The Linn County Fair Association is accepting applications for the 2013 Little Mr. and Miss Linn County Fair 

The Little Mr. and Miss Linn County Fair Contest is open to boys and girls in Kindergarten through third grade who reside in Linn County and have been involved in the fair in some way. Such involvement may include, but is not limited to, clover kids, the Kiddee Tractor Pull, the Kiddee Calf Show, and/or Bucket Bottle Lamb. For a complete list of contest qualifications, please visit http://www.thelinncountyfair.com/little-mr-miss-linn-co.html. The responsibilities of winners include representing the fair during fair week by wearing the crown provided as well as handing out ribbons and awards at various shows throughout the fair.

To enter this contest, contestants must be eligible in accordance with the provided rules as well as fill out and turn in the application form and coloring page to the Linn County Extension Office or mailing it to The Linn County Fair by May 15th, 2013. Contestants must also attend judging on June 26th, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. at the Linn County Fairgrounds Grandstand. The 2013 Little Mr. and Miss Linn County Fair will be announced and crowned Wednesday, June 26th at the Linn County Fair Cook-out and Opening Program in the grandstand starting at 6:00 P.M.

Applications are due by May 15th, 2013. They can be dropped off at the Linn County Extension office in Marion or mailed to the Linn County Fair – Little Mr. and Miss Contest, PO Box 329, Central City, IA 52213. NO APPLICATIONS will be accepted by committee members.

Rules and entry forms are available online at http://thelinncountyfair.com/little-mr-miss-linn-co.html. Questions please contact Taylor Zumbach at tzumbach8326@mustangs.mtmercy.edu 

The Linn County Fair in Central City from June 26th– July 1st, 2013

www.thelinncountyfair.com

Contest Sponsored by: SECURITY STATE BANK SPRINGVILLE

There are many things planned to help celebrate our anniversary at the fair this year. Events include, but not limited to,  history scavenger hunt, “Dancing thru the Decades” contest, old time “Crowing Contest”, and other fun contests. Another event is “Kathy’s Attic Fashion Show” that will include antique 4-H outfits and other time period clothing. One item we are looking to add to the fashion show is the 1950′s aqua blue 4-H uniform. It was a one piece with white sailor bow. If you have this 4-H uniform and are interested in possibly lending it to the fair for the fashion show please contact us for more details.

We are also looking for photos of previous Linn County Fairs and/or Wapsie Valley Fair  to use in our anniversary calendar and history book (that will hopefully be released next year). We are in need of  photos of the fairgrounds, buildings, exhibitors, people enjoying the fair, animals, misc., from any fair prior to 2000.   The pictures can be in black & white, digital, negatives, etc., we have the ability to handle any of those options. All pictures that will be used for the calendar are needed by May 15th to finalize the calendar to have it ready for the fair.

If you have any pictures or stories you would like to submit you can email them to history@thelinncountyfair.com or mail them to The Linn County Fair, C/O History, PO Box 329, Central City, IA 52214. For photos please include the date of the picture(at least the year), list the people in the picture and a short description of the picture. We will return all requested pictures, please note return of pictures when submitting them.

At the fair we will also have an exhibit displaying some of our fair history items. We are still looking for items to be included in this display. Items include, but not limited to, fair premium books, fliers, posters, ribbons, banners, trophies and 4-H Uniforms. Items can be donated or loaned to the fair, please email or call us if you have items you would like to be included in the display so we can accommodate all items.

We are excited to celebrate our 125th anniversary this year and look forward to sharing our history with you as we continue to build our future!

Contact Kathy Clemens for more information or questions by emailing history@thelinncountyfair.com or calling 319-350-1281.

Philanthropy at work: Local farmer supports Linn County through America’s Farmers Grow Communities^SM

Drought stricken farmers and rural communities receive double funding

MARION, Iowa (March 25, 2013) – The Lynn Dunn Memorial Fund and Central City Fire Department will now be able to better serve the community thanks to the support of local farmer, Maryann Beckner, and America’s Farmers Grow Communities.

Sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, Grow Communities provides farmers in eligible counties the chance to win a $2,500 donation for a local nonprofit organization of their choice.  To further support counties declared natural disaster areas by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) due to drought this year, winning farmers in these counties are able to direct double donations, a total of $5,000.

Linn County was declared a disaster area by the USDA, giving Beckner the opportunity to choose two organizations to receive $2,500 donations. Beckner selected the Lynn Dunn Memorial Fund and Central City Fire Department. The Lynn Dunn Memorial Fund will use the donation to construct a year round facility on the Linn County Fairgrounds in Central City. The building will welcome educational workshops for 4-H and FFA members of Linn County, as well community events year round.

The fire department plans to use the donation to purchase and update equipment as it sees necessary to better serve its mission.

