Richest Race Day Ever at an Illinois County Fair

The Brown County Fair will host two days of harness racing Saturday and Sunday, August 3rd and 4th at 2:00 p.m.

The Brown County Fair has hosted harness racing since the current half-mile track was laid out in 1878.

The local track has quite a history having held the richest Illinois County Fair race ever, $25,000 in 2009. In addition, the Fair has the fastest track record of any fair in Illinois, 151.1 by “I Can Only Imagine” driven by Brandon Simpson and trained by Tom Harmer, also in 2009. Pari-mutuel racing was held for 15 years before COVID and a reduced horse population, and hopefully will return in the future. Brown County is the only Illinois County Fair to have had legalized betting on its races.

This year there will be no shortage of horses for the races Saturday and Sunday of the fair. For the second year the Downstate Classic for 2- year-olds will take place on Sunday, and 160 horses were nominated with a $150 payment on April 15. Sunday will be the richest single day of harness racing ever held at an Illinois County Fair track with over $100,000 estimated to be paid out.

The best 2-year-olds that Illinois has to offer along with the top drivers and trainers will compete for the big purses in the final preparation before the Illinois State Fair.

The fair will have a “Pick the Winner” drawing for $25 after each race and $1,000 will be given away each day to those in attendance through random drawings.

Chosen by the United States Trotting Association as a Blue Ribbon Fair, the local track continues to make history. Come out and enjoy top- notch racing with a good chance to walk away with some cash!

Track Records

Trot:

1:58.3 – Battleshoe Victor (2009)

Driven by Sam Widger

Trained by Tom Harmer

Owned by Michael E. Polansky, Loudonville, NY

1:58.3 – Speed N The Tunnel (2009)

Driven by Sam Widger

Trained by Brett Wilfong

Owned by Brett H. Wilfong, Donovan, IL & Lynn G. Wilfong, Kentland, IN

Pace:

1:51.1 – I Can Only Imagine (2009)

Driven by Brandon Simpson

Trained by Tom Harmer

Owned by Michael E. Polansky, Loudonville, NY

(Illinois’ Fastest County Fair Track Record)

The Brown County Fair Car Show is Sunday, August 4.  All cars, trucks, tractors and bikes are welcome!

Registration is from 10:30 to 12 PM.  Arrive between these times to receive free entry into the fairgrounds.

The Car Show is from 12 to 3 PM with awards presented at 3:30 PM.  There will be awards for the Top 10 and the Queen’s Choice Award.

Come to the Car Show and stay for the Horse Racing!

Contact Tana Parsano for more information.  Ph. 217.440.6646 or tparsano@yahoo.com

Brown County Fair Welcomes Domination Motorsports to the derby track this year on Saturday night August 3, 2024. The crashes and destruction begin at 7:30 in front of the grandstand. Come early and watch the cars cross the track getting ready to deliberately ram into each other till the last vehicle is still operational. No fair is complete without a Demo Derby. Come see a good one!

Demo Derbies escalated in the 1970’s when Fonzie and his girlfriend, Pinky, were avid participants in the derbies. Today, they are still popular at the County Fairs. We believe Brown County has one of the best! Classes for this year’s Derby are Street Stock Weld, Full-size Hobo, FWD Hobo Minivan/Truck /SUV.

After the Derby come ride the mechanical bull and listen to Madd Hoss Jackson in the Entertainment Pavilion. We promise you a fun time Saturday night at the Brown County Fair!

Prize money for the evening will be a minimum of $2,000 split between the five top vehicles in each class. Trophies will also be awarded to the top five in each class as well as special awards for superior showmanship in the mud-filled arena.

Rules and entry forms for the event at the Brown County Fairgrounds in Mt Sterling can be obtained by contacting the Brown County Fair Secretary’s office.

Illinois’ Fastest County Fair Track Hosts Fantastic Racing for Two Days

The Brown County Fair will host two days of harness racing Saturday and Sunday, August 3rd and 4th at 2:00 p.m.

The Brown County Fair has hosted harness racing since the current half-mile track was laid out in 1878.

The local track has quite a history having held the richest Illinois County Fair race ever, $25,000 in 2009. In addition, the Fair has the fastest track record of any fair in Illinois, 151.1 by “I Can Only Imagine” driven by Brandon Simpson and trained by Tom Harmer, also in 2009. Pari-mutuel racing was held for 15 years before COVID and a reduced horse population, and hopefully will return in the future. Brown County is the only Illinois County Fair to have had legalized betting on its races.

