Family Teams Take Top Honors At Illinois State Fair Breakfast On A Stick Competition

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois State Fair has everything imaginable edible on a stick. From cheese on a stick to alligator on a stick, the fair has it all for those who love their food tasty and portable.  This morning, a contest was held to see who could create the most important meal of the day on a stick: breakfast.

Twenty senior and junior chefs filled the Hobbies, Arts and Crafts Building with mouth-watering aromas as they competed in the "Breakfast on a Stick" competition sponsored by the American Egg Board and Illinois Department of Agriculture.

According to the judges, the Carter and Crider families of Lincoln, Ill., were the top finishers.    Elizabeth Carter won the top spot in the senior division with her sushi, while her daughter, Miriam, led the junior division with her quick and easy egg swirls.  Darlene Crider's eggs benedict won second place in the senior division, while Hannah Crider took the junior division's second spot with her egg in a frame.

Winners received $75 along with goodies from the American Egg Board.  Fairgoers can find the winning dishes on display and more fun facts about cooking in the Hobbies, Arts and Crafts building.  For more information, please contact the American Egg Board at (217)-785-7799.  A full list of winners follows:

Senior Division
First Place:  Breakfast Sushi - Elizabeth Carter, Lincoln
Second Place: Eggs Benedict on a Stick - Darlene Crider, Lincoln
Third Place:  Thai Stuffed Eggs - Carlene Carter, Lincoln

Junior Division:
First Place: Quick & Easy Egg Twirls - Miriam Carter, Lincoln
Second Place: Egg in a Frame - Hannah Crider, Lincoln
Third Place:  Zucchini, Bacon, Egg on a Stick - Aaron Fishburn, Buffalo

Strong Showing for 2010 Ponytail Contest at Illinois State Fair

Girls of all ages lined up at The Shed at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Friday to take part in the fair's annual Ponytail Contest.  The event included ten age divisions ranging from two-years old and under to 17-years old and up, as well as a division for the grand champions.

Terelynn Russel of Monroe, Ill., took first place in the 17-year old and up division.  Her long, black hair measured an astonishing 55 ½ inches in length.

"My DNA just said that I was going to have long hair. When I was in kindergarten it was past my waist. When I was in elementary school it was down to my thighs and, when I reached high school, it was past my knees," she said. "It really became its own entity. Now, I wear it long because my husband says it's special."

A complete list of the Ponytail Contest winners follows (the hometowns of the participants were not immediately available):

Division: 2 and under
1. Lydia Auble (14")
2. Kellie Platt (12 ½)
3. Allison Hearn (12 ¼)
4. Kiko Green (11 ½)
5. August Rottman (11 1/8)

Division: 3-4 yrs
1. Taylor King (18 ½ )
2. Hannah Harwood (18 ¼ )
3. Ember Bentley (18)
4. Claire Long (17 ¾)
5. Mady Yoder (17 5/8)

Division: 5-6 yrs
1. Mika Kriener (32 ¼)
2. Timber Rose (23 ¼ )
3. Taylor Searey (20 ½ )
4. Kelsi Danielle (20 ½ )
5. Gracey Henderson (19 ½ )

Division: 7-8 yrs
1. Madison Kemp (34 ½ )
2. Anna Jain (32 ½ )
3. Cierra Farley (32 ½ )
4. Sierra Eigenmann (32)
5. Cendalyn Russel (29 ½ )

Division: 9-10 yrs
1. Syndi Maggart (37 ½ )
2. Lydia Flores (31)
3. Zoe Nielson (30)
4. Abigail Arient (27 ½ )
5. Micheala Leahy (27)

Division: 11-12 yrs
1. Katelyn Davis (32)
2. Erica Edge (32 ½)
3. Michaela Wheeler (30 ¼ )
4. Dawn Alexander (23)
5. McKala Myers (13)

Division: 13-16 yrs
1. Channing Fullaway (44 ½)
2. Annamarie Henry (40 ½ )
3. Samantha Crist (31 ¼ )
4. Samantha Martin (29 ½)

Division: 17 and up
1. Terelynn Russel (55 ½ )
2. Becky Low (51 ½ )
3. Christina Marshall (42)
4. April Rottman (39)
5. Renee Gribbons (28)

Grand Champions:
1. Channing Fullaway
2. Annamarie Henry
3. Syndi Maggart

"REDNECK WEEKEND" TO DEBUT AT 2010 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR

Redneck Weekend, a series of motorsports events that included a mud bog and 4-wheel burn out show, concludes Saturday at 7 p.m. in The Arena on the Illinois State Fairgrounds with a demolition derby. 
 
Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12.  Children ages five and younger get in free with the purchase of an adult ticket.

Participants will have the option to choose from three different vehicle categories:  full-size modified, stock or compact.  Registration will take place the day of the event.

The winner of each vehicle category will receive a cash prize.  The award for first place in the full-size modified category is $1,600.  The winners of the stock and compact categories each will receive $400.  In addition, a $100 prize will be awarded to the "hardest hitter."

Two, celebrity, figure-eight heats, one for men and one for women, also are planned.  The women competitors will drive mini-vans, while the men will drive compact cars.

The celebrities scheduled to participate in the event include Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin, State Fair Manager Amy Bliefnick, Central Management Services Personnel Director Margaret van Dijk, Illinois Park Districts Director Leslie Sgro, Brad Schaive of Springfield's Local Laborers 477, Toby Tucker of Decatur's Country 95Q, Wes Barr of the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office, Marine Bank President Roger Chandler, Dina Michaels of Springfield radio station WDBR and Kevin Lust, former chair of the American Business Club of Springfield.

An auction will be held to determine one of the competitors in the women's derby.  Proceeds from the auction will go to the Sangamon County Rescue Squad.

To purchase tickets, visit the Illinois State Fair's website at www.illinoisstatefair.info.