“I’m so glad to have been given this opportunity,” said Beckner. “Central City is very dear to me, as I have family that lives there.”

This year, the Monsanto Fund will invest nearly $6 million in rural America through Grow Communities, which includes double donations for counties impacted by the historic drought.

In Iowa $495,000 is being given across 99 counties.

America’s Farmers Grow Communities is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund to partner with farmers in helping them positively impact their communities. This program is part of the Monsanto Fund’s overall effort to strengthen rural America.

For a complete list of Grow Communities winners and more program information, please visit growcommunities.com.

About the Monsanto Fund

The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the farm communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Visit the Monsanto Fund atwww.monsantofund.org.

The Linn County Fair presents Alien Ant Farm in concert on Thursday, June 27, 2013, 7:30 p.m. at The Linn County Fair grandstands. This is an all-ages show. Opening band is local rockers Helforstout featuring American Idol contestant Gabe Brown.  

Gabe Brown

Ticket information:

Tickets for the concert go on sale Saturday, April 6th at 8am online only.  Anniversary ticket special, Buy Two (2) tickets for the price of 1 ($10). Tickets can be purchased by going to www.thelinncountyfair.com or http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/homePageSearch.do?method=showPerformanceDetail&performance_id=1709845. Special runs from 8am on April 6th to midnight on April 12th. Tickets prior to concert are $10 or $15 day of show. 

Concert location:

The Linn County Fairgrounds are located 15 minutes north of Marion on the south end of Central City on the east side of Highway 13 at 201 Central City Road, Central City, Iowa.  For more information on the concert go to www.thelinncountyfair.com or email info@thelinncountyfair.com.

Alien Ant Farm Bio: 

Dryden Mitchell- Vocals
Terry Corso-Guitars
Tye Zamora- Bass
Mike Cosgrove- Drums

Since the formation of Alien Ant Farm in 1995, the quartet has enjoyed worldwide success.  Over the course of their four studio albums, cumulative sales surpass five million units a Grammy nomination and 4 top 10 singles.  The band built a massive following on the road early in their career via high profile 2001 runs with Linkin Park, Papa Roach, Warped, and as the headliner on an MTV presented Fall Tour.  In 2002, fame spread across the world, bringing Alien Ant Farm to the major European festivals, Australia’s Big Day Out and a headline run in Japan. The following year they returned to Europe with Metallica, and to this day the band has steadily delivered audiences in territories across the globe.

From the beginning, the clever humor of vocalist Dryden Mitchell and guitarist Terry Corso has delivered visual imagery that made the band vanguards in the realm of music video.  All of the singles released received heavy rotation on MTV and MTV2, with “Smooth Criminal” was voted the #2 video of 2001 on MTV’s countdown.  They appeared on the channel’s programs Celebrity Dismissed, MTV Cribbs, and hosted House of Style.   Alongside the massive support from cable, Alien Ant Farm were darlings of broadcast television with multiple appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and support from Carson Daly, Extra, CNN, Access Hollywood and Mad-TV amongst many more.  With all the notoriety also came a 2001 Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2001.

The early history of the band began when the name came from a daydream Terry Corso had while employed at a day job.  The concept revolves around the human species being cultivated by alien intelligence, and the colony forming much like it does in a traditional children’s toy.  In 1999, Alien Ant Farm self-released their debut titled Greatest Hits, which went on to win Best Independent Album at the L.A. Music Awards.  In 2000, they signed to DreamWorks SKG, and went on to release Anthology.  The following year, a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” became a massive hit overseas, rising to #1 in Australia and New Zealand, and on the U.S. Modern Rock charts.  It also rose to #3 in the U.K.  To set the record straight on the inspiration behind choosing this song amongst the millions of copyrights, Corso shares, “When we were a young local band in SoCal, we’d play a different cover song by a different artist every show we would do.  Wild unexpected stuff and sometimes not even songs we were that into. Just whatever was going on around us on the radio or whatever fit in with our inside jokes at that minute, from Ileah to Gary Glitter to The Police, we had a lot of fun with it.  One week we had been throwing the idea of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” around the jam room, I believe someone had just watched Moonwalker again. The very next show we played, we hadn’t learned the whole song yet but decided to klunk the main riff out for fun, the crowd loved it and went a little crazy.  After that we learned the entire song and super charged it. The rest is pretty much history.”  To this day, the cover is a crowd pleaser.  This past October 8th, the band was asked to appear alongside Cee Lo Green, Smokey Robinson and The Jackson Family at the Michael Jackson Forever Tribute Concert in Cardiff, Wales.

