MARTINSVILLE, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV)– The last week of June has been circled on Bob Zellers calendar all year long.
Zellers has been the president of the Martinsville Agriculture Fair board for the past two years– but the event has been a staple in his life for decades.
“I’m pushing over 50 years,” he said.
He has been a part of the fair for the majority of its runtime– this will be the 77th year– but over the years, his favorite part has been how the event promotes the importance of farming.
“Our community has gotten to a point they don’t know where things come from,” Zellers said. “So if we can educate people, from kids on up, to educate them on what agriculture is, that’s where it gets to be important. We just got to be educators of people so they understand and they can support the farmer.”
The fair puts on a number of events throughout the week to do this. On Tuesday, it was a “touch-a-truck” event where families got to see a variety of farm equipment up close and personal.
For treasurer Barren Von Behren, hosting events like this is as important as ever.
“Frankly, agriculture is not as prevalent in our society as it was decades ago,” he said. “Being able to showcase agriculture to a group of folks who may not see it on a daily basis is really what our fair is about.”
While some things have changed– the fair has continued to grow. Von Behren said that this year, they had record attendance at the grandstands for their harness racing event on Monday night, and they are bringing back rodeo events for the first time in nearly two decades.
Zellers said the preparation is nearly year-round for the group, which makes fair week even more exciting.
“When we start seeing people come through the gates, knowing that they are coming here to enjoy our entertainment, to hopefully learn something, that’s kind of the best part of getting everything prepared,” he said.
Saturday, the fair will close with a demolition derby with a prize pool worth almost $18,000. Von Behren said they expect around 4,000 people at the fairgrounds– nearly four times how many residents are in Martinsville.
As exciting as the final act is, his favorite part– sharing the experience each year with his family and the younger generation.
“My parents grew up going to this fair, my grandparents, and I’m fortunate enough now I have two young sons of my own, and they’re going to be competing in some events here that I did as a kid, and it’s just awesome,” he said.
“When you see those young fairgoers, those young children come in and the look on their face when they hear the roar of an engine, whether it’s a tractor, or the moo of a cow, or they see the horses galloping behind me, it’s just awesome to know that all those hours, all that hard work, all that sweat is truly worth it,” he said.
A full schedule for the fair can be found on their website, as well as more information on how to support the fair board.
