Celebrating 75 years: Clinton County Fair blends tradition, patriotism and new attractions
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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
2025 Clinton County Fair Queen Amanda Brink (Zero turn mower barrel racing new to fair lineup this year) The Clinton County Fair is celebrating 75 years next week with a full lineup of livestock shows, grandstand entertainment, carnival rides, family activities and patriotic events as fairgoers gather July 11-18 in Carlyle.
This year's celebration carries the theme, "A Star-Spangled Salute," recognizing both the fair's 75th anniversary and America's 250th birthday.
Along with longtime traditions, visitors can look forward to several new attractions, including the dedication of the new 618 Event Center and the fair's first-ever zero-turn mower barrel racing competition.
The fair kicks off on Saturday, July 11, with the “Who’s the Fairest 5K Run/Walk” at the Clinton County Fairgrounds in Carlyle at 8 a.m. Carnival rides open at 6 p.m.
On Sunday, July 12, there will be 4-H rabbit judging in the new 618 Event Center, followed by poultry judging. The new building will be dedicated by Bishop Godfrey Mullen at 2 p.m. Carnival rides open at 6 p.m.
Monday's schedule (July 13) includes 4-H dairy judging at 7 a.m. and open dairy judging at 10 a.m. in the 618 Event Center. The annual Clinton County Fair Parade steps off at 6 p.m., followed by the Barnyard Olympics at approximately 8:30 p.m. Carnival rides also open at 6 p.m.
Before the parade begins, the Standin' Proud Veterans Tribute Museum will coordinate a special America250 tribute honoring the nation's 250th birthday. Beginning no later than 5:45 p.m., participants representing Clinton County's five high schools — Breese Central, Carlyle, Christ Our Rock Lutheran, Mater Dei Catholic and Wesclin — will travel the parade route together in a patriotic display recognizing 250 years of freedom, military service and sacrifice.
The parade begins on Fairfax Street near the Clinton County Courthouse, travels south on 17th Street, then west on Methodist Street before ending at the Clinton County Fairgrounds.
The annual parade features the reigning Clinton County Fair Queen Amanda Brink, this year's queen contestants, Little Miss participants, school bands, community organizations, businesses and agriculture-themed entries, all centered around this year's patriotic theme.
Tuesday, July 14, features 4-H swine judging at 7:30 a.m., followed by open swine judging at 9 a.m. Carnival rides open at 6 p.m. The Southern Illinois Pullers League, Illinois Stock Pullers and Hot Street Gas begin at 6:30 p.m. Arena admission is $12 for adults, $6 for children under 12, and free for children ages 6 and younger. Pit passes are $20.
4-H beef judging will be at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, in the 618 Event Center. 4-H goat judging will be at 11:30 a.m. with the sheep to follow. 4-H junior master showmanship will be at 1:30 p.m. and 4-H master showmanship will follow. Carnival rides open at 6 p.m. Open sheep judging begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Clinton County Farm Tractor Pull featuring Kevin Kamp-werth Memorial classes at 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 16, opens with open beef judging at 9 a.m. in the 618 Event Center. Family Fun Night has been moved from Wednesday to Thursday this year. Activities include a Friends of Carlyle Lake Lego Build Competition at 5 p.m. in the Legacy Building, an FFA pedal pull at 6 p.m. in the pits by the announcer’s building, carnival rides opening at 6 p.m. and the fair's inaugural zero-turn mower barrel racing competition at 7 p.m. Arena admission is free for all ages.
"The zero-turn mower event is something that we saw on the internet and thought we would give it a shot in the arena," said Fair Board President Ralph Beckmann. "It seems like a fun and entertaining thing."
Friday's schedule features carnival rides beginning at 6 p.m., the Junior Livestock Auction at 7 p.m. in the 618 Event Center and the Whippoorwill Rodeo at 7 p.m. in the arena. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for veterans, $10 for children under 12 and free for children ages 6 and younger. Pit passes are $25. The Cheers Band will perform from 8 p.m. to midnight outside the Legacy Building.
The week concludes Saturday, July 18, with the Miss Clinton County Fair Queen Pageant at 1 p.m. at Kaskaskia College in Centralia. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for under 12 years old, and under 6 years old is free.
