VOTE ILLINOIS - USA Today 10 Best State Fairs

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

The Illinois State Fair is a nominee in the USA Today 10 Best State Fair Readers Choice Poll.   You can vote one time EVERY DAY up until September 28th.
Please share this post, tell your friends, and do your due diligence!

VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN, 

VOTE ILLINOIS!

http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-state-fair/

Illinois State Fair Butter Cow

Governor's Sale of Champions

Youth in Agriculture

All-Star Grandstand Entertainment

President Lincoln & Lord Stanley

Illinois Chopped Challenge

SHARE THE LOVE... Daily Hashtags!

We want to see what you've been up to at the 2015 Illinois State Fair! Here are our official hashtags for Saturday, August 15th:

‪#‎ParadeofChamps‬
 ‪#‎GrowingIllinois‬
‪#‎ISFAgTour‬ 
‪#‎StateFairSelfie‬
‪#‎ISawTheButterCow
‬ ‪#‎GrandstandGroupie‬
‪#‎FallOutBoyAtISF‬
‪#‎ThanksForTheMemoriesAtISF‬
‪#‎IllinoisStateFair‬

Battle for the Hill --- Illinois State Fair

Calling all CrossFit fanatics! Get ready to battle at the 2015 Illinois State Fair! The very popular “Battle for the Hill” is returning for the third year in a row. The competition, which pulls competitors from gyms across the state, will take place on Saturday, August 15^th at 10 a.m. in Happy Hollow.

This event is hosted by Capital City CrossFit of Springfield. Each team that enters the competition is guaranteed three workouts and a t-shirt. As in years past there will be three divisions to insure that everyone has the chance to compete in this high-intensity competition. The divisions are as follows:

            -Rx’d Males – Three Males per team

            -Rx’d Females – Three Females per team

            -Scaled/Masters Males – Three Males per team

            -Scaled/ Masters Females – Three Females per team

            -Masters Men – Three Males, age 40+ per team

            -Masters Ladies – Three Females, age 40+ per team

This exciting competition is a great spectator sport. It is high intensity and always draws a huge crowd down onto the SportsCourt in Happy Hollow. For more information about the competition as well as other interactive shows in Happy Hollow, visit the new Illinois State Fair website at www.illinoisstatefair.info.

Family Fun at the Fair

The Kids Korner is a great place to have some great family fun and the best part is that there are a ton of free activities. These activities take place in two locations. The first is located outside on Brian Raney Avenue, east of Main Street. Activities here range from the Secretary of State Bicycle Skills Course to the Baby Photo Contest Display to the CDB Building Barn. Inside activities are located in the Emmerson Building’s South Wing. The following activities are located there:

·         Spectra's FREE Family Entertainment- Sponsored by Meijer

·         Diaper Changing/Nursing Area

·         Dept. of Transportation Child Safety Program

·         Coloring Mural

·         Face Painting

·         Tiny Tots Play Area sponsored by Meijer

·         Secretary of State Child Digital Fingerprinting

 

Again all these activities are free to do and the Emmerson Building offers a great place for families to sit, cool down, and take part in some fun activities.

FREE TICKET GIVEAWAY -- Fall Out Boy

Oh no!!   Abe has gone missing….

Little Abe has gone missing and we need your help finding him. He was last seen on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. A reward is being offered to whomever finds, and returns, Little Abe to the Illinois State Fair Press Office located inside the Emmerson Building.

This week we will be giving away FREE VIP TICKETS to FALL OUT BOY! 

All you have to do is be the first person to find Little Abe on the Illinois State Fairgrounds and you will WIN. It is that simple! 

To find Little Abe, you will need to check the Illinois State Fair Facebook page every day to collect clues to Little Abe's hiding spot. Use those clues to solve the mystery and collect your reward!

Make sure you like our Facebook page so you don’t miss any clues!

#AlwaysLegendary #SpringfieldPix #GrowingIllinois #IllinoisStateFair

Inside the IDOA Tent - New Location - Main Street and Central Avenue

This year at the 2015 Illinois State Fair, the best place to explore all that Illinois agriculture has to offer is at the new and improved Illinois Department of Agriculture tent. The tent has been moved from its location in the “Heartland” area to the corner of Central Avenue and Main Street, east of the Coliseum.  It is the perfect place to learn about how Illinois agriculture affects the everyday lives of people in Illinois and globally.  Check out what the entire tent has to offer on the schedule below!

The tent will feature:

