Governor & Mrs. Ryan Dedicate Time Capsule to Commemorate 150th Anniversary of Illinois State Fair

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan and First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan today placed mementos of the 150th Anniversary Illinois State Fair in a time capsule to be opened on the Fair's bicentennial.

"So far this has been a remarkable celebration of the State Fair's 150 year history," Governor Ryan said. "Fifty years from now as people once again look back on the history of this fine fair, we want to be sure they have a historical tie to the special anniversary we're celebrating this year."

The Ryans were joined by Illinois Agriculture Director Joe Hampton and State Fair Manager Bud Ford in dedicating the time capsule. The capsule, on Main Street inside of the Main Gate of the State Fairgrounds, will be covered by a stone marker which notifies fairgoers that it is to be reopened in 2052 as the state celebrates 200 years of Illinois State Fairs. Governor and Mrs. Ryan, Hampton and Ford each selected personal items to place in the time capsule.

The Ryans included a picture of them taken at the 1999 State Fair, the year the governor took office; a piece of the ribbon that was cut at the Main Gate by dignitaries to open the 2002 Fair and an album of newspaper clippings, artifacts and documents from the Governor and Mrs. Ryan's historic 1999 humanitarian mission to Cuba.

The governor decided to include an album on his first trip to Cuba because of the positive affects that trip has had on agriculture in Illinois -- opening new markets for Illinois farmers and raising public awareness about the importance of farm exports to the overall Illinois economy.

Other items placed in the time capsule include:

• A copy of the book "Illinois State Fair: A 150 Year History"

• A State Fair 150th Anniversary commemorative pin

• Copies of all 2002 State Fair Premium Books

• A 2002 State Fair Daily Schedule

• A 2002 State Fair Cookbook

• A 2002 Illinois State Fair "mouse pad" from "TechTown"

• A watercolor print of the State Fair's Main Gate

• An Illinois State Fair Timeline

• A State Fair Blue Ribbon

• The book "State Fair Time Warp" - a WeWrite Kids book authored by Illinois children

• An Illinois 4-H "Otwell" Bear commemorating 100 years of 4-H