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| Round 'Em Up at the Knox County Fair |
A relatively new state organization with some local roots has had some unfortunate luck getting up and going the last few months -- that is, until Wednesday night.
The first free grandstand event organizers of the Knox County Fair say they can remember happened Wednesday night -- a rodeo and competition for kids organized by the Illinois Ranch Horse Association.
Its president, Gary Wessels, tells WGIL it's worked out pretty well to get involved with the Knox County Fair.
"Ricky Flacco -- that's Dr. Flacco's son -- they're very active in the harness horse breeding program and racing program," Wessels said. "Ricky heard that I was doing this and he asked me if we'd be interested in doing something at the fair. They were looking for some activities; they had a blank spot on Wednesday night. So we got to talking about it, and I visited with the group at a club meeting, and we decided to do it."
Wessel's association had a number of competitions for youth and others taking part in, which included what he called "team-pinning" -- essentially gathering and roping Texas long-horned cattle in 60 seconds or less.
The Illinois Ranch Horse Association started in February, after Wessels organized some ranch events in Peoria and decided more could be done if he had some help.
Wednesday was only the group's second show, since Wessels says Mother Nature has managed to rain out nearly every other.
For more information on the Illinois Ranch Horse Association, CLICK HERE.
(One of the Texas longhorn cattle that was in Wednesday night's rodeo at the Knox County Fair.)
(A look at more of the cattle used in the rodeo.)
(An adult and child help set up for Thursday night's rodeo.)
(Children's activities at the Knox County Fair's rodeo.)
(WGIL News Story and Photos by Will Stevenson.) |
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| 08 06 09 by Newsroom |
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