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Poge 46--Shaw Media Group 1901 Fair Guide f By Joanne Springmon r Sentinel staff writ** McHENRY - One would not be surprised to hear that McHenry County Fair President Charles Weingart is a busy roan these days on the eve of the annual event. For Weingart, howefer, the business of the fair continues year-round. "As my wife says, for us the fair goes on 365 days a year," Weingart said. "The day after the fair is over, 1 get telephone calls from people making suggestions for next year's fair. Anyplace I go, people approach me about the fair." Weingart said people even call him in his dairy barn while he is milking his 50- head herd. Although he bears the title of president, Weingart wears many dif­ ferent hats when conducting fair business. Any of the titles of coor­ dinator, planner, trouble-shooter, mediator, diplomat, businessman or executive would be suitable to describe the tasks Weingart undertakes as fair president. He talks of receiving calls from potential exhibitors, resolving problems both actual and potential, contracting for entertainment, assigning duties and overseeing a smooth fair operation. " "I enjoy working with people and trying to make them happy, and I like to keep things moving," Weingart said. "That is what the fair is all about." Active with the fair for about 20 years, Weingart was vice president in 1970 when he succeeded the late Don Hansen as president. "But this is no one-man job," Weingart declared, and he emphasized the help and cooperation he receives from the fair board and committees, volunteers and various county officials. "It takes an awful lot of people to make the fair successful," said -round Weingart, who estimated about 500 volunteers annually assist the 23 elected fair directors and the 18 fair committees. In October an appreciation banquet is held for everyone who works on the fair because; excepting the fair secretary, no one receives any financial remuneration for their time and efforts. The fair is financed through state funds granted for improvements to the grounds and through fair receipts. Various fair plans are made throughout the year, and several preparations are made well inadvance. For example, Weingart said, usually fair board meetings for the next year's event begin about a month after the fair, contracting for entertainment takes place in October, the fair book is compiled in the spring and all space for exhibitors is reserved by June. During his tenure as president, Weingart said the size of the fair has increased, and fair office personnel estimated about 1,000 exhibitors last year. Fair attendance was estimated at 75,000 to 80,000. Several improvements also have been made to the grounds, including the addition of six buildings, and the number of fair days has been in­ creased from four to five. Weingart added that, for the first time, this year there will be two nights with a country and western performer and two nights for the demolition derby. "We hope we will have bright and sunny weather for the fair, people will enjoy the entertainment we've scheduled and there will be record- breaking attendance this year," Weingart said. A lifetime resident of McHenry, Weingart still finds time to farm with his two sons when he isn't busy serving the community in the post of fair president or in other ways including tiis position on the McHenry County Board. People and projects Charles Weingart HEIDER'S BERRY FARM 2 miles east of Woodstock on Route 120 then 112 mile north on Queen Anne Road Pick-Your-Own Small Fruits ± \ Approximate Starting Dates... Asparagus May 1 Rhubarb May 15 | \ \ Strawberries june 15 Red and Black Raspberries July 5 Currants juty 5 Red Raspberries. . . i Sept. 5 Grapes Sept. 10 I 815-338-0 * J FIRST or NEXT TRAILER GET MY PRICE ON YOUR aUo STANDARD AND CUSTOM BUILT RBB ENTERPRISES 815-943-4253 a,a STOCK*HORSE«CAR*LIVESTOCK*BOAT TRAILERS GOOSENECK AND BUMPER PULLS STOCK TRAILER New 16' X 6'. Electric Brakes. 4' Solid Sides and Extras! New 16' X 6" 6" Low Boy. 12.000 lb GVW Electric Brakes, loading Ramps and Extras'