HR0925 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0925 LRB103 42342 ECR 75566 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The rich land of Northeastern Illinois has rewarded hard workers for generations; and

WHEREAS, One of the individuals who knows this best is Gordon W. Stade, a man of the land of Northeastern Illinois, who set down roots in Kane County and McHenry County; and

WHEREAS, Like many of the counties of Illinois, McHenry County has a county fair and a county fair 4-H auction; the purpose of the auction is to enable young adults to show their animals and to earn a reward for the hard work that is required to get them ready to show; and

WHEREAS, In 1959, as a 27-year-old, Gordon Stade began volunteering for auctioneer duties at the 4-H McHenry County Fair Auction; this was an event that caused many of his neighbors to turn off their radios and their black-and-white TV sets so they could come to see the show and cheer the kids who were doing the showings; and

WHEREAS, According to Gordon Stade, this was a major sacrifice for many of the buyers and spectators as the day of the 4-H auction was certain to be the hottest day of the year and, furthermore, it would almost always be raining; and

WHEREAS, As they were already suffering from the heat and wet from the rain, it was only a small additional burden for the buyers if they were to add a little bit more to the market price for the animals being shown; with a steadily lengthening supply of jokes, patter lines, and teases for the men and women he knew, Gordon Stade was able to bring in a larger and larger auction premium for the 4-H members who had put their animals in his care; and

WHEREAS, By the 1980s and continuing through the 2010s and into the 2020s, the annual 4-H McHenry County auctions were considered great events with an average of 200 animals shown and auctioned off each year; in his fourth decade, fifth decade, sixth decade, and into his seventh decade as the McHenry County Fair 4-H auctioneer, Gordon Stade would speak out for every kid and every animal even though each auction day was hotter and rainier than the last; and

WHEREAS, The 4-H kids of McHenry County, and those who were 4-H kids once, shall never forget the auctioneer who helped them realize that hard work and excitement can come together to create something called life; and

WHEREAS, Any tribute to Gordon Stade has to mention his wing men, including but not limited to Gene Meyer, Ken Book, and Tim Watkins, because every auctioneer knows that he or she is nothing without his wing people; and

WHEREAS, After 64 years, Gordon Stade has begun to lay down his hammer; on August 3, 2024, for the first time in many generations, the duties of the McHenry County Sale of Champions auctioneer were largely carried on by Gordon Stade's nephew, Mike Stade, with Gordon standing in for a few animals; and

WHEREAS, Upon the first auction day that Gordon Stade fully puts down his hammer, it is predicted that the thermometer will drop, the rain clouds will all be in Wisconsin, and the sun will shine out brightly over the people and fair attendees of McHenry County; and

WHEREAS, In sadness but in recognition of the ultimate hammer of Father Time, the McHenry County 4-H Livestock Auction Committee has renamed their animal pavilion as the "Hansen Pavilion Gordon Stade Livestock Arena"; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we pay tribute to and recognize the service of McHenry County auctioneer and community leader Gordon Stade; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to County Fair Auctioneer Gordon Stade and his wife, Karen Hall-Stade.