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| 2008 Illinois State Fair theme: Family Tradition |
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By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — As the daily temperature fluctuates between spring and winter, April doesn’t seem like the time to reflect on the Illinois State Fair, but that is what Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich did when he and Illinois State Fair Manager Amy Bliefnick announced the theme for the 2008 Illinois State Fair.
The theme selected is A Family Tradition and according to Jeff Squibb of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. This theme will feature a contest inspired by the well-known 1950s advertising campaign for Burma Shave which was a brand of brushless shaving cream.
Many may recall Burma Shave’s catchy rhymes that grace a few small highways still today. Outside the small town of Sublette, Ill., where the Sublette Farm Toy Show recently ended, a series of signs relay a fun rhyme as visitors drive into town.
The contest Blagojevich and Bliefnick are launching is an advertising campaign encouraging Illinois children to submit five-line rhymes that reflect the theme. Winners will have their rhyme featured on State Fair promotional materials and signs.
“This year’s theme for the Illinois State Fair truly reflects what the 10-day event is for so many families across our state – a tradition – as traditional as those Burma Shave billboards that dotted our landscape in the 50s,” said Blagojevich.
“That’s why we’re modeling our theme after the Burma Shave advertising campaign and inviting children to participate in our efforts. We’re bringing generations together in celebration of this year’s Illinois State Fair.”
Bliefnick added, “Whether or not you are old enough to remember the Burma Shave signs along Illinois highways, we think this is a great way to get people of all ages involved in promoting what is one of the biggest family events in the state - and they can have a little fun at the same time.
“Slogans like Let’s make a-trip there to – The Illinois State Fair - Where food and fun - Await everyone - Illinois State Fair, Aug. 8-17 - with a family-themed flavor are what we’re looking for. This really fits well with our family tradition theme and, we hope, gives teachers statewide an opportunity to get their children involved in writing.”
Along with children, the general public can submit rhymes as well; however, the committee choosing the winners will set aside several series of sign slogans submitted by children in grades K-8.
The rhyme must have five lines of text with up to four words maximum on each line. Then the key is that the sixth line will have the words - “Illinois State Fair, Aug. 8-17” - added to the end of each rhyme.
Squibb added, “Entries will be accepted by mail and online through April 11, 2008. The winners will be announced at an event this spring, the same time the Grandstand line-up for this year’s fair will be unveiled.”
This farm news was published in the April 2, 2008 issue of the Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
| 4/2/2008 |
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