Friend of the fair

Since 1989, the Whiteside County Fair Board has chosen to honor an individual or group for their outstanding support or commitment to the Fair

For 2022, the Whiteside County Fair Board has selected Tom Venhuizen & Family as the Friend of the Fair. 

The 2022, Friend of the Fair . . . . 

Tom Venhuizen & Family

The Whiteside County Fair Board is pleased to announce that our 2022 Friend of the Fair is The Venhuizen Family.

 

The Venhuizen Family started participating in the Whiteside County Fair some years ago when Kenny and Nancy both showed beef cattle when they were young kids in 4-H. They got married in 1956 and had their children, Tom and Kim, who also grew up showing beef cattle and even added in showing hogs. Kenny, with the help of Tom, enjoyed restoring antique tractors and displaying them on the grounds and in the parade. Kenny began tractor pulling in the 60’s at the fair and then Kenny and Tom became the superintendent of the tractor pull in the early 70’s. The Venhuizen family was always there to help with the pull. Kenny built many pulling tractors over the years and most donned the name, “Blue Max.” After years of helping and watching his dad build pulling tractors, Tom started his tractor pulling career in 1977 by building his own modified tractor, “Panic.” After some hard years farming, both men retired from the competitor side of tractor pulling but the call to the track was still strong for the Venhuizen men. In the early 90’s, Kenny purchased his sled called “Mean Green” and operated it at the tractor pull. Later in the 90’s, Tom and Amy bought a sled as well. Their sled, called “The Mechanical Mule”, took over the pull after Kenny sold his sled and retired from pulling. The Venhuizen family has operated their sleds down the track at the Whiteside County Fair many times for many years, and last year was the final time Tom ran his sled down the track. He retired as well from pulling after 26 years of running the Mule. Sadly, Kenny passed in December of 2020. His presence in that special final time down the track was felt by many. 

The Whiteside County Fair Board would like to thank the Venhuizen Family for all they have done for this fair and the many other fairs they have traveled to.

 

Congratulations to our 2022 Friend of the Fair, “The Venhuizen Family”

Previous Years Honoree's

1989 – Eddie Schuler

1990 – Betty Whitebread

1991 – Calvin Simpson

1992 – Marge Smit

1993 – Ralph Frymark

1994 – Tom Vogel

1995 – Orville Goodenough

1996 – Paul Dell

1997 – Donald Ramsdell

1998 – Judith Ross

1999 – Larry Fredericks & Loren Todd

2000 – Whiteside County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol

2001 – Whiteside County Master Gardeners

2002 – Francis “Pat” Keegan

2003 – Randy Holesinger

2004 – Pat & Doug Skinner

2005 – Morrison Volunteer Fire Department

2006 – Abbott Family

2007 – Merle Reisenbigler

2008 – Frank Belt & Norman Isenhart Family’s

2009 – Mark Schuler

2010 – Vandermyde Family

2011 – Birkey’s/Prophetstown Equipment

2012 – Morrison Blacktop/Stralow Family

2013 – Popcorn Bob & Marilyn Green

2014 – Paul Vock & Dan Heusinkveld

2015 – Fran Gross

2016 – Dale Coleson Family

2017 – Morrison Athletic Boosters

2018 – Gary Folkers Family

2019 – Jill Miller & Goldie Svendsen

2020 – Covid Cancelled Fair

2021 – William “Corndog Billy” Fickling