2017 Cider Fest's 40th one for the record books

Thanks for making this year's fest historic

Temperatures moderated, the sun came out and so did the people. We earned about $9,000 – between vendor and White Elephant sales, sales from the Museum Store and the silent auction, cider, doughnuts, baked goods and miscellaneous items.

Blacksmith Sam Johnson and 36th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry were crowd favorites.

Steve Lang and Lang’s Orchard in Woodstock donated the apples we used (at great personal risk) for cider pressing. Larry Swanson and Scott Offord of Country Donuts in Crystal Lake donated the cider doughnuts.

Doug Hanson once again moved the hay wagon and its barn timbers in position for the barn raising – narrated expertly by John Silker. And those timbers were moved onto the wagon by Dave Wilcox and his son from Wilcox Tool & Engineering in Union.

Thanks to all of the bake sale bakers and those who participated in this year's Apple Bake-off. This year's grand champion was Jean Turner of Huntley, for her apple/carmel bars. Winners each category were as follows:

BARS
1. Jean Turner, Huntley
2. Beth Roberts,Spring Grove

PIE
1. Jean Turner
2. Beth Roberts
3. Jesse Garcia, Union

CAKE
1. Jean Turner