired feet and legs after all that walking.
Eating a delicious "chop" from the IL Pork Producers.
Butter cow!!
And more recently....
Picking up a box of salt water taffy for the inlaws (payment for watching the kids).
Seeing Brooks & Dunn and Kelly Clarkson in concerts at the grandstand.
Eating a delicious "chop" from the IL Pork Producers. (yup.... I know I already mentioned that above, but it's something I buy on every visit)
Locating (by accident) the "Webkinz" party van and walking away with like 20 bucks worth of fuzzy little creatures.
The Illinois State Fair.
It's a summer tradition.
We get over there every year that we can.
Which is why I was glad to see this.....
“We've got about a $30 million list of projects to be done. And when you're looking at the investment that needs to be made to fix the roofs, fix the roads, fix the plumbing, make fire safety improvements, etc., it's very cost prohibitive when we are competing with prison needs, road and bridge repairs and community water systems.”
With the state in the dire financial predicament that we're stuck in, they are reaching out to private individuals and organizations to help sponsor some of the needed projects around the fairgrounds.
Things are really getting ugly for some of the buildings - leaks and deferred maintenance are taking a toll. Which is not good. The State Fair needs to be upheld as an important summer tradition for years to come.
Of course, if the state would drop oversight of "the other State Fair" down in DuQuoin, that would leave a whole lot more $$ for the Fair that must take precidence. Turn the DuQuoin grounds over to the local governments and let them deal with it.
There's only 1 State Fair.
Out for now.....
Matt