·       Friday, August 14

o   4:00 pm-Agri-Business Awards

o   5:00 pm- Illinois Chopped Challenge

·       Saturday, August 15

o   10:30 am- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

o   12:00 pm-Illinois State Fair Wine Awards

o   1:00 pm-Illinois Cured Meat Show

o   2:00 pm- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

o   5:00 pm- Illinois Chopped Challenge

·       Sunday, August 16

o   10:30 am- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

o   11:30 am- Fall Colors in the Garden

o   2:00 pm-Ag Education Awards

o   2:00 pm- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

o   2:30 pm- Illinois Lamb & Wool Producers Association Awards

o   3:00 pm-Homegrown by Heroes Presentation

o   5:00 pm- Illinois Chopped Challenge

o    6:00 Fall Colors in the Garden

·       Monday, August 17

o   1:00 pm- Composting Demonstration

o   3:30 pm- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

o   5:00 pm- Illinois Chopped Challenge

·       Tuesday, August 18

o   10:30 am- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

o   11:30 am-State Treasurer’s “Cream of the Crop” Awards

o   12:00 pm-Excellence in Teaching Award, District 1-5

o   1:00 pm- Illinois Chopped Challenge

o   2:30 pm-Cutest Little Farmer Contest

o   3:30 pm- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

·       Wednesday, August 19

o   10:30 am- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

o   11:30 am-All About Eggs Presentation

o   2:30 pm-Illinois Beef Association Family of the Year

o   3:30 pm- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

o   5:00 pm- Illinois Chopped Challenge

·       Thursday, August 20

o   10:30 am- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

o   2:30 pm-Illinois Pork Producers Association Family of the Year

o   3:30 pm- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

o   5:00 pm- Illinois Chopped Challenge

·       Friday, August 21

o   10:30 am- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

o   3:30 pm- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

o   5:00- Illinois Chopped Challenge

·       Saturday, August 22

o   10:30 am- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

o   11:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 1:30 pm-Memorial Medical Center Cooking Demonstrations

o   2:00 pm- Ag Tours presented by Brandt

o   2:00 pm-Conservation Awards

o   5:00 pm- Illinois Chopped Challenge

·       Sunday, August 23

o   4:00 pm- Illinois Chopped Challenge

The Illinoisan of the Day will be announced daily at 11:00 am at the IDOA tent (with the exception of Tuesday, August 18).

Just in time for the fair..... OUR NEW WEBSITE!!!

The Illinois State Fair just unveiled its new website just in time for this year’s fair! This new website has been updated to make it more user friendly. You can even search for whatever you are looking for at this year’s fair! If you are wondering where to find fried ice cream all you have to do is go to www.illinois.gov/isf and search fried ice cream. The website will generate the results for every vendor at this year’s fair that has fried ice cream! Isn’t that awesome?!? This new website makes it easier to find what you are looking for at this year’s fair.  Be sure to check out the awesome new site!

TEN DAYS TO THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR........

College Night at Illinois State Fair

Springfield, Ill. – Enjoying the Illinois State Fair just got easier, especially for Illinois college students.   State Fair Manager Patrick Buchen announced today College Night will take place on Thursday, August 20^th. 

Any college student who purchases a ticket to see The Fray with Andy Grammer at the Grandstand will receive FREE admission to the fairgrounds for the night of the concert, August 20th.  “This is a great way to kick off a brand new school year,” said State Fair Manager Patrick Buchen. “Many of these students are just getting acclimated to a new city and making new friends, what better place to do that than at the Illinois State Fair with a great concert.”

To sweeten the deal for area college students, University of Illinois Springfield will offer its students a shuttle service from the university to the state fairgrounds from 5:30pm until midnight. “As our students return for the start of the fall semester, we welcome this opportunity for them to experience the Illinois State Fair,” said University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Susan Koch.

For non-UIS students, Springfield Mass Transit District offers transportation to the fairgrounds for a minimal cost, and Uber also offers services in the Capital City.  SMTD bus route information can be obtained at www.smtd.org.

Here’s how tickets can be purchased:

In Person @ Grandstand Box Office
- Monday – Friday 8:00am-5pm on/or before 8/19/15

-Must present valid college ID to obtain free admission voucher

  

Online @ ticketmaster.com
- Must bring concert ticket and college ID to box office on/or before 8/19/15 to obtain free admission voucher

By Phone via Ticketmaster or Grandstand Box Office

-Must bring concert ticket and college ID to box office on/or before 8/19/15 to obtain free admission voucher

If you are a student who already purchased a ticket to see The Fray with Andy Grammer, please bring your student ID and your ticket to the grandstand box office, on or before August 19^th, to receive your free admission voucher for the night of the concert.

The 2015 Illinois State Fair runs August 13^th – 23^rd in Springfield. 

###

Have you seen the BUTTER COW???

There are many attractions at the Illinois State Fair that make the fair an exciting place to be! One attraction has been around for more than 70 years, but still offers something new every year. The Butter Cow is a must see State Fair attraction. 

Every year the cow is sculpted by Sharon BuMann. Every year she spends two days in a refrigerated cooler sculpting the cow out of about 600 pounds of unsalted butter. Here's a fun fact:  The butter used to sculpt the cow is recycled and used to make other sculptures!

This delightful attraction is located in the Dairy Building. When you come out to the fair this year make sure you take a picture of the Butter Cow and share it on social media.  Use the hashtag #ISawTheButterCow   

19 Days Until....

....Funnel Cakes return to the Illinois State Fair! 

Funnel cakes are made by pouring batter directly into hot frying oil. The resulting cake is swirly, thin, delicate and crisp. 

These delicious powdered covered deep fried cakes have been around since 1390 A.D. They first began appearing in medieval cooking manuscripts and are an ancient fair tradition. 

These delectable treats are available at many different vendors throughout the Illinois State Fair, along with a plethora of other food a drink items. 

Make sure you make it out to the Illinois State Fair, August 13^th-- 23^rd. 

Hope to see you in line for some delicious fair food!