More About the IAAF

The Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs (IAAF) is an organization of the 105 Illinois County Fairs, the Illinois and DuQuoin State Fairs, and approximately 250 Associate Members. The associates represent entrepreneurs and vendors supporting the fair industry.

The IAAF lobbies legislatively for “fair” interests. Its newsletter and convention allow for the interchange and sharing of new and creative “fair ideas.” The annual convention held in January also includes a talent contest, a queen Pageant, and a trade show.

IAAF Officers

PRESIDENT

Gary Mielke

5779 E River Rd
Ridott, IL 61067

(815) 238-5499

grmielke60@yahoo.com

VICE PRESIDENT

Mary Liz Wright

4797 N 1175th St
Paris, IL 61944

(217) 822-3090

maryliz@illinois.edu

SECRETARY

Charlyn Fargo Ware

71 W. Fairview Lane
Springfield IL 62711

(217) 553-1120

iaafsecretary@gmail.com

ASSISTANT SECRETARY

Terri Quinn

15824 N 1650th St
Chrisman, IL 61924

(217) 822-1896

iaafsecretary@gmail.com

PAST PRESIDENT

Dave Hake

15018 Aspen Rd
Hoyleton, IL 62803

(618) 534-4763

hakedave@gmail.com

PUBLICITY

Kent Casson 

(217) 530-3107

cassonmedia@yahoo.com

BANQUET CHAIRMAN

Tom Schahrer

25794 E 1000 N. Rd
Forrest, IL 61741

(815) 674-6910

tschahrer@yahoo.com

QUEEN PAGEANT DIRECTOR

Sandy Hoke

PO Box 290
Tuscola, IL 61953

(217) 493-1896

pageantdirector@illinoisfairs.com

ADVOCATE

Bridget Dougherty

500 N. Dearborn St / STE 1150
Chicago, IL 60654

(312) 810-7890

bridget@theaugustgroup.co

HISTORIAN

David O. Engelbrecht

1282 E. Water Rd
Leaf River, IL 61047

(815) 262-2161

dave.engelbrecht@hughes.net

DIRECTOR AT LARGE - NORTHERN ZONE

Ken Tyrrell

514 Bender St
Sandwich, IL 60548

(815) 786-0135

tyrrellkenneth@yahoo.com

DIRECTOR AT LARGE - SOUTHERN ZONE

Kris Lowe

16328 Old Carlyle Rd
Carlyle, IL 62231

(618) 660-5708

clintoncofair@gmail.com

DIRECTOR AT LARGE - CENTRAL ZONE

Tom Moore

26146 Victory School Rd.
Jerseyville, IL 62052

(618) 535-5849

smoore68@gmail.com

CENTRAL ZONE DIRECTOR

Craig McCoy

14778 N Catholic Cemetery Rd
Lewistown, IL 61542

(309) 224-8490

craigmccoy90@gmail.com

CENTRAL ZONE DIRECTOR

Jay Harris

2735 Harris Rd
Jacksonville, IL 62650

(217) 473-7285

jay@joharrissales.com

CENTRAL ZONE PRESIDENT

Brandon Oxley
Macoupin County Fair

PO Box 104
Modesto, IL 62667

brandonmoxley83@gmail.com

(217) 971-1476

CENTRAL ZONE VICE PRESIDENT

Alan Buckner
Martinsville Fair

3806 N 820th St
Martinsville, IL 62442

alanbuckner82@gmail.com

(618) 562-3973

CENTRAL ZONE SEC / TREASURER

Tiffany Phillips
Jersey County Fair

404 E Washington
Medora, IL 62063

tiffanyleigh1991@gmail.com

(618) 535-6461

NORTHERN ZONE DIRECTOR

Tom Simpson

600 Willowbrook Dr
Davis Junction, IL 61020

(815) 298-6591

kentuckyboy64@gmail.com

NORTHERN ZONE DIRECTOR

Charlie Kennell

1668 Co Rd
2100 N Washburn, IL 61570

(309) 696-8076

ckennell@speednet.com

NORTHERN ZONE PRESIDENT

Keith Schubbe
Will County Fair

PO Box 44