In 2003, the Alien Ant Farm entered the studio with Stone Temple Pilots’ Robert and Dean DeLeo and cut Truant.  Unfortunately, they ran in to unforeseen adversity with the closure of their record label, offering an insurmountable obstacle to continue building on the band’s successes.  Still under contract to Universal, Geffen green-lit the opportunity for Alien Ant Farm to return to the studio.  In 2005, they recorded with Jim Wirt, but that album was not released as scheduled.  Alien Ant Farm chose to share it with with fans via a bootlegged version, which has affectionately been re-named 3rd Draft by the public.  Looking back on the adversity the band went through, alongside the massive fame Mitchell reflects, “This Alien Ant Farm ‘Wave’ is a bigger, longer wave than I could have hoped for. All these years later, we are still intact. From friends to foes to friends again, this band is something special, and nothing short of tight and explosive.”

The next year in 2006 Up In The Attic was issued, and for the next several years the members went their separate ways reconvening in 2009 for performances in Kansas City, the Sonisphere Festival in Knebworth, UK and at the WARPED Tour in memory of Michael Jackson.  They were back, and come 2010 began to rebuild a legacy that grows with each passing month.  The band staged a very successful tour over the Summer and Fall, where they road tested new material in front of the live audience.  In the New Year, they’ll release the new recordings.  Mitchell shares, “The First batch of these new songs are pretty to the point and pissed. Angry, but not negative. That is possible in this non tangible, musical and lyrical world. Unfortunately not possible in the real world, and that’s why I love music. I can get this all out without hurting anyone.”

Come 2012 Alien Ant Farm will return, and the path for the future will unfold one day at a time.  The band has signed with Executive Music Group (Fontana / Universal), and guitarist Corso shares, “We are pretty excited for the year to come.  We just came off of a three-month tour in the U.S. that made us realize that with the original line-up back together, we have fire and hunger again.  With a fresh new collection, we hope to get our core fans excited, as well as turn some brand new listeners on to the ALIEN ANT FARM sound and show the world we have a lot more to offer than the average rock band.”  EMG President Jacob Capricciuolo revealed, “The timing of ALIEN ANT FARM signing to Executive Music Group is priceless.  During a time where EMG is exploding and our philosophy is to ‘hustle,’ I feel together success is imminent.  I couldn’t be more proud of their work ethic and their willingness to do whatever it takes to be successful.”  EMG Vice President Jimmy Swan continued, “For 10 years, I have used ALIEN ANT FARM’s ‘Smooth Criminal’ to show all my bands the perfect example of how to cover a song.  Being a huge fan of the band, it is an honor to be able to work with them.  Having the original members back in the line-up will give the fans what they have been waiting for.”  In summation, bassist Zamora offers, “Although we spent a couple of years apart and wrote our last record with only three original members, there is no denying the chemistry of the original four piece. The band, the show, and the songs are just better with all of the original members doing what they were born to do, being Alien Ant Farm.”  Drummer Cosgrove echoes, “It’s good to have the original core back together.”  With strong repertoire, great attitudes, and a fan base that has been there every step of the way, the future is lining up nicely for Alien Ant Farm.

www.alienantfarm.com   

DISCOGRAPHY         Over 5 Million Records Sold        2 Grammy Nominations

-1999- Greatest Hits             -2008 -20^th Century Masters

-2001- Anthology                  -2009- Live From Germany

-2003- Truant                        -2012- NEW ALBUM (In Studio Now)

-2006-Up In The Attic
Labels: Dreamworks 1999-2004 – New Door / Universal 2006

uME / Universal- 2006-2007 – EMG / Universal- 2011 -Present

4 Top 10 Singles:    Formats: Alternative, Mainstream, Top 40

-Smooth Criminal                  -Movies

-Glow                                      -Attitude

SOUNDTRACKS / VIDEO GAMES:

-American Pie 2                                 -Spider Man

-50 First Dates                                   -MTV’S Tough Enough

-Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3               -Shaun Palmers Pro Snowboarder

-ATV Off Road Fury 2                       -Madden 2004

-NHL Hockey 2004                           -Major League Baseball 2004

-The Punisher 2005                          -Guitar Hero

-Rockband & More

TV APPERANCES:

-The Late Show With Kraig Kilborne                      – Access Hollywood

-Tonight Show With Jay Leno (x2)                         -Extra

-CNN                                                                           -Late Night With Zach (VH1)

-Last Call With Carson Daly                                     -Teen People Special

-Mad TV                                                                     -Sharon Osbourne Show

-VH1 Ultimate Albums, Tribute To Red Hot Chili Peppers

-TRL- Debuts and Appearances (Multiple)  & More

PRESS: (Several Features In Items Below)

-Rolling Stone                        -Spin               -Blender         -Maxim           -Alt Press

-Revolver                   -Billboard       -Modern Drummer               -Drum!

-Bass Player               -Guitar World            -Guitar Player                                    -Kerrang

And many others worldwide!!

