Fair Ideas

The article I posted here on Sunday about the Fair brought out some passion from the readers. I also got an email from a member of the Fair Board inviting me for a chat, so I took some time earlier this week to visit with him. We talked about how important the Fair is to our community and how ideas for improvement are bounced around and tried. There may be a future open house where people can see what is really going on at the Fair Grounds and get a chance to speak with the Board members without attending a Fair Board meeting.

The fair is on good financial feet at least for the next two years. The Fair actually makes some money. With the assistance of lottery funds. But there is room for improvement when it comes to attendance.

The music offerings this year were spectacular, and it was promoted on the local contemporary rock station, as opposed to having only Country music and promoting it on the Country station.

A funny aside, someone asked me which band was on the stage at one point, and I saw Spud up there playing and I came back stating that I really didn’t know because Spud plays in all the local groups so it’s hard to tell.

Anyway, I told the Board member I spoke with that I’d solicit ideas from the readers here. Below are some ideas from the last post. And if you’re reading from elsewhere in the country, what works at your local County Fairs?

1. Promote as a place to catch up with friends you only ever run into at the Fair.
2. Ice Rink
3. Free Parking / Shuttle buses
4. Partner with Port and try to schedule a cruise ship during Fair time.
5. Survey what people would like (and I’ll add do it on line and have a prize for the three best suggestions)
6. Have a Gladiator spectacle show, ( a pro wrestling show may do it or a professional martial arts show)
7. A Roller Rink
8. Spelling Bee
9. Large produce competition
10. How about the local chorale, symphony and brass ensembles? What about local school bands.
11. How about the local schools showing off the good things they do.

To me local community involvement. The County should have a booth where people can meet the Commissioners, and other County leaders. Any other suggestions out there?

County Fair 2007

I again feel enriched now that the Dried Salmon (Clatsop) County Fair has ended for another year. I got to talk to folks I only see at the fair every year. We get caught up in the events and lives of our families over the last year. I also saw Mo3 and met Slave Hubby for the first time.

Many have children that are off to college and are no longer exhibiting but come back to help others. The Fair was a big part of these children’s lives for many years. They prepared all year for the competition and either did well or did not, but they all had fun in the long haul. It is said a trip well traveled is often better than arriving.

There are families so entrenched in the Fair and it is great just to see the intensity of their love. I don’t know them all but a few that come to mind are the Weaver, Hecox, Edwards, Jasper, Rowland, Skipper, Johnson, Harn, and Nyberg families just to name a few. I have a lot of respect for what you do.

I was proud to see one of my former horses competing and picking all sorts of awards. I got choked up with pride every time she and her rider entered the arena.

I was happy to see the showmanship that all the animal owners had with the animals they care for every day.

I had one of the best steaks at a cook-out there on Thursday night. I enjoyed seeing the Master Gardener Demo Garden. Walt John has been the driving force behind that garden since it started and it was good to see him there in his favorite place.

On the sad side, it seems as though attendance was down yet again. Fewer local businesses had booths. Georgia Pacific wasn’t there, and the space that used to have businesses was filled by the County Police, the Army and an RV dealer. I will encourage the Fair Manager to use their website to better market the Fair next year.

All and all, the kids were there with their animals and that’s what the Fair is all about for me. Congratulations to all the FFA and 4-H participants, you did good. I’m happy to live in a county that is supportive of your efforts. See you at the State Fair.

Not Fair!

I’m starting to worry about the Clatsop County Fair Grounds under the management of Gary Friedman. I know the average citizen rarely considers the Fair Grounds unless they are asking for money, but as a tax payer and one who attends several events at the Fair Grounds every year I have big concerns.

My first concern is, he wants to replace the dirt floor in the arena with a hard surface. This is a disastrous idea. As for the concerns of animals the dirt floor works where a dirt covered hard surface doesn’t. Plus it will cost more in the long run to keep bringing dirt in and out. Also, where will he find dry dirt in the winter if an event calls for it?

My next concern in that Angela put a lot of effort into promoting the Fair Grounds, and it has all evaporated. Maybe the tone was set by the County when it took two months for them to come up with the press release that Mr. Friedman had been hired to fill the position, so now information delays are acceptable.

My final concern is that I went to the Fair web site last week to get some information about the up-coming fair and there was nothing there to be found. There was information on the Rodeo, but the information was from 2006 rodeo. So I sent an email to Mr. Friedman, regarding the status of their website but my email was returned, unable to get through their spam filter.

Please, if someone out there knows Mr. Friedman or a Fair Board member, please wake them up and have them read these complaints. The Fair Board knows how to promote when they are looking for more money, but they need to continue promoting the events to keep our residents wanting to return and make further investments in what you have going there. And Mr. Friedman, I’m not too impressed with what you’ve done so far, but it’s not too late to improve. Get to work!