[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15645]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GRUNDY COUNTY 
                       AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT FAIR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JERRY WELLER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 13, 2004

  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize both the 100th 
anniversary of the Grundy County Agricultural District Fair held each 
year near Morris, Illinois as well as the local agriculture community 
which has so strongly supported the Fair over the decades.
  Founded in 1904 in the Village of Mazon, Illinois on the southern end 
of Grundy County, the Fair originally featured horse shows, baseball 
games and dinners served by the Mazon Congregational Church.
  The Fair grew rapidly in popularity and soon became the center of 
entertainment for everyone in Grundy County with horse races, livestock 
shows, good food, dancing, talent shows and many types of plain, 
wholesome family fun.
  As the years went by, automobile racing gradually supplanted the 
traditional horse races, especially with the advent of Midget auto 
racing which became very popular during the late 1930's and continues 
to this day. Auto race tracks grew larger and replaced horse racing 
tracks. Eventually, the Fair outgrew its Mazon, Illinois site and moved 
to its present location north of the City of Morris, Illinois where the 
Grundy County Speedway, a one-third mile paved oval track became part 
of the fairgrounds.
  A century later, along with the auto racing, the Grundy County 
Agricultural District Fair still retains its agriculture and family 
oriented emphasis. Beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, rabbits and 
poultry along with field crops, fruit and vegetables still combine with 
country music, carnival rides and even the Miss Grundy County Fair 
Pageant to provide outstanding family entertainment.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, let me pay tribute to the generations of 
farm families, hard-working Fair Department Superintendents, dedicated 
County Fair Board members and outstanding volunteers who have built and 
nourished the Grundy County Agricultural District Fair through the past 
century. Their commitment has truly provided the Grundy County 
community with a century of wonderful family entertainment.

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