The Macon County Fair of Decatur, Illinois

McKinney/Matthew Wedding Reception

admin — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 01:01:37 +0000

June 22
Pride of Prairie Building

Macon County Fair Queen Hannah Wolfe ready to spread her enthusiasm

admin — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:48:37 +0000

June 12, 2013 12:01 am • By TONY REID – H&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — The 2013 Macon County Fair Queen began her reign with an act of generosity to her rivals.

“Every one of the girls would have made a great queen,” said Hannah Wolfe, 18. “I had hoped I would win, but you never know.”

The three judges did, however, and were smitten by the Decatur woman’s dazzling smile and upbeat approach to life and chose her from a field of nine. The daughter of television and radio personality Doug Wolfe and former TV presenter Julie Moore Wolfe, the new queen said her parents are used to being in the public eye, and it was something she would now have to come to terms with.

But with 30 percent of the points system used to judge queen candidates based on a personal interview with the judges, it was clear the younger Wolfe already knows how to project herself to an audience. She is looking forward to testing her people skills this week as the fair gets rolling and hopes her passion for the event is infectious: “I want the world to understand why I love the fair so much and to love it, too,” said Wolfe, who will study business in the fall at the University of Illinois. “I am feeling ecstatic right now.”

First runner-up was Lauren Skarupa, 19, of Decatur, and 19-year-old Lauren Herington of Decatur was chosen as second runner-up. Kailey Hurst, 20, a Millikin University student from Clinton, received the People’s Choice award voted by fairgoers.

Melissa Muirhead, the fair queen pageant director, said she was pleased with the quality of the entries this year. She said it takes courage to step out onto that stage in front of a crowd numbering in the hundreds, but the fair queen stands to gain a lot more than just a huge raft of prizes that includes a $1,000 educational scholarship.

“She will come away with interview and public speaking skills that are also good job skills,” said Muirhead, who’s just run her 16th pageant. “And it’s so rewarding to see them right now and then see them a year from now and realize how they’ve changed, the confidence they have.”

Muirhead created a Junior Miss Macon County Fair for younger contestants as a way to line up future queen candidates, and was pleased to see four of this year’s queen contestants were former Junior Miss winners.

There were 10 entries for the 2013 Junior Miss title, and it was won by 12-year-old Emma Dalke of Blue Mound.

treid@herald-review.com|(217) 421-7977

Macon County Fair puts agriculture out front

admin — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:44:48 +0000

By RYAN VOLYES – H&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — Among the major goals for the Macon County Fair boosters this year was to reinforce the importance of agriculture to the community, especially for youth in attendance.

Aside from a poultry and rabbit show, children’s events and others, fair board member Kathleen Taylor has said she hopes it will spark interest in agriculture for the children who come to see the animals.

“We want to entice them to all aspects of agriculture, not just rolling hay,” she said.

Part of that plan was shown Wednesday afternoon, as rows of chickens, roosters, ducks and others were judged as part of the poultry show at the fairgrounds. Dozens of children walked alongside the cages as they looked — and sometimes tried to pet — the poultry as official judges walked by to grade each animal.

While the animals submitted to the contest were down from previous years, Ann McKinney believes it is a generational thing, and more children could get interested with the increase in “backyard chickens,” or raising chickens in the city.

McKinney, a fair volunteer who has helped with the poultry show, said it is important to reach children and teens about agriculture to give them experiences in things they may not understand otherwise.

“A lot of kids don’t know where eggs come from,” she said. “They see the chickens lay some eggs, and they realize they don’t come from Kroger.”

The introduction to the animal aspect of agriculture seemed to stick with many of the children and teens at the fair, as most said they found the animals exciting and the trip educational.

Benjamin Taraszewski, 14, raises more than 100 chickens and ducks alongside his family on their Decatur farm. While he enjoys the thrill of raising animals and having them compete in shows, he has no plans to pursue it further.

“It’s a hobby, nothing I’d do professionally,” Taraszewski said.

While the future careers remain in question, that does not mean learning about agriculture or taking care of the animals does not prepare them for the adult life.

Susan Houska, a community worker for 4-H, said the children and teens who participate in the fair activities are learning skills as varied as care giving to taking criticism.

It’s more life skills than career-oriented,” Houska said. “Those skills learned, from taking care of an animal to being judged, are things they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

rvoyles@herald-review.com|(217)421-7985

Hannah Wolfe wins 54th Annual Queen Pageant

admin — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:46:58 +0000

The grandstand was filled with supporters during the Macon County Fair Queen, Junior Miss Pageants and Parade of Princesses. The field of nine contestants Hannah Wolfe was crowned Queen. She was sponsored by Busboom & Wolfe on Talk 101. The contestants were in a communications/speech competition, physical fitness/swimsuit competition and evening gown competition.

First runner-up is Lauren Skarupa sponsored by Mt.Zion Sav-Mor Pharmacy, Second runner up went to Lauren Herington sponsored by Northgate Pet Clinic. Other awards include Miss Photogenic Alexa Hamilton sponsored by Macon County Title, Miss Congeniality Annah Hulva sponsored by Garner Hoadley Auto Body, People’s Choice was Kailey Hurst sponsored by Liberty Dental – Aaron J. Blakely, DMD, Best Decorated Box was Jacklynn Boatman sponsored by The Little Salon and Most Raffle Tickets Sold was Hunter Bailey sponsored by Hannah Shaw at Capelli’s Steps Dance Complex, Friends & Family.

Ten girls competed in the Junior Miss Pageant. Each was Judged in the causal and formal wear divisions. Emma Dalke was crowned the new 2013 Junior Miss. She received a crown, scepter, and sash. First Runner-Up is Lydia Hubbard, 2nd Runner-Up is Hannah Cook. Other awards were; Miss Photogenic went to Erin Babb, Miss Congeniality was Emma Dalke, People’s Choice was Lydia Hubbard, Best Decorated Box went to Hannah Cook and most Raffle Tickets Sold went to Taylor Prasum.

Twelve girls were in the Parade of Princesses. Each Princess received a tiara, a personalized crown trophy and a crown backpack full of royal princess items compliments of the Macon County Fair.

The People’s Choice winner went to Kaitlyn Reuter, Most Raffle tickets sold was Cassie Cobren and Best Decorated Box went to Kylie Ferguson.

The 2012 Macon County Fair Queen, Allison Mowry thanked many family, friends and mentors and talked about her adventures during her rein as queen. Junior Miss Lauryn Rowe-Adams recognized her parents and many others who supported her this past year.

Pageant Director Melissa Muirheid and Fair Board Member said the evening went of without a hitch and she was proud of all of the girls.

Ribbon Cutting Tonight!

admin — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:18:46 +0000

State Rep. Bill Mitchell, Director of Agriculture Bob Flider, Macon County Board Members, Decatur City Council Members and many other supporters of the fair will be in force this evening for our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony! Come join us tonight in the Grandstand! Admission is only $5.00; children 5 and under are free.