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Page 70--Shaw Med* Group 1982 Fair Guide People & projects -f I Tireless Slaw M«<1M News Service photo oy Craig Schreme continued Uom page 68 Tammeus helped set an example of what volunteers and hard work could ac­ complish. At that time dairying was a big part of McHenry County agriculture and the quality of the dairy show was an an­ nual highlight that uplifted the entire fair. Harness racing, commercial and educa­ tion exhibits, the Grange food tent, the McHenry County Dairy Promotion Council and a carnival have all been a part of the fair since the early years. Farm machinery at one time provided a major attraction, but the trend to ur­ banization, the difficulty of staffing an ex- thc'ViUaaegftuire ofjWt?Mrp 'A 6000 PLACE TO BE" A SPECIAL SUMMER MENU FOR OUR KIND OF CUSTOMERS Tiii-Sit, 8:10 fm til CUsJ«| 4512 W. Rt«. 120 In MeHemy 385-0900] hibit and the danger of leaving valuable equipment unguarded gradually discouraged the big equipment dealers from participating. However, some do take part today in some way. The fair came about, so the story goes, in 194849 when the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce & Industry suggested the 4-H show at the fairgrounds become a nucleus for a county fair. This would provide additional premium money over and above the allotments for 4- H Club work. The Section VI FFA show was a part of the McHenry County Fair for a few years. Mark Hansen, an area farmer at the time, was one of those who helped start the fair. He was the first vice president and the second president. Einar Bakkom, civic leader and local In­ ternational Harvester dealer, was presi­ dent for two years, 1949 and 1950. Hansen, still active in our community and retired from fanning (but not at work­ ing at the information booth at the fair) was president in 1961 and 1962. Henry Marlowe, vocational agriculture teacher at Huntley for many years and a businessman (feed and hatchery), helped start the fair. His exhibit of hatching chicks was a sure-fire attraction for years. Marlowe was president for three years, 1963 to 1956, followed by Lyle Paulsen for two years. Paulsen, who died a little more than two years ago, was a Woodstock farmer who worked diligently to assure success of the fair. In 1969 and 1960 Loren Massey became president, and under his leadership the fair continued to grow. Massey Hall, one of the main exhibition halls on the grounds, is named after Loren. Carl Bault, a Crystal Lake area farmer at the time, took over the presidency in 1961 and served for three years. While the Miss McHenry County Pageant was formed in 1949 and was a highlight attraction each year, it was not until 1962, under Bault's encouragement, that the competition among beauties from around the county became as well organiz­ ed and as much a pageant as it has become today. The fact that Gail Marquart of McHenry went on to place second in the Illinois Association of County Fairs contest pro­ vided considerable enthusiasm for a con­ tribution of the pageantry in 1963 -- and since. Since 1964 Dorothy Kleckner has served as the pageant chairwoman, one reason it has maintained high standards for more than 15 years. Following Bault as president was Don Hansen, a Woodstock dairy farmer who was a dynamic force from 1964 until his death in late 1969. Chuck Weingart, vice president at the time of Hansen'sdeath in a tragic highway accident, was elevated to the presidency in 1970, and he's held the leadership position since. From those first days in 1949, tents have been replaced by many permanent buildings. Exhibit halls have increased from one near the grandstand to four others -- and more indoor exhibit space is needed. Building D provides a quality exhibit hall, headquarters for the fair office and a central location for varied attractions near Hansen Pavilion. The pavilion, named after Don Hansen, was dedicated at the 1970 fair shortly after it was built as the central location for livestock judging. The horse barn on Illinois 47 at the west end of the track is one of the older stric­ tures on the fairgrounds. The track has been re-worked and reconstructed and provides a good half-mile dirt oval for two days of harness pacing. Among original buildings are the old oak building next to Massey Hall, the first ex­ hibit hall, and the old tiny headquarters buildings near the grandstand that today serves as press headquarters and informa­ tion booth headquarters during the fair. Permanent structures include two dairy buildings, two beef buildings, a hog building, a sheep building, poultry-rabbit building, Hansen Pavilion and Building C for home economics and arts and crafts exhibits. The fair has 40 acres, including a large parking area. Old-timers will recognize many of these names -- members of that first fair board when the McHenry County Fair was reviv­ ed in 1949: Einar Bakkom, Mark Hansen, W.H. "Pat" Williams, Paul Whalen, Clin­ ton Martin, Claude Pagles, Robert Gard­ ner, Henry Marlowe, Frank Niffenegger and Harold Leisch.