We get about 125,000 people a year [attending] the fair. We're getting all set up here. It takes about a week for the folks out here to get set for the fair. They bed their cattle and their animals, and there's a lot of preparation.

My dad ran [and maintained] the fairgrounds for several years. I took it over when he passed away. [Just about] everybody I know in the town of Sandwich works here [during the fair]. At nine o'clock we officially start. We raise the flag and sing the National Anthem. The high school band [plays] and [all the visitors come] in. It's a big fan fair. This is our 126th fair, and it's the longest continually running fair in Illinois.

There's never a time when I don't have something to do. I treat [these fairgrounds as if it is] my [own] backyard. If I see a tree that needs to be trimmed, or I think [a branch is] too low and someone may hit their head [I will trim it]. The tractors need to be greased, oiled and kept up too. [There is] always something to do.

Here is my shop. This is the heartbeat of the fairgrounds right here. [If there is] anything you need done at the fair, you have to come here, [and I will help you] get it done. I try to keep [my area] neat, but during the week of the fair I can’t keep it neat. This is where everybody meets. The board members come in here [if anything needs to be fixed] because everyone knows where the maintenance shop is [on the fairgrounds]. If anything breaks, they come [to the shop], and I take care of them. We do a pretty good [job of maintaining the fairgrounds].

This [feels like] home [to me]. I feel comfortable here, and I know where everything is. It may look like a mess, but I know where [everything is located]. All my friends and board members [comes here to] visit and have a cup of coffee. We talk about how the fair is going, and what we [may need to adjust for] next year. I like it here.