Bill Text: IL HR0373 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates Brown County on its 150th consecutive fair celebration. Wishes the county continued success in the years to come.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-10-24 - Resolution Adopted [HR0373 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HR0373-Introduced.html

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HR0373 LRB103 33561 ECR 63373 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to congratulate Brown County on the
occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Brown County Fair;
and
WHEREAS, Brown County held its first fair celebration in
the fall of 1872, where the present Brown County courthouse
yard stands, with the original fair board being comprised of
President William T. Hersman, Vice President David K. Watson,
Recording Secretary A.K. Lowry, Treasurer William L. Taylor,
and Corresponding Secretary Martin Brooks; and
WHEREAS, The 1872 Brown County Fair Board selected 15
acres of land in the northeast part of Mount Sterling as the
fairgrounds site, where a third-of-a-mile track was built and
the first fair was held from October 23 to October 27, 1874;
seven more acres of ground were purchased to enlarge the
fairgrounds in 1878; with the additional land, the fair's race
track was enlarged to its present length of a half-mile; the
current fairgrounds include an amphitheater, a floral hall, an
implement and grain room, a judges' stand, and 196 stalls; and
WHEREAS, The Brown County Fairgrounds were heavily damaged
by a tornado on October 14, 1966, leaving only the floral hall

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and a horse barn still standing in very poor condition, and
ultimately, both structures had to be demolished the next
year; with the help of the community, the 94th Brown County
Fair was held in 1967 with tents and bleachers used to replace
the barns and amphitheater; and
WHEREAS, The Brown County Fair consecutively ran until
2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to large events and
gatherings, including all fairs; despite this interruption,
the fair persists to this day and remains the oldest
continuously running county fair in the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, For the Brown County Fair, horse racing has
remained a large part of its celebrations; this year, the fair
will have 70 horses present, making it one of the biggest races
the fair has ever conducted; the fair also hosts many other
events, including a pageant, a rodeo, tractor pulls, a demo
derby, and pavilion entertainment; and
WHEREAS, The current Brown County Fair Board is comprised
of President Ronnie McCaskill, Vice President Tom Parker,
Second Vice President Ed Teefey, Secretary Richard Childers,
Treasurer Brad Kassing, and members Mike Kropp, Lane Wiese,
Rod Buss, Steve Kremer, Luke Metz, Mark Roberts, Doug
Fairbanks, Dawn Dunn, and Josh Babb; therefore, be it

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RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate Brown County on its 150th fair celebration,
and we wish the county continued success in the years to come;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the Brown County Fair Board as an expression of
our esteem and respect.