Queen contestants are Drew Drummond of Keyesport, April Wilken of Germantown, Carissa Litteken of Aviston, Jacie Persing of Carlyle, Karleigh Twitchell of Carlyle, Samantha Heinzmann of Carlyle, Daisy Brammeier of Carlyle, Isabelle Gilomen of Damiansville, Makenna Reckling of Carlyle, Makenna Budde of Damiansville and Kylie Detmer of Aviston.
The newly crowned queen will make her first official appearance later that evening during the Demolition Derby, which begins at 7 p.m. Arena admission is $20 for adults, $15 for veterans, $10 for children under 12, and free for children ages 6 and younger. Carnival rides open at 6 p.m.
Throughout the week, fairgoers also can enjoy carnival rides, food vendors, commercial exhibits, 4-H competitions and agricultural displays.
For a complete schedule and additional information, visit the Clinton County Fair website, https://clincofair.org.
618 Event Center set to open for Clinton County Fair week
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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
There will be a dedication and blessing of the new 618 Event Center building at the Clinton County Fairgrounds from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, July 12. Workers have been busy putting the finishing touches on the new 618 Event Center building at the Clinton County Fairgrounds in Carlyle.
Fair board president Ralph Beckmann confirmed that the facility will be ready for Clinton County Fair week July 11-18.
"I have talked to people out in the community about the new building and they seem to be very excited about it and are looking forward to it," Beckmann said.
All of this year's animal shows will be in the new facility. The livestock shows were previously in outdoor barns.
Plumbers and electricians were at the building the first week in July to put the finishing touches on the building. New fences and pens for the animals have been installed. There also is an open area where animal showers and fair attendees can relax and sit at picnic tables.
D.C.A. Contracting, Inc., out of Breese, did all of the steel work for the new building.
The indoor building is 120 feet wide by 450 feet long. Pieces for the building rolled into the fairgrounds on nine semi trailers in October 2025. Construction on the building began in November.
The building is wide open inside, so there are endless possibilities to host events there.
"This is going to be a big improvement for us and there are a lot of things we can do with the building," Beckmann said. "We can have bands, concerts, car shows, auctions, tractor pulls, and many other possibilities. It is going to be a very exciting time and the last four weeks have been very busy finishing things up."
The fair board is looking to have bigger livestock shows during showing season. They are hoping the 618 Event Center is something all people in southern Illinois can use, because there will be few facilities like it in southern Illinois.
The goal of the fair board is to have the 618 Event Center rented out once or twice a month.
The new building will be big enough to host indoor tractor pulls.
Current construction inside
The Clinton County Fairgrounds will be the only fairgrounds south of Bloomington to have a facility like the 618 Event Center. They picked the name 618 Event Center because it encompasses southern Illinois and what they are about.
They already have beef and pork jackpots coming that can attract anywhere from 500 to 1,000 people at a time. Fire departments and EMS can use the building for training. Heavy equipment dealers want to come in and do training. They also are looking at sporting events, flea markets and boat shows.
The Clinton County Farm Bureau has already put up $250,000 to help with the startup of the building. They have a private trust that says they will match the Farm Bureau donation. The fair board has put up $100,000.
The Clinton County Board approved a resolution of donating $30,000 out of the tourism fund toward the building on Oct. 1. Contingent upon the building keeps progressing, in January of 2026 they proposed another $10,000 and January 2027 another $10,000.
The board unanimously approved the resolution of funding $50,000 toward the project.
One item that won't be ready for fair week is the donor wall that will list all of the individuals and businesses who helped make the facility happen. There will be banners put up acknowledging the donors.
They are looking at making a memorial brick walk in front of the donor wall.
Catholic bishop Godfrey Mullen will dedicate and bless the 618 Event Center from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, July 12. The Beckemeyer American Legion will do a flag raising ceremony either before or after the dedication.
The 618 Event Center is another update and upgrade to the Clinton County Fairgrounds.
The Legacy Building was completed at the fairgrounds in 2021.