TOURING: (AAF Has toured with the following)

-Metallica -311 -Papa Roach -Linkin Park -Limp Bizkit – Staind – System Of A Down

-Incubus- Sublime  -Puddle Of Mudd- Deftones – Hoobastank – and many more!

Including worldwide headline touring, in addition to headlining and support major worldwide festivals like Sonisphere, Download, Rock Am Park, SnoCore, Warped Tour among many others.

ENDORSEMENTS:

-Fender –Zildjian – Mesa Boogie – Marshall – Schecter Guitars – DW Drums –

-Remo – DVS Shoes – Mattix – Vestal – Ambigous – Converse – Dickies – Levi’s

-Hurley – Skull Candy and more!

Helforstout: 

Helforstout

The name Helforsout comes from the viking word meaning “built sturdy”, which directly ties in with the band’s main goal: providing the beefiest, sturdiest music in the most energetic, powerful form for all who love to rock.

The Brainchild of Gabe Brown, Helforstout has been in existence for years, with a different lineup rocking the bar scene in Cedar Rapids until August of 2011, when Jeremy Jacobs and Dan Russell filled the positions of lead guitarist and drummer, joining original bassist Matt Moss, and rhythm guitarist Joe Brown, to solidify the electrifying presence that is HELFORSTOUT.

The powerhouse group has since been storming bars from the Chrome Horse Saloon in Cedar Rapids, to the Sreaming Eagle bar in Waterloo and everywhere in-between. Helforstout takes pride in playing some of the best hits in classic rock, from AC/DC to Led Zeppelin, and modern rock tunes from the likes of the Foo Fighters and Soundgarden.

The musicianship and raw energy of a Helforstout show is something that can’t be missed. For more information and upcoming events go to http://www.reverbnation.com/helforstout. 

Helforstout

The Linn County Fair Queen Contest is open to ladies 16 to 21 years old that reside in Linn County and are an active member of at least one service organization in her community such as 4-H, FFA, Girl Scouts, and church youth groups. For a complete list of contestant qualifications go to http://www.thelinncountyfair.com/queen-competition.html. It is required that contestants have at least two years of involvement with The Linn County Fair prior to running.

The responsibilities of The Linn County Fair Queen includes but not limited to:

• Being a spokesperson for the fair to help promote it through parades, banquets and other public events.
• Be present during different fair events from grandstand to livestock events.
• Represent The Linn County Fair at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines in August.
• Through the different activities, the queen will help promote and represent The Linn County Fair!

Queen contestants will be required to attended several events. The first event is The ROYALTY DAY that will be held on June 8th from 9 am to noon. This day will consist of interviewing skills/techniques, relaxation and much more for all fair queen contestants. Contestants will feel like a real queens when this day comes to a close while coming away with new interview techniques, networking and public speaking skills.

2012 Queen Judging Day

The contest judging will take place on the same day from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, place to be determined. Public will be allowed to meet the contestants after the judging at 3:30 pm.

Other events include the Hiawatha Hog Wild Days Parade on Saturday, June 22nd and the Downtown Cedar Rapids Farmers Market on Saturday, June 1st.

The 2013 queen and princess will be announced and crowned Wednesday, June 26th at The Linn County Fair Cook-out and Opening Program in the grandstand starting at 5:00 P.M.

The contest will help develop many of the skills that are needed to succeed today. The current Linn County Royalty is Queen Maci Rice of Mt. Vernon and Princess Tayler Etzel of Alburnett. Past Linn Count Fair Queens and contestants have gone on to be role models and leaders in their communities.

2012 Queen Contestants

Applications are due by May 15^th. They can be mailed to The Linn County Fair – Queen Contest, PO Box 329, Central City, IA 52213. NO APPLICATIONS will be accepted by committee members.

Past Linn County Fair Queen and current Fair Board President, Jennifer Dunn encourages young ladies to get involved, “This is a great opportunity to represent one of the best and fastest growing county fairs in the nation. We have many people looking at our county for information in what we do as a fair and what a great opportunity to be able to help display this great accomplishment as a fair.” 

Rules and entry forms are available online at http://www.thelinncountyfair.com/queen-competition.html

Questions please contact Jennifer Dunn at jenn@thelinncountyfair.com or Kathy Clemens at Kathy@thelinncountyfair.com or by calling 319-929-FAIR (3247).

The Linn County Fair in Central City from June 26th- July 1st,  2013
www.thelinncountyfair.com

Are you ready to get healthy and go blue? If so then you need to sign up for the 2013 “Healthy Linn County Challenge” with The Linn County Fair and Jenny Craig!

The Healthy Linn County Challenge is a three month contest open to all residents of Linn County. The contest will include teams of 4 to 6 people and individual contestants. The purpose of the challenge is to encourage people to lose weight by eating healthy and living an active lifestyle.

