From Sam Kaderly, Green County Fair Board President
It's the first of July, and 563 junior exhibitors and 120 open class exhibitors are getting their projects ready for the fair. Over the last 156 years, many memories have been made at the county fair, but what is the future for the fair?
Because of hard economic times, many of the fairs in Wisconsin are operating in the red, including the Green County Fair. Let's ask the question: Who would miss the fair if it wasn't there?
First, the exhibitors, who wait each year to show their projects and engage in the friendly competition against their friends.
Then come the service clubs who, each year, do a major part of their fundraising at the fair. What would the fair be without these clubs who serve the best food around? For some, the only reason they come to the fair is for the food. Most of this money is given back to the people of Green County as scholarships, grants and other things that help the citizens of the county. It is the fair's position that we protect the service clubs by not allowing people to come in and be in competition with them.
Third come the vendors who make their living going to the fairs selling their products and the several hundred volunteers who gladly give their time to help put on the fair.
Next come the rodeo, Badger State Tractor Pull and the entertainers who provide the great grandstand shows at the fair. This year, we decided to charge $5 for the tractor pull. This decision was not taken lightly. Why? Frankly, we need the money. The budget for running the fair is approximately $240,000. This year, we are spending $72,000 for grandstand shows. The fair cannot continue to provide high-quality entertainment without recouping some of the cost. It costs us $13,000 to $14,000, depending on the classes, to put on the tractor pull, unlike the Fall Nationals, where the only income we get is from ground rental. This year, their rent was raised, only to get it at the rate that every one else pays for renting the grounds. Rates were set in 2002 and haven't been raised since.
Where do we go from here? Do we raise gate prices? Charge for the rodeo? Or do we stop getting the high-quality entertainment that people expect at the fair?
The Green County Fair is owned by stockholders, not the county, so all money must be raised through the operations of the fair. We do receive $12,000 to $13,000 from the county and state, but these funds are decreasing each year with budget cuts and other reasons.
The fair has fallen on hard times before and recovered. What does the future hold? We don't know. Hopefully, with the support of the public and the business community, we can continue on for another 160 years.
If you have concerns regarding the fair, please call the fair office or talk to a director. There is usually a simple explanation why we do the things we do.
It's the first of July, and 563 junior exhibitors and 120 open class exhibitors are getting their projects ready for the fair. Over the last 156 years, many memories have been made at the county fair, but what is the future for the fair?
Because of hard economic times, many of the fairs in Wisconsin are operating in the red, including the Green County Fair. Let's ask the question: Who would miss the fair if it wasn't there?
First, the exhibitors, who wait each year to show their projects and engage in the friendly competition against their friends.
Then come the service clubs who, each year, do a major part of their fundraising at the fair. What would the fair be without these clubs who serve the best food around? For some, the only reason they come to the fair is for the food. Most of this money is given back to the people of Green County as scholarships, grants and other things that help the citizens of the county. It is the fair's position that we protect the service clubs by not allowing people to come in and be in competition with them.
Third come the vendors who make their living going to the fairs selling their products and the several hundred volunteers who gladly give their time to help put on the fair.
Next come the rodeo, Badger State Tractor Pull and the entertainers who provide the great grandstand shows at the fair. This year, we decided to charge $5 for the tractor pull. This decision was not taken lightly. Why? Frankly, we need the money. The budget for running the fair is approximately $240,000. This year, we are spending $72,000 for grandstand shows. The fair cannot continue to provide high-quality entertainment without recouping some of the cost. It costs us $13,000 to $14,000, depending on the classes, to put on the tractor pull, unlike the Fall Nationals, where the only income we get is from ground rental. This year, their rent was raised, only to get it at the rate that every one else pays for renting the grounds. Rates were set in 2002 and haven't been raised since.
Where do we go from here? Do we raise gate prices? Charge for the rodeo? Or do we stop getting the high-quality entertainment that people expect at the fair?
The Green County Fair is owned by stockholders, not the county, so all money must be raised through the operations of the fair. We do receive $12,000 to $13,000 from the county and state, but these funds are decreasing each year with budget cuts and other reasons.
The fair has fallen on hard times before and recovered. What does the future hold? We don't know. Hopefully, with the support of the public and the business community, we can continue on for another 160 years.
If you have concerns regarding the fair, please call the fair office or talk to a director. There is usually a simple explanation why we do the things we do.
