The Adams County Fair Remembers Robert "Bob" McCleary

Bob was born and raised in Liberty Illinois on his parents farm. He graduated from Liberty High School in 1959.
In 1970 he moved and settled with his wife Judy in Mendon on their own farm. Farming was Bobs first love. He was skilled in many different trades but he particularly enjoyed and excelled at carpentry work, cattle raising, row crop farming, and welding out of his own shop.

This article notes Bob's election as Adams County Fair Board President. This was an office he held several times.

His time well spent on those activities were helpful during his time on the Adams County Fair Board. In 1982 Bob was asked to be on the Adams County Fair Board, he happily accepted. Being a member of the Adams County Fair Board became one of his greatest passions. Bob spent many hours helping to construct and maintain buildings and to also improve the fairgrounds taking great pride in it looking it's very best. His involvement with the Adams County Fair extended to his family as well. Bob's wife, Judy, worked in the fair office and at the Congregational Church lunch stand. His son, Troy, and daughter, Tonya, both were in 4-H.

Bob's daughter Tonya continues the pulling tradition on her father's tractor.

In the good ole days, both Troy and Tonya also competed in the Adams County Fair tractor pull with Bob's John Deere 4020 in the farm class. It still runs today but instead of going down the track, it spends its days baling straw, cutting hay, grinding feed and participating in parades. Tractor pulling still continues now with Troy and his son Kody.

Bob and Judy meet with a Country Music star at the Adams County Fair. Concert Night was Bob's favorite at the fair,

Bobs favorite event at the Adams County Fair was the night of the concert. He loved country western music. He was instrumental in getting many popular stars to come to our fair. Some of his favorites who came to the fair to perform were Garth Brooks, Sawyer Brown, Lorrie Morgan, Joe Diffy, Terry Clark and many others. The most important thing to Bob was helping promote an enjoyable experience for those who attended the Adams County Fair. The experience as an Adams County Fair Board Member gave him the opportunity to meet many people and make life long friendships. Bob served on the Adams County Fair Board until 2002, totaling 21 years. He served in leadership on the board as president for many of those years. The 1991 Adams County Fair was an extra special fair week for him, the same year as the 50th anniversary of the fair Bob also celebrated his 50th birthday while being president of the fair board.

After his time on the fair board ended, Bob continued to attend and enjoy the fair each year until his passing in the fall of 2021. ​​​​

Memorabilia from Adams County Fair concerts from Bob's time on the Fair Board.