Jenny Craig will provide weekly healthy tips to help participants to eat healthy. The bi-monthly challenge updates will be posted on The Linn County Fair’s Facebook account to continue to encourage participants to follow through on their challenge to “Getting Healthy”. Participants can “Go Blue” and upgrade their lives by pledging their support for the Blue Zones Project at www.bluezonesproject.com.

Kandice Dowie,Jenny Craig Area Market Director Cedar Rapids/Coralville, talks about why they partnered with The Linn County Fair for this event, “Jenny Craig is all about transformation, and helping people realize that it’s a lifestyle change and one that can impact their entire family, especially the next generation. With the “Getting Healthy & Going Blue” Challenge, this is a great opportunity to help pay it forward in our local community. Jenny Craig is a proud supporter of the Healthy Linn County Challenge.”

A prize package will be given to the team and individual that loses the most percentage of weight by the end of the Challenge. The winners will be announced at The Linn County Fair on Wednesday, June 26th. The prize package will include money from the entry fees, a ticket to each of the 2013 Linn County Fair’s grandstand events, and prize package from Jenny Craig. All participants completing the challenge will be eligible for two grandstand tickets for a grandstand event of their choice during the 2013 Linn County Fair. Tickets will be distributed at the final weigh-in on June 18th and 20th.

To help promote The Linn County Fair’s 125th Anniversary the fair is offering a second reward to any team that loses 125 lbs as a whole. Each team member will receive a grandstand ticket to the event of their choice for the 2013 fair.

Individuals or teams can go to Jenny Craig (located next to Dick’s Sporting Goods at 4651 First Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids) or to The Linn County Fair’s website to fill out the entry form. Entry forms are due by March 22nd. First 100 qualified entries will receive a free t-shirt at their first weigh-in. See below for official rules or email info@thelinncountyfair.com with any questions.

The Linn County Fair and Jenny Craig are Getting Healthy & Going Blue with the Healthy Linn County Challenge 2013!

The Linn County Fair along with Raynor Door of Cedar Rapids, B. A. S. F. – the makers of Headline Amp, Titan Machinery of Center Point , Crop Production Services and KISS Country presents Tracy Lawrence in concert on Friday, June 28, 2013, 7:30 p.m. at The Linn County Fair grandstands. This is an all-ages show.  Opener is up and coming national country act Blackjack Billy.  

Ticket information:

Tickets for the concert go on sale Saturday, March 2nd at 8am online only.  Anniversary ticket special, Buy 2 tickets for the price of 1 ($18). Tickets can be purchased by going to www.thelinncountyfair.com. Special runs from 8am on March 2nd to midnight on March 8th. Tickets price prior to concert are $18 in advance or $20 day of show. 

Concert location:

The Linn County Fairgrounds are located 15 minutes north of Marion  on Highway 13 just south of Central City on the east side of  the highway at 201 Central City Road, Central City, Iowa.  For more information on the concert go to www.thelinncountyfair.com or email info@thelinncountyfair.com.

Tracy Lawrence:

The new Tracy Lawrence album is titled The Singer, but the collection is much more than a showcase for one of the most unforgettable voices in contemporary country music.

“I’m at a time in my life where I am about to blossom, artistically — as an artist, as a songwriter, as a producer and all these things,” says the multi-million-selling entertainer. “I’m learning how to express myself more, in many ways.”

Tracy Lawrence co-wrote six of the new CD’s songs. He co-produced the entire record. And perhaps most significantly, he created a striking new sound for himself. In an era when rock-influenced bombast and cluttered over production seem to dominate Nashville’s country recordings, Tracy Lawrence is offering a refreshing, stripped-down, “unplugged” record that throws the spotlight on songs’ lyrics and his beautifully resonant voice.

“This was such an easy record to work on,” Lawrence comments. “There’s something to be said for going back to being understated, taking a breath and getting back to basics.”

He has been silent on disc for more than two years. Along with fellow stars John Anderson, Lorrie Morgan, Darryl Worley and a number of others, Tracy Lawrence was trapped in a contract with a label that sank.

“I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ My fans need some new music. I need to get something done. So in May, we decided we were going into the studio and do an acoustic project. The album was recorded, pressed, packaged and released in four weeks, in time for my Fan Club Party at the CMA Music Festival in June.

“Originally, I just intended it to be a ‘bridge’ project, to have something out there while we worked on the next, full-production album. But as it started coming to life, I realized we have something special here. The fans told us how unique it was and how much they liked it. So now we’ve realized that we have something really refreshing in the market. I think it’s something that is needed.”

The Singer includes the haunting story song “Saving Savannah,” as well as the tongue-in-cheek “Pills.” On the relationship front, there’s the heartache of “Cloud of Dust,” the romance of “Tender Enough” and the enigma of “Roswell and Marilyn Monroe.” The philosophical “Jealousy,” the deeply painful “Heaven for Awhile” and the timely “Hard Times” are all illustrations of Lawrence’s new maturity as a songwriter. The album’s title tune and debut single seems strikingly autobiographical, as does the restless “Whole Lotta Me.”

