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2016 LOGAN COUNTY FAIR
LINCOLN DAILY NEWS July 29 - August 6, 2016 Page 3
and said he will be out at the fair most days this
year. Goodman said “The fair has been good for the
county,” and “Our county has done what they can do
to make the fair better over the years.”
Goodman and his family help to sponsor the fair. He
has box seats at the grandstand and enjoys many of the
events there.
Goodman said, “A lot of effort is put out for the horse
races.” He has always liked the tractor pulls, too,
though Goodman said they have changed from what
they used to be. His sons Scott, Steven and Stacy are
in the pull, and Scott’s son Austin will be involved this
year, too.
Goodman said the fair used to have many combines
displayed and there are still several out at the fair, but
people do not often pause to look at them anymore.
Some longtime fair events
The Logan County Fair Queen Pageant, for those
between the ages of 16 and 21, started in 1939 and
has been a popular part of the fair nearly every year
since then. During the years 1948-1952 there was no
pageant due to tough times after the war. In 2009,
the Little Miss Pageant was added for girls age five to
eight.
Queen contestants are judged on speeches that show
communication skills, a swimsuit competition to show
beauty and physique, an evening gown competition to
display their stage presence, and a pop question that
exhibits their ability to answer a question on the spot.
Little Miss contestants are judged by an on-stage
interview. The darlings have added a new dimension
of charm and often humor to the pageant that is
traditionally held on opening night, Tuesday.
The queen and little miss present trophies and ribbons
and assist with drawings during the fair. They
also represent the county at various special events
throughout the year such as parades, festivals, and
fundraisers. The queen competes in January for the
title of Miss Illinois.
Those who have been queen have fond memories of
their reign.
2010 Logan County Fair Queen Bethany (Rae)
Rademaker said, “It installed a true appreciation for
our Fair and our County as a whole. Since I was
queen I have joined the pageant crew as the stage
decorator, moved to the Little Miss Director, and I am
now the Pageant Director.”
Rademaker said, “I cannot wait to dedicate these next
years to the fair and to our county. I feel I am getting
the opportunity to give back to the community who
has rounded me out to be who I am today.”
2000 queen Elizabeth Stoll Wrage has said it provides
a lifetime connection to the fair. She still helps with
practices for the contestants.
Two Logan County Fair Queens from the early years
of the fair often appear at the pageants: 1941 Fair
Queen Irma (Kaesebier) Leesman and 1945 Fair
Queen Evelyn (Oltmanns) Belcher, and both share
fond memories of their time as queen.
Logan County Fair board President Dean Bruns has
been involved with the fair for 63 years. Bruns has
also been working with the queen pageant for many
years and “just loves it.”
Bruns said he considered resigning from the fair board
a few years ago feeling he was getting too old, but
he was convinced to reconsider. Others told him he
could just talk to people and make them feel good that
they came. He says, “I have always loved people.”
Bruns said he likes every part of the fair, loves
seeing kids show their calves and sheep and watching
programs at the grandstand. Bruns said his favorite
part of the fair is the scrambles when kids catch the
pigs, goats, and chickens. He said, “It is wonderful to
see.”
Bruns said during fair week, he gets out to the fair at
eight in the morning and is often riding through the
grounds on a golf cart until late evening. He sees
many people he knows and sometimes gives them
rides to their cars. Bruns said kids love to ride in the
golf cart, too.
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