By TIM ALEXANDER

Illinois Correspondent 

HENRY, Ill. — The 97th Marshall-Putnam County Fair, held this year from July 11-15, survives because of its agricultural connections, family-based activities and its popular grandstand attractions, organizers agree.

“Our fair has small town appeal, but with a big event feel,” says M-P Fair manager Rob Stadel.

“The thing I like the most about our fair is that everyone can enjoy our fair — it is free for the public, and so many people have put their heart and soul behind the fair’s success,” adds Tiffany Moodie, manager of the Marshall-Putnam County Farm Bureau. “Rural life is so much a part of Marshall and Putnam counties, and we are proud to show that tradition through our fair.”

This year’s fair offered all of its customary, signature events including harness racing, a demolition derby, the Lucas Oil “America’s Pull” PPL Super National Truck and Tractor Pull and the “Big Hat” rodeo. Also included were small-town fair favorites like a kiddie tractor pull, cutest little farmer contest, food decorating contests, a “Little Rascals” country dance party, karaoke contest, and many more crowd-pleasing events.

Livestock shows included the Heartland Pygmy Goat Club point show, junior swine and beef shows, poultry, dairy, sheep, rabbit and dairy shows, a Western pleasure horse show and open swine jackpot show.

The Illinois Association of County Fairs lists more than 100 fairs in its membership, though less than 10 percent of them operate without a midway carnival — one of the distinctions that set this small county fair apart from carnival-based fairs, according to Stadel. The 98th M-P Fair is scheduled for July 10-14, 2019.