Manhattan, IL 60442

kschubbe1@aol.com

(708) 516-6678

NORTHERN ZONE VICE PRESIDENT

Susan Dvorak
Stephenson County Fair

1211 W Stephenson St
Freeport, IL 61032

(815) 291-0523

susielovesthefair@aol.com

NORTHERN ZONE SEC / TREASURER

Cindi Mielke
Stephenson County Fair

5779 E. River Rd
Ridott, IL 61067

cindi.mielke@yahoo.com

(815) 238-7492

SOUTHERN ZONE DIRECTOR

Doug Telford

3421 Red Stripe Rd
Salem, IL 62881

(618) 267-6384

dougtelford806@yahoo.com

SOUTHERN ZONE DIRECTOR

Wendell Alwardt

5519 E 600th Ave
Altamont, IL 62411

(618) 292-8787

walwardt1@yahoo.comm

SOUTHERN ZONE PRESIDENT

Steve Eastin
Clay County Fair

201 McCraken St
Cisne, IL 62823

steveeastin@icloud.com

(618) 843-9003

SOUTHERN ZONE VICE PRESIDENT

Kirk Wilken
Marion County Fair

7924 Arnold Rd
Iuka, IL 62849

kirk@shakespeare-oil.com

(618) 322-8250

SOUTHERN ZONE SEC / TREASURER

Ilene Ruroede
Perry County Fair

PO Box 17
Pinckneyville, IL 62274

perry.county.illinois.fair@gmail.com

(618) 790-4868

IAAF Committee Assignments

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Gary Mielke, Chair

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Mary Liz Wright

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Dave Hake

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Ken Tyrrell, Chair

Craig McCoy

Wendell Alwardt

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

Tom Moore, Chair

Gary Mielke

Ken Tyrrell

Mary Liz Wright

Jay Harris

QUEEN PAGEANT COMMITTEE

Tom Moore, Chair

Tom Schahrer

Sandy Hoke

Kris Lowe

Tom Simpson

QUEEN BANQUET COMMITTEE

Tom Schahrer, Chair

Phil Ringhausen

Ruth McCaskill

Dave Pille

QUEEN AUDIT COMMITTEE

Tom Schahrer, Chair

Tom Moore

Vince Kocher

Sandy Moore

Peggy Kocher

Pam Schahrer

FINANCIAL AUDIT

Craig McCoy, Chair

Charlie Kennell

Kris Lowe

RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE

Mary Liz Wright, Chair

Doug Telford

Charlie Kennell

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Kent Casson

Gale Cunningham

SPONSORSHIP

IAAF Board Members

Sandy Hoke

HISTORIAN

Dave Engelbrecht

GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE

Tom Moore, Chair

Ken Tyrrell

Kris Lowe

Bill Johnson

ASSOCIATE TRADE SHOW COMMITTEE

Doug Telford, Chair

Brandon Oxley

Jay Harris

Charlie Kennell

Charlyn Fargo Ware

SHOWCASE

Gary Hadden, Chair

Brandon Oxley

ROUNDTABLE TOPICS

Doug Telford, Chair

Mary Liz Wright

Tom Simpson

TALENT CONTEST

Dave Engelbrecht, Chair

Kris Lowe

Tom Simpson

Jay Harris

CONVENTION PROGRAM

Charlyn Fargo Ware, Chair

Terri Quinn

COUNTY FAIR DAY

Charlyn Fargo Ware, Chair

Mary Liz Wright

Sandy Hoke

Ken Tyrrell

Wendell Alwardt

VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE

Tom Moore, Chair

Doug Telford

Terri Quinn

Charlie Kennell

CONVENTION REGISTRATION

Terri Quinn, Chair

Laura Hake

Mary Liz Wright

Rick Hardesty

Jill Hardesty

Brandon Oxley

FRIEND OF ILLINOIS COUNTY FAIR AWARD

Ron Meyer, Chair

Lois Meyer

Keith Schubbe