Outstanding County Fair Person of the Year

PRINCETON — With 30 years of active leadership in county fairs, both locally and statewide, Bill Diller of Princeton has been named Outstanding County Fair Person of the Year by the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs.

Diller was announced as this year’s winner in August during the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. Diller’s citation was signed by Gov. Pat Quinn and Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Tom Jennings. Diller was nominated for the award by Gary Monier, president of the Bureau County Fair Board.

In his nomination of Diller, Monier said Diller has been a member of the Bureau County Fair Board for more than 30 years. He served on the board of trustees for seven years, as superintendent of concessions for 14 years, and as vice president of the Bureau County Fair Board for the rest of the time, including the present. During his time on the board, Diller has missed only four board meetings, Monier said.

As concessions manager, Diller built the fair’s commercial exhibits from 24 exhibitors in one building to more than 55 exhibitors in two buildings. He was chairman of the committee that rewrote the Bureau County Fair bylaws. He’s also served on committees of entertainment, insurance, queen pageants, premiums and the executive committee.

“During Bill’s tenure on the board, a great deal of expansion has taken place at the Bureau County Fairgrounds,” Monier said in his nomination. “Two exhibit halls were built, a huge hog/sheep barn has been built, as well as a concrete wall around the racetrack and new box seats in the grandstand. There is also a new office in place.”

Among his other involvements, Diller served for four years on the Northern Zone Board of the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs (IAAF), including serving as president. In 2004, he moved to the IAAF Board, serving in various capacities, including as vice president for two years and as president in 2008 and 2009. As president, he visited 45 county fairs. He has attended all but five of the state fairs during the past 30 years, Monier said.

Diller became involved with county fairs as a pre-teen when his father was the local International Harvester dealer and exhibitor each year at the county fair, Monier said. As a young person, Diller showed his pony in various classes at the fair. He drove tractors and machinery to the fair and spotted the equipment to the best advantage. He was at the fair from early morning until late at night, working some of the time and enjoying the fair the rest of the time, Monier said.