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Page 12 - Northwest Newspapers 1965 Fair Guide Fair talent contest still going strong By JoAme Springman Sentinal News Staff WOODSTOCK - "Our talent contest is becoming a fact after 20 years. There's always something extra every year," said W.H. "Bill" Tammeus, as the McHenry County Fair talent contest enters its third decade. "We've weathered 20 years, and we're still going strong," said Tammeus, who has been general chairman of the event since its inception. This year's show starts Friday, Aug. 2, at Hansen Pavilion at the fairgrounds, with junior class competition at 6 p.m., followed by the senior class at 7:30 p.m. and the adult class at 9 p.m. In all classes, the winner receives $100, and second place is good for $75. The third place act wins $50, and all other finalists are awarded $20. Judges ror the talent show are engaged from outside the county to ensure impar­ tial judging, according to Tammeus. Judges for the audition usually are people who previously have been in the contest, plus other interested people who are will­ ing to help. Each summer, about 40 amateur enter­ tainers or groups of entertainers enter the auditions. From all entries, judges will select eight finalists in each division, and the finalists then will compete at the tal­ ent contest at the fair Aug. 2. Starting with 31 entries in the first year of the contest, Tammeus said there have been as many as 60 entries. "The number varies from year to year," he said. When the contest started, there were no divisions, but, in 1977, a senior division was created for participants age 15 and okler, and, for the first time In 1982, there was an adult division for participants age 21 and older. Performers age 14 and youn­ ger are included in the junior division. Tammeus himself has been involved with the fair since the 1940s when he - served as University of Illinois agricultur­ al extension advisor for McHenry County. The fair then was known as "4-H Town." Until 1946, when the McHenry County Board approved leasing the fairgrounds property to the 4-H group, Tammeus had been organizing the annual 4-H fairs on a daily basis on the grounds of Woodstock High School. After the county approved the 99-year lease, at $1 per year, for the 4-Hers in 1945, Tammeus was instrumental in incor­ porating "McHenry County 4-H Town Inc.," a group of adults who led the 4-H organization and handled the business af­ fairs relating to the fair and fairgrounds lease. A few years later, in 1949, the McHenry County Fair Association was reactivated, and the annual event held at the fair­ grounds became known as the McHenry County Fair and 4-H Show. During that period, Tammeus spent much time as acting fair secretary. He visited Springfield many times with fair officers to learn how to operate a fair, keep books, handle records and premium money and build fair facilities. Later, when the fair board became con­ cerned about a "lag" in the fair program, Tammeus suggested the talent show. "There were bare spots in the fair agen­ da, and the board, which, in those days, couldn't obtain the big-name entertainers, thought it would like to conclude the fair days with some entertainment," Tam­ meus said. He recalled how successful 4-H "Share- the-Fun" programs had been and thought that a talent show open to county resi­ dents would entertain fairgoers. "We started 4-H 4Share-the-Fun' pro­ grams here in McHenry County," he said. "They caught on well, and other counties followed suit" "Share-the-Fun" became so successful that a contest for 4-Hers was included at the Illinois State Fair. "Now it's a nation­ al 4-H project," Tammeus said. "I've always had a bent,toward this kind of thing, so, when it was decided to have a talent contest, I don't recall wheth­ er I was recruited or I volunteered," said Tammeus. "I guess maybe it was because I knew what to do, and not everyooe else (fid. "I have a good staff. They know it's a lot of work, hot it's also a lot of fun," Tammeus said. "And now, as in other years, there is the satisfaction of knowing that you have done something to help Each year, the McHenry County Fair talent winner travels to the piinois State Flair in Springfield to compete. The Amy Bensen Band, winner at the 1961 county fair, took second place at the 1962 state fair. Hie following summer, the country- rock iwHmUfip sinftpr Bensen Continued to page 44 LOOK FOR OUR STANDAT THE FAIR! SERVING: TACOS •NACHOS •TOSTADOS •SOFT DRINKS FOR COMPLETE DINNERS STOPON YOUR WAYTOOR FROM THE FAIR "The Finest in Mexican Cuisine" 120 FMST ST. WOODSTOCK -A FULL SERVICE BANK -ASSETS OF *92,324,MS JUNE M, MS THE STATE RANK OF WOODSTOCK ...continuous community bonking services since 1889. DDB9 DOodS (Tcddod® U<e> TTDo© tfanflir? Welcome to Woodstock and the McHenry County Fair. Enjoy the exhibits, events, contests, competitions, games and rides. THE STATE BANK OF WOODSTOCK Member FDIC Woodstock Square, Woodstock, I llinois 60098