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Pag* 50--Shaw Midlo Group 1981 Fair Guld* \ Hayes' horse sense led him to fair • . > 1 . . J . U ^ I i l . A L ^ m / W A n o A i l ( W A V M 1 A T A « By Sarah Peas'ey WOODSTOCK -- Horse racing has contributed mightily to the success of the McHenry County Fair in several ways. Funds taken from parimutuel at approved tracks is used to support county fairs. Harness racing is a pleasant at­ traction at the McHenry County Fair. Thirdly, because of harness racing, Jack Hayes, an avid fan, became in­ terested in the county fair, gradually helped out, and in 1966, was elected a director and treasurer. Lean, tanned and always on the go, Hayes is a familiar figure around the fair during its five days. What most people don't realize is that he's nearly as busy throughout the rest of the year. "There's seldom a day in the whole year I don't do something in connection with the fair or fairgrounds," Hayes says. When he was elected to the board in 1966, Hayes was the only bookkeeper for the fair's complex set of books and he was also in charge of looking after the grounds. Now, fair board secretary Dorothy Schultz takes care of the bookkeeping and assists in many of the duties thrust on the host of volunteers. Today, Hayes' responsibilities in- SUMMER SENIOR PHOTO SPECIAL! 1-8x10 8-Wallets 4-3x5s All prints natural color 1'Sx1° Natural Color which may ba your family /flv*' group, childran group, or mothar and fathar, to be ' takan anytima during tha currant achool yaat. Z}e7&a*fe StudU 221 Benton St Woodstock 338 1880 "Established 1946' elude helping with the publicity, handling state-appropriation money, and making sure proper reports are prepared, and assisting with the har­ ness racing. His wife, Betty, also helps with the harness racing, and the two of them handle another major responsibility: scheduling and keeping the financial records on indoor exhibit space rentals. "My major challenge is to put to good use the approximately $35,000 a year the McHenry County Fair Association receives from parimutuels," he says. "This money comes to the county fairs from one of two funds -- the agriculture premium fund, which can be used only for premiums, or the fair and ex­ position fund. Our board has chosen to receive its money from the fair and exposition fund, and this money can be used only to build and maintain com­ mercial exhibit halls." Other cost, • such as open class premiums, utilities and ground maintenance, is paid from exhibitors' fees, commercial exhibit space rental and gate receipts. "You can see why weather is such an important factor in the well-being of a fair's financial health," Hayes says. "At fair time those of us involved in the finances keep a sharp eye for any sign that good weather will accompany, an evening's program. "In our best year -- 1978 -- we had 110,000 people. Two bad afternoons and evenings of rain proved damaging in 1979. Last year we had one poor turnout because of weather, so attendance increased from 1979 quite a hit but did not equal the 1978 all-time high." So far, Hayes adds, "we've generally been lucky on weather, but I don't think any fair could operate without money from the state." In 1966, when he first became in­ volved in management of the fair, the county was more of a place where people exhibited their projects -- animals, produce, clothing, arts and crafts. "Now, we have a changing type of county -- fewer rural people and much more urban involvement both in terms of attendance and exhibitor potential," he says. "We attract larger crowds to help meet growing costs with events that have proven crowd-pleasers." The demolition derby is an example of the new format and so are the country western singers. "Professional entertainment has become a bigger part of the fair. We used to book en­ tertainers directly but now we have to work through a booking agency," he says. Hayes is representative of the small army of volunteers who work without pay and with little recognition to make sure all things go smoothly during the five hectic days of the McHenry County Pair. -- Musing, he remarks, "I got involved first to help out harness racing. One project led to another. I was interested in seeing the fair progress and develop, and it has. It is a good blend of exhibits, entertainment, educational attractions and a chance to enjoy a few rides and meet many friends." People and projects