By DEBORAH BEHRENDS
Illinois Correspondent

SANDWICH, Ill. — Who better to perform at a fair grandstand show in farm country than a guy who sings about his International Harvester?
That’s right, country music star Craig Morgan will perform on the grandstand at the 124th annual Sandwich Fair at 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 9. The fair runs from Wednesday, Sept. 7 through Sunday, Sept. 11.

Track tickets, to get closer to the stage, and reserved seats are $20 each and grandstand seats are $10 each. General admission to the fair is $8; children ages 6 to 12 are admitted for $5; children 5 and younger are admitted free.
Along with a harness racing on Wednesday and Thursday, a motorcycle stunt show on Wednesday, truck pulls on Thursday, tractor pulls on Saturday, the fair ends with a demolition derby on Sunday.

Every day, fairgoers can enjoy Buttons the Clown, Banjo Buddies Dixieland Trio, Dan Barth Entertainment, All Variety Entertainment “Kid” Davie, Carrie McQueen Stilt Walking and Juggling, Mariachi America, FFA Farm Zoo, antique farm machinery, arts and craft demonstrations, horseshoe pitching contests, exhibits, rides, food, melodramas by Indian Valley Theatre and much more.
Tickets for the grandstand shows can be ordered via the fair’s website, www.sandwichfair.com

Orders must be postmarked no later than Monday, Aug. 29, to allow time for processing. Delivery of tickets will be by regular mail. The remainder of the tickets will be sold at the main gate starting at 9 a.m., Monday, Sept. 5, and Tuesday, Sept. 6. During the fair, grandstand tickets are available in the ticket office in front of the grandstand until they are sold out.

For more information, call the Sandwich Fair office weekdays at 815-786-2159.

Just a regular guy

With a farming background, Craig Morgan spent 10 years in the Army with the 82nd and 101st Airborne and worked as a sheriff’s deputy and EMT. Even so, he considers himself just a regular guy.

“Where I grew up (Kingston Springs, Tenn.), guys just wanted to be things like that,” Morgan said.

It’s no surprise, then, that he saved two small children from a burning house in February.

“I don’t know why everyone is so shocked about that,” Morgan said.
“My son and I were on our way to my uncle’s house to pick up some cedar posts when he noticed the smoke. We pulled into a service station and ran over there.”

After attempting, unsuccessfully, to douse the fire with an extinguisher, he ran in to rescue the children inside. One boy ran from him, but Morgan “snatched him up,” along with his brother and got them out safely. Only then did he notice the gas line under the house.

But Morgan said the fire department arrived and doused the flames with no injuries.

“I think in every middle America town, guys wanna be heroes; they wanna do the right thing. I know there’s some knuckleheads out there but most wanna be heroes. There are no more knights in shining armor but there are firemen, policemen and soldiers,” Morgan said.

“I’ve been married for 23 years. There’s a lot of competition out there so I have to work hard to keep her impressed,” he said with a chuckle.
Billy’s Place

Morgan also hopes to be that knight in shining armor for kids in the foster care system in Tennessee with Billy’s Place. The charitable organization was founded by Morgan five years ago to assist kids who otherwise might be shuffled from one foster home to another.

Although his family has not been affected directly, Morgan said he and his wife have fostered children and he saw the affects while working as a sheriff’s deputy.

He recently raised about $1,200 for the charity when he auctioned a haircut, with him as the recipient. “He did a terrible job,” Morgan said of the haircut. “I had to get the rest of it cut off. I’m pretty much bald at this point.
“My head feels like a peach,” he said with a laugh.

Morgan said he plans to purchase property this year and hopes to build the home next year.

Even with those experiences under his belt, did Morgan ever think he would end up making a living as a performer?

“Absolutely not,” he said. “After ending my active duty (in the Army), I stayed in the reserves because I always thought I might go back.
“I left the service primarily to be a songwriter and a singer. I had no idea it would work out so well, but here we are with 14 top tens and a member of the Grand Ole Opry.”

Morgan is known for his hits International Harvester, That’s What I Love About Sunday and Redneck Yacht Club. His most recent hit is This Ole Boy.
But he believes that, so far, the most autobiographical song he’s written is Living. While it won’t be available on CD until 2012, Morgan said he does perform the song in concert.

As writing, performing and being a husband and father of four doesn’t keep him busy enough, Morgan also is the host of Craig Morgan All Access Outdoors on the Outdoor Channel. The hit series is airing through the end of 2011.