Rounding out The Singer are lovely new versions of 2004’s “Paint Me a Birmingham” and 2006’s “Find Out Who Your Friends Are,” two major hits that brought Tracy Lawrence renewed popularity in the new millennium. All 12 of the tracks collected on this extraordinary disc ring with emotional authenticity and country conviction.

“I think everybody else seems to so busy trying to be pop stars that they’ve forgotten what they came here for,” Lawrence observes. “I didn’t come here to be a pop star. I came here to be a country singer. I’ve been passionate about country since I was a kid. I still love it, and I’m desperately trying to hold onto it, in spite of what the marketplace says is ‘fashionable.’”

Tracy Lawrence’s respect for country-music tradition has made him one of his genre’s cornerstone stylists. The Arkansas native burst on the scene with 1991’s Platinum-selling Sticks and Stones. The album contained four massive radio hits, including its title tune. Alibis, issued in 1993, sold more than two million copies and spawned four consecutive No. 1 hits, “Alibis,” “Can’t Break it to My Heart,” “My Second Home” and “If the Good Die Young.”

“Can’t Break it to My Heart” and “My Second Home” were the first hits that he co-wrote. Lawrence also had a hand in penning “If the World Had a Front Porch” (1995), “Stars Over Texas” (1996), “How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye” (1997) and “Lessons Learned” (2000).

“Back then, I had a lot of confidence issues about my songwriting,” he reflects. “I got placed with tremendously talented co-writers. Working with them, I realized how inadequate I was as a songwriter. It really made me hard on myself and very critical of the material that I wrote. But it also made me want to work harder.

“Over the past three or four years, I’ve become much stronger at it. It took me a long time to know that a song I wrote had the caliber to stand up to anything else that was out there. I’ve found that as I’ve matured, my favorite songs to write are ones that have a moral foundation, some insight, some substance and a message.”

His journey as a record producer began with 1993’s “Renegades, Rebels and Rogues” from the soundtrack of the movie Maverick. His Platinum-selling 1994 CD I See it Now had three self-produced songs on it. The Double Platinum Time Marches On (1996) and Gold-selling The Coast Is Clear (1997) each contained five tunes that the artist co-produced. Then came the 1999 all-star collection The Civil War: The Nashville Sessions, the first full album he guided.

“That was a big step for me as a producer, working with other vocalists and taking things I’d learned by working with myself and applying them to people like Trace Adkins, Travis Tritt, Deana Carter and John Berry.”

He co-produced his own Lessons Learned (2000), as well as its successors Tracy Lawrence (2001), Strong (2004), For the Love (2007), All Wrapped Up in Christmas (2007) and the Grammy Award nominated The Rock (2009). Along the way, Tracy Lawrence has picked up a number of other accolades. He was Billboard’s Top New Male Vocalist in 1992. The following year, Performance named him New Country Artist of the Year and the Academy of Country Music honored him as Top New Male Vocalist. Country Weekly gave him top awards in 1995 and 1996, and both the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music gave him 2007 statuettes for his No. 1 smash “Find Out Who Your Friends Are.”

“In my career, I don’t really need to prove any points anymore. I don’t feel like I’m searching for anything. I just want to keep on being creative.”

The Singer is certainly proof of that. Its sounds are among the most creative in Nashville today.

“It was so refreshing for me to sing on it,” Tracy Lawrence comments. “And I think it’s going to find a home. The albums are selling as fast as I can make them. I’m very happy with it.”

The former hell raiser has found happiness in his personal life, too. His 2000 marriage to wife Becca and his devotion to their daughters Sklar, born in 2001 and Keagan, born in 2003, have matured him immensely.

In Nashville, he is famed for his massive annual turkey frying for the homeless each Thanksgiving. His golf tournament raises funds to battle breast cancer. Over the years, he has devoted his time and talent to many other causes and charities.

“I feel very content,” says Tracy Lawrence. “I feel very happy in my life, in my home and in my career. It’s a really good place to be in my life. I’m moving on, and I plan to be around for a long while.”

Website: http://tracylawrence.com/,  Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/therealtracylawrence

Blackjack Billy:

“Once upon a time them boys started jammin’, and God looked down and said, ‘It is good.’”

Blackjack Billy

There’s no use in trying to compare or describe what they do. You can’t really accurately and fully recreate the show experience to a friend. There’s a good chance you find yourself bored with whatever follows them on your iPod. The one thing you can do is keep listening. You have to. You can’t stop watching. You can’t stop moving. You can’t stop singing.

BLACKJACK BILLY is Rob Blackledge and Noll Billings.

