Illinois State Fair names hog, husband calling winners

Posted on August 14, 2017
Illinois State Fairgrounds
The 2017 Illinois State Fair continues through Sunday. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Illinois State Fair)

By WJBC Staff

SPRINGFIELD – It was a hoot of an afternoon Sunday at the Illinois State Fair, as fairgoers gathered to watch the annual Husband and Hog Calling contests at the Lincoln Stage.

In these events, contestants were judged on volume, originality, appeal, and assurance. This year’s winners brought their best, most creative calls and were awarded a $250 cash prize.

The winner of the Hog Calling Contest was repeat champion Andrew Metheney of Georgetown. Metheney’s realistic squeals were enough to beat out the competition once again this year. This is Metheney’s second consecutive win against runner up Chris Karr, who is a 10-time champion and 25-year contest veteran.

The winner of the Husband Calling Contest was Lisa McLaughlin from Petersburg. McLaughlin’s husband call had the crowd howling with laughter as she took the stage to recite her own, original song that she stated she had used to call upon her husband. Her originality wooed the crowd.

The 2017 Illinois State Fair is currently underway until August 20th. For more information, visit www.illinoisstatefair.info, or download our mobile app in the iTunes App Store, or Google Play Store.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…