The annual McLean County Fair is a real come-together event — attracting urban and country residents, young and old, thrill seekers and leisure hounds. For this episode ofWGLT's Sounds of Summer series, WGLT correspondent Michele Steinbacher goes to the county fairgrounds off Illinois 9, to talk with tractor pull fans, visit with some 4-H youth and their livestock, and even to check out the view from the Ferris wheel.
The fair continues through Sunday. Visit the fair website, for event listings, prices and other information.
Mike Swartz, longtime manager of the McLean County Fair: There are four or five cornerstones to a fair. You got carnival, you got fair food, you got 4-H projects, you have free on-grounds entertainment, and you have grandstand entertainment. It's a good ratatouille experience. You know, all of a sudden you realize that there's this "aha" moment, like, 'Oh my gosh. I did this as a kid, and this is a lot of fun.'
This takes a very broad breadth of socioeconomic and diversity, and gender, as well as ethnicity — all across Bloomington-Normal and McLean County. And they come to one event.
We are a large county fair that hosts the extensions 4-H program. And so, you'll see a whole gamut: We have a large livestock selection that are here, and we have an entire building inside that just deals with 4-H general projects. Hundreds of adult volunteers help youth with those.
I host the commercial side of the fair. So we help put on the carnival, the food, the grandstand entertainment, as well as the free entertainment.
Truck and tractor pull, a loud celebration of strength
Reid Aberle, working pit crew at Friday’s truck and tractor pull: I’m originally from Tremont, live in Morton now. So yeah, farm kid. I mean, always interested in tinkering around and that kind of stuff. Had some half ton gas trucks early on, and then got my first diesel and, I'm a sled puller, too. (At these events, truck drivers and tractor drivers work to drag a weighted sled up to 300 feet.) So, it's just the adrenaline rush that you get from it is absolutely incredible.
4-H youth give TLC to animals in hot weather
Dalila Marie Geshiwlm, a Hudson grade schooler, caring for her goat in the 4-H area: I'm showing sheep and goats. I'm also doing projects in the 4-H Building.. Geology, sewing, sketching, and nature art. This is my girl boer goat, Puddles. She was born in March. She has one brown leg up front. She has a red collar, and a brown head, and the rest of her body's white.
Mallory Miller, a Danvers teen, hosing water on her heifer to keep the animal cool in near 100-degree weather: I'm currently rinsing and washing heifers. She’s just called the a simmental, because that's the breed that she is. So right now, we're rinsing. You rinse them, and then you soap them, and then you brush them, then you rinse them, and then you brush them again. And then you go back and blow dry.
And we do it almost every single night. Yeah, so a lot of late nights and early mornings — but it's worth it. Being here and then, all the people walking by. And getting to see little kids’ faces and how they think it is so cool. And then just being able to see all your hard work throughout the summer pay off when you get in the show ring, and then do good.
Families explore fairground offerings
Diondra Mayowa, a new Bloomington resident, admiring horses with her 2-year-old son, Shiloh: So my 7-year-old daughter Micah actually won the crown bearer award for a coloring contest she had at a daycare. So, she's in there right now with dad. (Mayowa points to the 4-H Cloverleaf Auditorium, where a fair royalty pageant is taking place.).
I have not been to this fair. We just recently moved here, as of two months ago, from Texas. So yes, first experience. So, this heat is fine with me.
Caleb Griffith, a Bloomington father pushing a stroller through the poultry and rabbits barn: We come every year. (He was walking with his wife Diane Griffith, and three children: Abigail, 9; Abraham, 7, and Elijah, 2.
Diane: We just like to come and see what's here.
Abigail: I like to ride the rides.
Elijah: I want to see the cows.
(WGLT: You want to go see the cows? And how about you?)
Abraham: Well, I'm at the place that I like. The chickens. (He’s surrounded by the sound of roosters and hens.)
What's a fair without food?
Carl Neubauer, a Downs farmer, serving as grillmaster during his volunteer shift for McLean County Beef Producers: We're cooking beef products for the fair. We have two big charcoal grills that we cook everything on. Come on out, because it's air conditioned where we sell the beef.
Blair Ediker, of Bloomington, talking with her spouse Gabriel Ediker, as they enjoyed the concessions: I got the cinnamon roll funnel cake. The icing and the cinnamon are just, like, wafting into my nose right now. You can't get it anywhere else. So you have to get a corn dog, you have to get the lemonade shakeup. I make them at home, but it's not the same if it's not in the yellow plastic cup.
Carnival midway place for thrills, laughter
Steven Roberts, a lifelong Bloomington resident: Judah, my son, he’s 8 years old. He usually comes every year.
(WGLT to Judah): What is your favorite ride?
Judah: This one. It goes really fast. It goes around and backwards really fast. It makes me laugh.
Eric Leonard, Bloomington teen near concession booth: I've just been with some friends, and going on some rides. I had to stop though. I get dizzy on the rides. I like that there's a lot of people from different towns, they all come to this one spot.
Michael Mavic and JT Piper, Bloomington teens at the carnival midway: It's pretty hot and humid.
But the rides help too, when you're moving fast. You get the breeze, and the wind in your hair and stuff. I love the environment here. It's so many people. It's really a great time and the food's great.
It's a great place to be — you get to meet a ton of people. Really, really a nice place, and especially the end of summer.
I mean, we could have no rides and if everybody just comes, it'll make the night so fun. But the rides add a whole ‘nother level. It's such a great time. I like the Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel is my favorite. Oh, it's great.
I couldn't agree more. You’ve got to end your fair experience with the Ferris Wheel. It's just…
You get the view.
You get the view. You get to view the whole park.