When they met in January of 2011, they had no idea that less than a year later they would be creating and molding a sound that Nashville had never heard; a sound that Nashville desperately needed.

It was, and is, a perfect mixing pot. Blackledge, hailing from Madison, MS, brought the blues, soul, country and melody. Billings, hailing from Kennett, MO stirred in the rock, more country, hip-hop, and beat. Producer Jeff Coplan tied it together with a vision and an electric guitar and what you got can only be described as BLACKJACK BILLY.

Each member took a different and unique journey to this stage.

Noll Billings was raised in Kennett, MO. His hometown roots run deep but his love for adventure has propelled him far beyond his small town upbringing. After playing college basketball in St. Louis, Noll moved to Hawaii where he spent most of his time on the waves. If there is a beach, you’ll find Noll on it. He island hopped for a few years until he knew that the music he’d been playing in bars had to find a bigger stage. Almost immediately upon moving to Nashville Noll signed a publishing deal as a songwriter with EMI Music Group and spent his first year in Music City in pursuit of a record deal as a solo country artist. Opportunities came and went and it was near the end of that year that Billings met Blackledge and for the first time the two of them sat down to write a song together. Something special was born.

Rob Blackledge was raised in Madison, MS. His earliest memories were of the baseball field, hunting, fishing, and the piano, so his family wasn’t too surprised when he decided to move to Nashville after high school to attend Belmont University’s School of Music Business. It was only a matter of months before Rob was on the road touring as a solo artist. It was 8 years later in 2010 that Rob befriended the then unknown band “Love and Theft”. Rob began writing with the guys and one of the songs written was called “Runaway”. It was Love and Theft’s first top ten single. Grateful for the unplanned success Blackledge was still not certain Nashville was the place for him. Just months before moving, an introduction was made that planted Rob in Nashville for good. You guessed it… Noll Billings.

Collectively for Rob and Noll the past year has been monumental. After teaming up with producer Jeff Coplan (Love and Theft, Bowling For Soup) they were quickly noticed by Nashville music insider Doug Howard (Lyric Street Records, Polygram Music Publishing) who signed the boys to his new publishing company, Vandermont Music. Let the writing begin. In their first year, the duo has written and recorded over 30 songs, played nearly 50 shows and already shared the stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Justin Moore, Dustin Lynch, The Doobie Brothers, Trent Tomlinson, The Usual Suspects, Lady Antebellum, One Republic, Tonic, Josh Hoge, Will Hoge, Chris Young, Easton Corbin, and Lo Cash Cowboys. All of this activity caught the eye of Nashville icon Tony Conway. Conway has recently picked up the reigns as manager of this rocketing young duo.

As you can see, BLACKJACK BILLY is Rob Blackledge and Noll Billings. But let’s be honest, BLACKJACK BILLY is really a lot more than that.

www.blackjackbilly.com

###

Blocks will be displayed at the 2013 Linn County Fair June 26^th – July 1st. The blocks will be judged for the Viewer’s Choice that will receive a $25 gift certificate from Connie’s Quilt Shop. Later the blocks will be made into a quilt to be raffled off at the following year’s fair. All proceeds will go towards improvements of The Linn County Fair.

Rules

1. Contest limited to 50 participants. Open to all Iowa residents.
2. Contestant will pay $5.00 per kit. One kit per exhibitor.
3. Exhibitor must use all 5 fabrics that are included in the kit . All fabrics are included in the kit. Do not add fabrics. Do not quilt or applique.
4. Exhibitor may use an established pattern or create an original block, (the block size must be 91/2”x91/2”)
5. Blocks entered become property of The Linn County Fair Association. Blocks to be made into a quilt and raffled off the following year with the proceeds going for improvements of The Linn County Fair .Extra blocks received may be made into a small wall hanging,shams, or pillows.
6. A $25.00 gift certificate to Connie’s Quilt Shop will be awarded for Viewers Choice.

To purchase a kit please email blackfords@thelinncountyfair.com, or contact Kris Blackford at 319-377-3992 or Jean Dunn at 319-377-6079. The finished block must be dropped off or mailed no later than Monday, May 6, 2013.

Stay tuned for your opportunity to purchase a raffle ticket for your chance to win the 2012 125th Anniversary Quilt Block Challenge finished quilt. Drawing will be held on Sunday, June 30, 2013 at The Linn County Fair, need not to be present to win. Raffle tickets will be for sale for $1 per ticket.

Local 4-H’ers to have project auctioned at Iowa 4-H Gala 

Two local 4-H member have been selected to auction their Iowa State Fair exhibits at the fourth annual Iowa 4-H Gala on March 2, 2013, at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott.