Clinton County athletes play big role in National Championship run
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- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor
National Champs — The Blue Steel Black 16 squad accomplished a cherished feat by winning the National Championship in Indianapolis last weekend in Indiana. The mixture of Southern Illinois talent went 11-0 in their matches where they dropped just one set in the title game for the flawless run. Pictured in the front row are (from left): Kylie Kloess, Kendall Kloess, Sophia Thole and Bristol Kloess. Middle row: Kinze Reese, Peyton Kreher, Madi Redman, Abby Kuhl, and Bailey Seibert. Back row: Lela Stinson, Harper Whitworth, Lulu Stepping, Bailey Gebke, Adrienne Rakers, and Haleigh Klostermann. The Blue Steel Volleyball Club’s 16 Black team capped an unforgettable season by winning the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship in Indianapolis last weekend, completing an unbeaten 11-0 run and bringing home a national title that players, coaches and families will remember for years to come.
Facing some of the top 16-and-under teams from across the country, Blue Steel entered the tournament with confidence after a strong club season. That confidence only grew as the weekend progressed. Match after match, the Metro East squad showcased its trademark combination of aggressive serving, relentless defense and balanced offensive attack to overwhelm the competition.
“Earning a bid to play in the National tournament is no easy feat, and this team has earned their way four years straight,” said head coach Brooke Kloess. “Two years ago, they were the first Blue Steel team to make it to the podium by earning the bronze medal. Last year, they fell just short and placed fifth overall.”
The championship run began with a perfect opening day that established Blue Steel as one of the tournament favorites.
The team carried that momentum through bracket play, continuing to raise its level against increasingly difficult opponents. Every player contributed throughout the tournament, whether with timely kills, key blocks, clutch digs or steady play from the service line.
By the time championship day arrived, Blue Steel had developed the poise of a seasoned contender. Rather than allowing the pressure of the national stage to affect them, the players embraced the opportunity. Their communication, hustle and teamwork were evident throughout the title match, as they executed in the biggest moments to secure the championship.
The undefeated 11-0 record reflects not only the team’s talent but also its consistency.
“Their goal was to earn a National title this year, and they stayed committed to that the whole way through. We went a perfect 11-0,” said Kloess. “These girls are blessed with the physical ability to play at the highest level, but what makes them special is their bond: both players and families. They’re selfless, supportive, and show up for each other.”
Winning a national tournament requires navigating multiple days of competition against elite opponents, making adjustments from match to match and maintaining both physical and mental focus. They lost only one set in the entire tournament, which came in the title match.
Blue Steel accomplished all of those challenges while never suffering a defeat in a match.
The championship serves as another milestone for Blue Steel Volleyball Club, which has become one of the premier programs in the St. Louis Metro East region. The club has built its reputation by developing athletes capable of competing with the nation’s best, and the 16 Black squad reinforced that reputation with its remarkable performance in Indianapolis.
Behind every successful club team is a dedicated coaching staff and supportive families who invest countless hours in practices, travel and tournaments. Their commitment helped create an environment where the athletes could develop their skills while learning the value of teamwork, accountability and perseverance.
For the players, the championship represents the reward for months of hard work. From preseason workouts to weekend tournaments and countless practice sessions, every hour of preparation helped lay the foundation for their championship performance.
Those experiences—and the friendships formed along the way—will remain long after the medals and trophy have been put away.
As Blue Steel celebrated on the court in Indianapolis, the players proudly held the national championship trophy while knowing they had accomplished something few teams ever achieve. Finishing the tournament undefeated against the nation’s best is an extraordinary feat, and the 2026 Blue Steel 16 Black team has secured its place in club history as national champions.
“It is absolutely this team’s team chemistry that separates them from everyone else. No matter the situation, they never got rattled and stayed confident in their abilities & each other,” concluded Kloess. “Most people who aren’t in the ‘volleyball world’ don’t quite understand how huge of an accomplishment this is, but these girls just proved themselves to be one of the top teams in the entire country. It’s an insanely difficult goal to reach, but I’m not surprised THIS was the group to accomplish it. Winning a National Championship is something they will carry with them for a lifetime.”
Members of the squad were Lela Stinson (Belleville West), Harper Whitworth (Mascoutah), Lulu Stepping (Freeburg), Bailey Gebke (Breese Central), Adrienne Rakers (Mater Dei), Haleigh Klostermann (Mater Dei), Kinze Reese (Mascoutah), Peyton Kreher (Red Bud), Madi Redman (Breese Central), Abby Kuhl (Mater Dei), and Bailey Seibert (Mascoutah).
Redman earned All-Tournament honors while Reese earned the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player Award.
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