ILLINOIS STATE FAIR CROWNS FIRST GRAND CHAMPIONS IN JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW

Illinois State Fair Crowns FIRST Grand ChampionS IN JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The second time was the charm for the showman of this year’s Illinois State Fair Grand Champion Poultry Trio.   

James Banas, 13, of the Saratoga 4-H Club and his Cornish Cross Trio took the purple, first place ribbon at today’s show.  Last year, Banas had the Reserve Grand Champion Poultry Trio.

Banas said he is excited to have done well so far in only his second year of competition at the Illinois State Fair.  His Poultry Trio will be sold in the Governor’s Sale of Champions, an auction of the fair’s prize-winning junior livestock.  Banas, a Wilmington resident, said he plans to use the money to exhibit again next year. He not only shows chickens, but also sheep and swine.

Taking the pink, second place ribbon was Sam Shafer of Lewistown and his White Pekin Ducks. Shafer is a 19-year-old member of the Jolly Workers 4-H Club.

Banas will be joined at the sale by Kenzie Schlipf of the Dunlap Dynamite 4-H club.  Schlipf’s New Zealand Rabbit Meat Pen was crowned grand champion Wednesday.  Schlipf, 13, enjoys showing rabbits and pigs, but said her favorite part of competing is being with her family. Like Banas, she plans to reinvest the money from the sale into her rabbit project for next year.

The Reserve Grand Champion was exhibited by Mallory Munster of the LeRoy 4-H. Munster is 18 and also a member of the LeRoy FFA Chapter.

CRAIG CAMPBELL TO OPEN FOR LUKE BRYAN

Country singer Craig Campbell will open for Luke Bryan on Tuesday, Aug. 16, replacing Trailer Choir, which cancelled due to the illness of a singer. 

Campbell, a Georgia native, released his first single, “Family Man,” as part of a five-song EP in late 2010.  In part because of the song’s popularity, the recording charted in the Top 20 on iTunes.  His self-titled debut album was released last April and already has produced another hit, “Fish.”

            The concert Tuesday begins at 8 p.m.  Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Grandstand Box Office on the Illinois State Fairgrounds.  They also can be purchased on the internet at Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or visiting any Ticketmaster outlet. 

UPCOMING EVENTS: Friday, Aug. 12

COUNTY FAIR & HORSE RACING DAY

More than 70 county fair queens and 105 fairs and expositions from across the state are represented at the fair on opening day. It also is the first of six days of harness racing at the fair's one-mile dirt track, which is the fastest in the world.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony:  9:30 a.m., Main Gate

The Arena:  PRO-AM Arena Cross and Freestyle Motocross at 7 p.m.

Conservation World:  Daily from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

The Whip Guy, Chris Camp, Daily 12:15/2:30/5:00 - Springfield local Chris Camp is a world-class whip cracker who might be mistaken for Indiana Jones when you hear the “zwip-pop” of his bullwhip. In March, Camp won three gold medals in the whip-cracking competition at the annual Wild West Arts Club convention in Las Vegas and was named “Best New Whip Cracker.”  Camp soon will try to break the Guinness Book World Record of 203 whip pops in 60 seconds.

The Shed:  Continuous first class entertainment is in store this year with acts performing from 12 p.m to 11:00 p.m. daily. Fun, food entertainment and contests.  Fairgoers will experience a little bit of everything at The Shed. 

Noon:   Big Eagle Band

4 p.m.:  Liquid Courage

8 p.m.:  Imagine That

Grandstand Entertainment:  Ventriloquist and stand-up comedian Jeff Dunham will open the State Fair concerts tomorrow at 8 p.m.  Dunham has starred in several Comedy Central specials, including “Jeff Dunham: Arguing with Myself,” “Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity” and “Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Christmas Special.”

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