This year there will be no shortage of horses for the races Saturday and Sunday of the fair. For the second year the Downstate Classic for 2- year-olds will take place on Sunday, and 160 horses were nominated with a $150 payment on April 15. Sunday will be the richest single day of harness racing ever held at an Illinois County Fair track with over $100,000 estimated to be paid out.

The best 2-year-olds that Illinois has to offer along with the top drivers and trainers will compete for the big purses in the final preparation before the Illinois State Fair.

The fair will have a “Pick the Winner” drawing for $25 after each race and $1,000 will be given away each day to those in attendance through random drawings.

Chosen by the United States Trotting Association as a Blue Ribbon Fair, the local track continues to make history. Come out and enjoy top- notch racing with a good chance to walk away with some cash!

Track Records

Trot:

1:58.3 – Battleshoe Victor (2009)

Driven by Sam Widger

Trained by Tom Harmer

Owned by Michael E. Polansky, Loudonville, NY

1:58.3 – Speed N The Tunnel (2009)

Driven by Sam Widger

Trained by Brett Wilfong

Owned by Brett H. Wilfong, Donovan, IL & Lynn G. Wilfong, Kentland, IN

Pace:

1:51.1 – I Can Only Imagine (2009)

Driven by Brandon Simpson

Trained by Tom Harmer

Owned by Michael E. Polansky, Loudonville, NY

(Illinois’ Fastest County Fair Track Record)

9:00 AM on Saturday, August 3 the Brown County Fair will host Games on the Lawn with prize money going to the winners of:

Best Decorated Trike, Bike or Wagon

Girls and Boys Dash

Wheelbarrow Races

Sack Races

3 Leg Race

Shoe Kick

Alumni Wheelbarrow Race

Ages vary per game, but range from ages 2-12

Farmers State Bank & Trust Company is the sponsor for Kid’s Day.

4 Bicycle Give-a-Way (Courtesy of Zeiler Amusements and The Brown County Fair) – MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN

FREE Pepsi courtesy of Pepsi Bottling Co

This year is bigger and better than ever before!

On Friday night at 7:00PM the Brown County Fair is excited to present the Western Il Pro Pull for the second year in a row. The Pro Pulling League will bring 4 of the most elite classes in the Nation to Mt. Sterling, IL. The always popular Super Farm Class will bring lots of smoke and color. The Super Modified 2 WD Trucks will bring some of the biggest names in the country. The unlimited Super Stock Tractors will bring unbelievable HP with their multiple turbos running on alcohol. The Super Modified Tractors are certainly something to see with their multiple engines. You will feel the ground shake!

The Illinois Tractor Pulling Association will also throw a class into the mix. The ITPA 8500 Limited Pro Class will be in town and add some additional smoke to the show. Come see all these vehicles compete and walk through the pits and visit with your favorite drivers.

Western Illinois Pro Pulling Tractor Pull

Brown County Fairgrounds, Mt. Sterling, Illinois

When: Friday, August 2 at 7 PM

4 Western Illinois Pro Tractor Pull Classes

Super Modified Tractors, Unlimited SS Tractors, Super Farm Tractors, Super Modified 2 Wheel Drive Trucks

1 ITPA Class – 8500 Limited Pro Truck

Kids Under 16 Free

Parking Free

Adults – $20 – No Refunds

—————————————

Kid’s Pedal Tractor Pull

Thursday, August 1st @ 5:30 PM (inside Open Show Barn)

3 Classes (ages 3 & 4, ages 5 & 6, ages 7 & 8 )

The Finals (1st two places of each class) will be in front of the Grandstand on Friday, August 4th @ 6:30 PM before the Western Illinois Pro Tractor Pull (The Corn Dog Stand will give free Lemonade and a corn dog to 1st and 2nd Place Winners in all classes)

Thursday night, August 1st, the Brown County Fair will host the Illinois Tractor Pulling Association and the United Pullers of America. The Fair will have 4 of ITPA’s premier classes including the 5800lb, Light Modified – see the turbines run against the V-8’s. The 9500 Pro Farm and 8500 Limited Pro Tractors are both exciting classes that offer lots of smoke and a variety of colors. Two of the 4 classes even have Brown County guys pulling in them, along with several others from adjoining counties.

United Pullers of America will round out the evening with several local pullers in their high Lp 4X4 Diesel Trucks. Come cheer all these pullers on.

