FOR IMMEDIATE RELEAS CONTACT: John Herath Aug. 16, 2000 PHONE: 217/524-9825 FAX: 217/524-9832 TDD: 217/524-6858 INTERNET: www.state.il.us/fair SPRINGFIELD, IL Governor's Day at the Illinois State Fair was marked by a rally at the Republican Party Tent led by U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and by the Governor's race at today's harness racing Colt Stakes. The fifteenth race of the day, it was for a $60,000 purse, and was won by HR Sosa a three year old colt. Governor Ryan was on hand to present the trophy. Also, today in the Illinois Building, five sets of grandparents and grandchildren competed in the Grandparent/Grandchild Look-A-Like Contest, sponsored by the Illinois Department on Aging and Union Planters Bank. First place was claimed by Lacey Norman of Illiopolis, and her grandfather Doug Hawkinson of Chatham. Both were dressed in red shirts and denium overalls with matching caps. They won the judges when they removed their hats to reveal their matching curly locks. In second place was Brandon Hay of Chatham, and his grandfather Brandon Hay of Kincaid. Two year-old Brandon showed off his baseball swing, soccer kick, and basketball dunk, while the two's red hair and blue eyes shined in the light of the stage. In third place was Jason Stevens of Murphysboro and his grandmother Frances Welter of Springfield who tap danced to "Rock Around the Clock", while Jason played percussion. Tuesday, on Agriculture Day at the Illinois State Fair, a number of farm families and individuals from all over Illinois were recognized and awarded for their outstanding presence and contributions in agriculture at the annual Agriculture Day Luncheon. The honorees were as follows: Governor's Conservation Farm Family: Weiler Farms, Inc. from Claremont, IL American Agriculture, Illinois Farm Family Tom & Betty Pichon from Danville, IL Illinois Farm Bureau Farmer Brian & Kelly Duncan from Polo, IL Illinois Farmers Union Farm Family John & Melodie Sutter from Ellsworth, IL Illinois State Grange Farm Family Bob & Jan Nelson from Alexis, IL National Farmers Organization of Illinois Farm Family The Bloch Family Trust - Sandy Bloch, from Oreana, IL Illinois Beef Association Farm Family Brian & Nancy Peak from Camden, IL Illinois Pork Producers Association Farm Family Wilbur & Alice Paulus from Lincoln, IL Illinois Agri News-Farm Family of the Year Carl and Leona Nelson from Mt. Morris, IL Illinois Wildlife Landowner of the Year Forrest Schave from Chadwick and Dennis Schave from Morrison, IL Illinois Outstanding Tree Farmer Floyd Pagel from Effingham, IL R.J. Vollmer Sustainable Agriculture Farm Louis Reuschel from Adams County 50 Years of Services as 4-H Volunteers Lucille Korsmeyer from Highland, IL Excellence in Teaching Award Winner District 1 Russ Leman from Roanoke-Benson High School in Roanoke District 2 Diana Loschen from Tri-Point High School in Cullom District 3 Mark Jones from Pikeland Community School in Pittsfield District 4 Doug Anderson from Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School in Paxton District 5 Matt Pokojski from Salem High School in Salem State Fair Results from Wednesday, August 16: Ayrshire Dairy Cattle Show Grand Champion Female Double A Farms Toulon, IL Reserve Grand Champion Female Royal R Farms Lamont, IL -Randy Riechers Oxford Sheep Show Grand Champion Ram Mohr Oxfords Carlock, IL Reserve Grand Champion Ram Mohr Oxfords Carlock, IL Grand Champion Ewe Ethan Smith Stewardson, IL Reserve Grand Champion Ewe Jeremy Hatfield Mason City, IL Columbia Sheep Show Grand Champion Ram Ian Manthe Kewanee, IL Reserve Grand Champion Ram Diana Snyder Monmouth, IL Grand Champion Ewe Ian Manthe Kewanee., IL Reserve Grand Champion Ewe Barb Farms Dekalb, IL Dorset Sheep Show* (*held over from Aug. 15) Grand Champion Ewe: Purple Ribbon Farms Arcola, IL Reserve Grand Champion Ewe: Nicholas Piller Mendota, IL Grand Champion Ram Van Wagnor Dauphin, PA Reserve Grand Champion Ram: Purple Ribbon Farms Arcola, IL Spotted Swine Show Grand Champion Boars: Katelin Barker Champaign, IL Reserve Grand Champion Boars: Randy and Tona Smith Alexander, IL Grand Champion Gilts: Emily Bruns Sidell, IL Reserve Grand Champion Gilts: Danielle Horn New Holland, IL Yorkshire Swine Show Grand Champion Boar: Jack Rodibaugh & Sons Rensselaer, IL Reserve Grand Champion Boar: Ed Robinson Wellsville, MO Grand Champion Gilt: Jim and Lance Ryan Cameron, IL Reserve Grand Champion Gilt: Grant Strom Dahinda, IL Milking Shorthorn Dairy Cattle Grand Champion Female Elron Farms Lost Nation, IA Reserve Grand Champion Female Kingsdale Farm Oneida, IL Grand Champion Bull Brookview Farms Chestnut, IL Reserve Grand Champion Bull Weidner Prairie Farms Dalton City, IL Yeast Breads Culinary Contest First Place: Pam Sage Monmouth, IL Second Place: Nancy Means Moline, IL Third Place: Gail Long O'Fallon, IL Fourth Place: Grace Meadows Kincaid, IL Events for Democrat Day-Thursday, August 17 8 a.m. Jersey Dairy Cattle Show Livestock Center 8 a.m. Chester White Swine Show Swine Barn 8 a.m. Poland China Swine Show Swine Barn 8 a.m. Junior Dairy Show Junior Livestock Center 9 a.m. Shropshire Sheep Show Sheep Barn 9:15 a.m. Alpine & Lamancha Goat Barn 10 a.m. Baseball Clinic Special Events Tent 12 p.m. Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes-2 & 3 year old Championships Illinois State Fair Colt Consolations ISOBA State Fair Races Grandstand 1 p.m. Society Horse Show Coliseum 1 p.m. Cheviot Sheep Show Sheep Barn 1:30 p.m. Brown Swiss Dairy Cattle Show Livestock Center 6 p.m. Lincoln Sheep Show Sheep Barn 7 p.m. Society Horse Show Coliseum 7 p.m. ITPS Presents-Truck & Tractor Pulls Grandstand 7:30 p.m. Superior Young Dairy Producers Livestock Center For more information on the Illinois State Fair, visit the website at www.state.il.us/fair. The Fair runs now through Aug. 20, in Springfield. ###