Illinois State Fair Dashes Diets But is Big Fun

It's been more than 15 years since I've gone to the Illinois State Fair, so when a friend suggested I come down for a few days, I decided to go. I hate to admit it but the corny old 1945 movie "State Fair" with Dana Andrews is one of my favorites and the mincemeat scene is classic. Of course, it wins first prize. 

The drive is only a little over three hours from the Tri-Cities, and I was reminded just how much corn there is in Illinois after looking at it for over three hours. 

Beth Mackey Penesis, of unincorporated St. Charles Township, just started a new job and wanted to take me on a little tour while I was down in the state's capitol.

Last month, Penesis was appointed deputy director at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and splits her time between an office in Bartlett and in Springfield, where the IDNR offices are located on the north end of the fairground.

"It combines my passion for conservation and public service," she said of her new position.

Penesis has a bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in public administration, both from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. She spent quite a few years working in government and served as chief legislative liaison for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and has worked with lawmakers and local elected officials.

She and her husband Ted, who works at the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, often can be seen around the Fox River walking their Golden Retrievers, Sandy and Sasha. Her dogs attended a bill signing last summer and participated in the Governor's Twilight parade to kick-off this year's fair.

I flagged her down as she came careening around a corner driving a golf cart, one of the perks for getting from here to there around the grounds. We headed to Conservation World, an environmental exhibit sponsored by the IDNR, next to the offices and across from the Goat Barn. 

Conservation World featured many hands-on activities for kids, horse and field dog demonstrations, a chainsaw artist and a fish tank stocked with common Illinois fish.

And there's always something to learn you might not even need to know: there were daily demonstrations by Chris Camp, a world-class whip cracker, who won the "Lightning Whip Contest" in Las Vegas, snapping the whip 11 times in 3 seconds.

There was music in the air with bands playing throughout the day and evening at various tents. The exhibition halls were filled with various items from handmade jewelry and hats to cooking utensils and hair devices for a perfect bun.

Penesis took a day off work and headed to Galesburg, Illinois with a select group of officials to meet President Obama during his recent economic bus tour. She said being able to shake the President's hand was "beyond satisfying."

I was also able to witness an historic event that day as the all-girl band, "Loose Gravel" took the stage at the Miller Tent. The band's banjo player is Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, who became "the first constitutional officer in history to perform with her own band at the annual agricultural showcase," according to her office.

In addition to the smell of corn dogs and curly fries, always present was the pungent smell of the exhibiting animals, a constant reminder that the state fair is, after all, an agricultural event.

It's also great fun.

Download the movie

Download the movie