About Us
What We’re All About
The Lee County 4-H Center & Fairgrounds is managed by a volunteer board of directors. The Lee County Fair Association takes great pride in providing the community with a safe, quality environment in which to host special events like company picnics, receptions, fundraisers, youth events and more.
The Lee County 4-H Fair & Jr. Show is made possible through the efforts of many volunteers and generous businesses, organizations and individuals. The Lee County Fair Association is appreciative to all those who feel the fair is a worthy cause in which to invest.
Please contact a member of the board of directors with any suggestions or questions.
Board of Directors
Thank you to our Board of Directors who go above and beyond to present a great experience each year!
- President: Adam Henkel (West Brooklyn)
- Vice President: Skip Willett (Dixon)
- Secretary: Katie Pratt (Dixon)
- Treasurer: Andy Pratt (Dixon)
- Lindsay Daniels (Amboy)
- Stacey Dunphy (Rochelle)
- Tom Gorman (Steward)
- Wende Griffith (Walnut)
- Tyler Klein (Sublette)
- Riley Klein (Lamoille)
- Mike Mead (Amboy)
- Alyssa Morely (Dixon)
- Addie Morely (Dixon)
- Alan Noon (Oregon)
- Erin Odle (Paw Paw)
- Allison Prestegaard (Amboy)
- Jessie Weaver (Oregon)
- Josie Willett (Dixon)
- Aaron Wolf (Dixon)
- Kathy Book, Lee Co. 4-H Program Coordinator
What is the Difference Between
the 4-H Show & the Jr. Shows
The Lee County 4-H Fair & Jr. Show is a joint effort by the University of Illinois Extension-Lee County and the Lee County Fair Association. The event is designed, first, to give Lee County 4-H members an opportunity to showcase their talents in a county fair environment and, second, to give Lee County residents and visitors a positive family fair experience.
So what makes the 4-H portion of the fair different from the Jr. Show portion? Here’s a
comparison:
4-H Fair
- Managed by University of Illinois Extension- Lee County.
- Handles 4-H project departments, Federation Food stand, Awards Ceremonies, 4-H Ambassadors Contest, etc.
- Exhibitors are judged through conference judging and receive ratings based on project and knowledge.
- 4-H projects are rated Blue, Red, White and are paid premiums through the U of I Extension from funds provided by the Illinois Department of Ag. Trophies donated by outside organizations are awarded during award ceremonies by the 4-H Ambassadors.
- Coordinates the rate of gain and premiere livestock classes.
- Coordinates state fair delegates and alternates.
- Schedules clubs for fair clean-up, set-up and night guard duties.
Jr. Show
- Managed by Lee County Fair Association.
- Handles Jr. Show project departments, fair advertising, food vendors and commercial exhibitors, fair sponsors, Farm Scene Contest, grandstand shows and all other fair entertainment.
- Jr. Show projects are judged on project alone. No interviews occur between judge and exhibitor (except in Computer Science classes).
- Jr. Show projects are ranked first through sixth place, with premiums paid for first, second and third place and select department Grand Champions. Ribbons are awarded during the show. Premium checks are distributed Sunday of the fair.
- Manages the Quality Meats & Baked Goods Auction at the fair.
- Guides clubs through responsibilities associated with fair clean-up, set-up and night guard duties.
- Manages all fair gates and admission policies, including wristband distribution.
Even though the Lee County 4-H Fair & Jr. Show has been named as such and managed as such for years, people often ask, Why not refer to this event as the Lee County Fair?
The Lee County 4-H Fair & Jr. Show is not classified as a true county fair because members of
the Lee County Fair Association are not appointed by the county board and the group does not
receive any funds from the county. The decision to organize in this manner was made years
ago, when fair volunteers decided to make a go of it without involvement from a government
entity.