MONROE - With a lot of new blood on the Green County Fair Board, the priorities for board officials remain entertainment that brings the community together and education for children through junior showing.
But they are open to trying some new approaches to achieve their goals.
"The perception is the fair is the same every year," said Dustin Williams, a fair board member for two years who also serves as the sponsorship chair. "We want to change that. We want to change things up. I know it costs money and takes money, but to see the kids come to the fair to see the carnival and get a big smile on their face and to see their buddies' 4-H projects is worth it. We are all here for the support of the kids and to give them an opportunity to show."
In an effort to revamp the fair, several new events were added this year, including a concert with country singer Craig Campbell and the Zac Matthews Band on Friday. Fair board members added lawnmower races that will be the signature event at the grandstand Saturday. The fair also brought in a new midway carnival, North American Midway.
Williams said the fair has reached $50,000 from sponsors this year and has 62 sponsors this year compared to 40 last year. Businesses are allowed to sponsor buildings on the fairgrounds. There are 372 shareholders who have paid $40 each to keep the fair going. There are about 28 shares available with a sale upcoming.
"It takes a lot of shareholders to make the whole thing go," Williams said. "It's really not a county fair. It's a private organization running the fair. They don't get a lot of tax funds for building maintenance, grounds, water lines and electricity."
Funding a big country music singer to perform at the fair could be a risk.
"The fair is a moving target," said John Dieckhoff, the Green County Fair Board president. "We are really dependent on good weather. With the music act it's always been an on-and-off discussion about whether this fair can support something like that. Sometimes it's not the act, but who you get."
Every member on the fair board except one has served three years or less.
"The nice thing about the board is everyone is open to suggestions," Dieckhoff said. "If this goes well (Campbell concert), it surely looks like something we will entertain. I don't doubt that we will look into that again."
Williams said it's getting tougher for county fairs to draw country music stars like Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert.
"To bring in an act like that probably costs $80,000 to $100,000," he said. "We don't have that kind of money. We try to bring in an act who is a rising star and who is up and coming."
Mark Mayer, the agriculture agent for the University of Wisconsin Extension of Green County, said this is one of the best boards he has worked with in his 29 years in preparations for the fair.
"They have been thinking outside the box to make the fair better," said Mayer, who is a Green County Fair shareholder. "There is a lot of entertainment and competition out there compared to 160 years ago."
Dieckhoff is excited about the lawnmower races today.
"There are a lot of local racers and they are wondering if this is going to be an annual event at the fair," he said. "It may be too early to tell. It's a possibility."
The fair board is using the fairgrounds as more of a multipurpose facility to raise money to make maintenance improvements. The fairgrounds is open to campers for $20 a night and $12 a night for those using a tent, except during fair week. The fairgrounds can be rented for wedding receptions, graduation parties and other community events like an upcoming combine show. The board uses the fairgrounds for fall and spring flea markets as a fundraiser to keep the doors to the grounds open.
The semi-pro football team, the Green County Outlaws, uses the fairgrounds for practices. Winter storage space also can be rented at the fairgrounds. The board is hosting a fundraising event, the Cheese City Challenge, which is a truck and tractor pull, Aug. 28 at the fairgrounds.
The fair board hired an office manager who is on hand two weeks before the fair, during the fair and a week after. The office manager has been a key in helping the board use the fairgrounds as a multipurpose facility for rent through the fair office.
"That has been a tremendous asset because we are getting more requests now," Williams said.
Mayer is a supporter of the education component built into the fair. Mayer cited the Little Whips program for pig showing and Little Britches program for lamb showing for children younger than 8 as a testament to how the fair continues to focus on education. There also is a reading program that helps children get discounts on rides.
"(The fair) is a great experience to get little kids, for some as young as 3, out in the ring and showing," Mayer said. "It's a great way to let them emulate their brothers and sisters. It's a great way to spur the next generation."
But they are open to trying some new approaches to achieve their goals.
"The perception is the fair is the same every year," said Dustin Williams, a fair board member for two years who also serves as the sponsorship chair. "We want to change that. We want to change things up. I know it costs money and takes money, but to see the kids come to the fair to see the carnival and get a big smile on their face and to see their buddies' 4-H projects is worth it. We are all here for the support of the kids and to give them an opportunity to show."
In an effort to revamp the fair, several new events were added this year, including a concert with country singer Craig Campbell and the Zac Matthews Band on Friday. Fair board members added lawnmower races that will be the signature event at the grandstand Saturday. The fair also brought in a new midway carnival, North American Midway.
Williams said the fair has reached $50,000 from sponsors this year and has 62 sponsors this year compared to 40 last year. Businesses are allowed to sponsor buildings on the fairgrounds. There are 372 shareholders who have paid $40 each to keep the fair going. There are about 28 shares available with a sale upcoming.
"It takes a lot of shareholders to make the whole thing go," Williams said. "It's really not a county fair. It's a private organization running the fair. They don't get a lot of tax funds for building maintenance, grounds, water lines and electricity."
Funding a big country music singer to perform at the fair could be a risk.
"The fair is a moving target," said John Dieckhoff, the Green County Fair Board president. "We are really dependent on good weather. With the music act it's always been an on-and-off discussion about whether this fair can support something like that. Sometimes it's not the act, but who you get."
Every member on the fair board except one has served three years or less.
"The nice thing about the board is everyone is open to suggestions," Dieckhoff said. "If this goes well (Campbell concert), it surely looks like something we will entertain. I don't doubt that we will look into that again."
Williams said it's getting tougher for county fairs to draw country music stars like Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert.
"To bring in an act like that probably costs $80,000 to $100,000," he said. "We don't have that kind of money. We try to bring in an act who is a rising star and who is up and coming."
Mark Mayer, the agriculture agent for the University of Wisconsin Extension of Green County, said this is one of the best boards he has worked with in his 29 years in preparations for the fair.
"They have been thinking outside the box to make the fair better," said Mayer, who is a Green County Fair shareholder. "There is a lot of entertainment and competition out there compared to 160 years ago."
Dieckhoff is excited about the lawnmower races today.
"There are a lot of local racers and they are wondering if this is going to be an annual event at the fair," he said. "It may be too early to tell. It's a possibility."
The fair board is using the fairgrounds as more of a multipurpose facility to raise money to make maintenance improvements. The fairgrounds is open to campers for $20 a night and $12 a night for those using a tent, except during fair week. The fairgrounds can be rented for wedding receptions, graduation parties and other community events like an upcoming combine show. The board uses the fairgrounds for fall and spring flea markets as a fundraiser to keep the doors to the grounds open.
The semi-pro football team, the Green County Outlaws, uses the fairgrounds for practices. Winter storage space also can be rented at the fairgrounds. The board is hosting a fundraising event, the Cheese City Challenge, which is a truck and tractor pull, Aug. 28 at the fairgrounds.
The fair board hired an office manager who is on hand two weeks before the fair, during the fair and a week after. The office manager has been a key in helping the board use the fairgrounds as a multipurpose facility for rent through the fair office.
"That has been a tremendous asset because we are getting more requests now," Williams said.
Mayer is a supporter of the education component built into the fair. Mayer cited the Little Whips program for pig showing and Little Britches program for lamb showing for children younger than 8 as a testament to how the fair continues to focus on education. There also is a reading program that helps children get discounts on rides.
"(The fair) is a great experience to get little kids, for some as young as 3, out in the ring and showing," Mayer said. "It's a great way to let them emulate their brothers and sisters. It's a great way to spur the next generation."