ITPA 4 Classes – 9500 Pro Farm, Light Modified, 8500 Limited Pro Stock, & Mini Rods.

UPA 1 Class – 4X 4 Diesel Trucks

—————————————

Kid’s Pedal Tractor Pull

Thursday, August 1st @ 5:30 PM (inside Open Show Barn)

3 Classes (ages 3 & 4, ages 5 & 6, ages 7 & 8 )

The Finals (1st two places of each class) will be in front of the Grandstand on Friday, August 4th @ 6:00 PM before the Western Illinois Pro Tractor Pull

An open horse show will start at 12pm on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

The contestants of the Miss Brown County Fair Queen Pageant are guaranteed to provide a fun and elegant evening on Tuesday, July 30 at 7:30pm in front of the grandstand. Along with the Queen contestants, younger ladies will compete for Jr. Miss, and an energetic group of 5 and 6 year olds will compete for the titles of Little Miss and Mr. Brown County Fair.

The Queen contestants will be judged on their interviews in the afternoon before the Pageant and physical condition, facial beauty, stage presence, speech and communication skills in the evening during the Pageant. The Little Miss and Mr. contestants will be interviewed on stage during the Pageant as well.

The Pageant evening will begin with group dance performances from all the contestants and conclude with the reigning royalty crowning their successors. The new titleholders will reign over the rest of the fair week and throughout the year. Over $2,500 worth of scholarships, bonds, cash, and gifts will be awarded to the new queen from local merchants and the fair board.

In January of next year the Brown County Fair Queen will represent Brown County at the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs Convention in the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant in Springfield.

Dawn Dunn is the Fair Director in charge of the evening and the Pageant Director is Danielle Flesner with assistance from Lauren Dunn. A host of other volunteers make this night possible!

The Miss Brown County Fair Queen Pageant will open with a Parade of Military Colors at 7pm. 

We’re excited to have you show off your talents at the Brown County Fair! Contestants must be Brown County residents. The Open Talent Show will begin at 6pm on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. There is no entry fee for the contest, but everyone attending will pay all gate fees as applicable.

Register here!

Contact Kimberly Kestner for more information. 217-371-2582 or k.kestner19@gmail.com

Qualifications and Rules

Age Limits & Divisions

• Mini Division: 8 & Under (this division does not compete at the State Level)

• Junior Division: 14 & Under

• Senior Division: 15-21 years old

The Junior and Senior divisions are set by IAAF State Rules: Junior cannot be 15 by Oct. 1 of the competition year and Senior cannot be 21 by Oct 1 of the competition year.

A group’s average age will determine the age division.

——-

Rules & General Information

• Professional entertainers may not participate.

• If you have won another county competition this year you may not compete.

• Limit of 3.5 minutes per act.

• Show will provide sound, lighting, and handheld microphones only. Acts must provide all other equipment and props.

• All acts must provide their own musical accompaniment if needed. Recorded accompaniment may be in CD or digital form using an iPod or like technology. If music does not play, the act will be disqualified if a 2nd copy cannot be produced in a timely manner.

• Contestants are limited to three acts. Acts must be of different types or groupings. Contestants may be limited to one-two acts each if acts of competition exceed the limit.

• A ladies changing room is provided behind the stage.

• Judging will focus on the quality of talent (ability, technique, projection, skill in performance), creativity (something new, unique, or original), showmanship (confidence, stage presentation, poise, expression), & entertainment value (engaged the crowd, overall effect).

• Winners of each division will perform at the Queen Pageant later in the evening.

• Practice time will be Sunday, July 28th at 3pm (Subject to change with timely notice.)

• All entries must be received by rehearsal Sunday, July 28th to enter. If the show limit has not been met the Director might allow late entries. There is a limit of acts. If the limit has been met, priority will be given to Brown County entries.

• An entry can only represent one county fair at the State Competition.

——-

First place winners in the Junior and Senior Divisions will advance to the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs State Talent Contest (IAAF) to be held in January following the show. If the winner cannot perform or is ineligible to perform, the 2nd place winner may be invited to compete.

IAAF State Talent Contest fee will be provided by the Brown County Fair Association.

IAAF State Talent Contest rules can be found online.

Liability statement: The Brown County Fair Association, Talent Contest committee and its sponsors will not be held liable for any injury or damage to person or property that may occur during practice or competition. You practice and compete at your own risk.

If contest rules are not followed, the act will be disqualified, and all awards will be forfeited.