AJ Crow Schrader, is a 4-H member of the Whittier Willing Workers in Linn County. Crow Schrader was one of fifteen Iowa State Fair exhibits selected to be auctioned at the annual fund raising event hosted by the Iowa 4-H Foundation.  Crow Schrader has donated a quartersawn white oak Adirondack two seat rocker to be auctioned at the event.  It features a custom green stain, a small 4-H decal and outdoor finish for use outside.

Macy Rice is a 4-H member of the Barnyard Buddies in Linn County. Rice was one of fifteen Iowa State Fair exhibits selected to be auctioned at the annual fund raising event hosted by the Iowa 4-H Foundation. Rice has donated Wooden Bowl to be auctioned at the event.

Half the proceeds of the 4-H’ers items are designated to the 4-H’ers club of choice. Crow Schrader has chosen to designate the funds to his club and the Lynn Dunn Memorial Building Fund. Rice has chosen to designate the funds to the Lynn Dunn Memorial Building Fund, Linn County Fair.

This exhibit will be featured in the auction portion of the Iowa 4-H Gala in Des Moines. Prior to the event, bidding will open online via the Iowa 4-H Foundation website. Online bidding provides persons who are unable to attend the event an opportunity to bid on items. Bidding will begin on February 8, 2013, at www.iowa4hfoundation.org/gala.

The Iowa 4-H Gala is a premiere fund raising event for the Iowa 4-H Foundation, which provides scholarship and recognition opportunities for Iowa 4-H members. Attendees will experience a night of live entertainment provided by Dueling Pianos of Ankeny, a variety of food stations, silent and live auctions, all while mingling with 4-H supporters and friends from across the state.

Registration for the event is still open and available at www.iowa4hfoundation.org/gala.

The 2013 Gala is presented by John Deere. Gala sponsors include Kinze Manufacturing, Summit Farms, and Sigourney Tractor & Implement. Hospitality sponsors include Firestone Ag, Iowa Farm Bureau, Nationwide and Polk County Extension Council. Table hosts include Monsanto, Timmins, Kroll & Jacobsen, LLP, Heartland Marketing, Banker’s Trust, Successful Farming, Kris Fish Kuhlmann, Pioneer, and Dana & Pete Wenstrand. Print sponsorship is proved by Copyworks. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Contact: Rachel Rockwell, ISU Extension & Outreach Linn County Director, (319) 377-9839, rachelr@iastate.edu;

Mary Dlouhy, ISU Extension & Outreach Linn County Office Manager, (319) 377-9839, mdlouhy@iastate.edu;

Heidi Nyhus- Marketing Intern, Iowa 4-H Foundation, (515) 294-7581, hlnyhus@iastate.edu

The Linn County Fair Association wants to congratulate the 2013 Fair Board and officers.

Jennifer Dunn – President
Louis Zumbach – Vice President
Deb Zumbach – Treasurer
Sue Abel – Secretary
Heidi Steffen – Marketing Manager
Deb Zumbach – Partnership Manager

The Linn County Fair Association is ran completely by volunteers and would not happen year after year without the countless hours put in from our dedicated and hard-working volunteers. Our Association Membership this year reached 42 members. Association members help year round with the planning and organizing of the fair. We are also looking for new Association Members, for more information go to http://thelinncountyfair.com/2012/pdfs/secure-page/2012-fair-associate-form.pdf.

We also have hundreds of volunteers that help during fair week with exhibits, shows, and educational projects. The 2012 fair reached approximately 12,000 volunteer hours recorded for the year. We are currently looking for volunteers to help with the 2013 fair. For more information and how to get involved go to http://thelinncountyfair.com/volunteer.html.

Board Members Include:
Front Row L-R: Louie Zumbach, Jennifer Dunn, Sue Abel, Deb Zumbach
Second Row L-R: Kathy Clemens, Steve Enabnit, Lori Arnold, Susan Clarke, Kris Blackford, Bud Blackford, Heidi Steffen.
Third Row L-R: Joel Rochleau, Tim Clemens, Kevin Banasik, Stephen Martin, Mike Clemens, Angie Kisling.
Not pictured: Bill Sloan
 

Associate Members Include:

Front Row L-R: Barbie Waltz, Jean Dunn, Leann Bowman, Dave McDonald
Second Row L-R: Carrie Robertson, Carrie Martin, Justin Martin.
Not pictured: Dan Abel, Heidi Clemens, Angie Cole, Mike Etzel, Glenys Fox, Corey Hagerman, Kim Harford, Don Henle, Leonard Holub, Todd Hunt, Mary Michaels, Mark Novak, Cletis Sloan, Chad Steffen, Joe Stutler, Brandy Zumbach, Taylor Zumbach. 
 

Stay tuned for the release of the 2013 grandstand events scheduled for June 26th thru July 1st, 2013. For more details or questions please contact Heidi Steffen at info@thelinncountyfair.com or 319-350-5569.