The Green County Fair begins in earnest this morning with admission starting at 8 o'clock. "Earnest" is a good word to describe the efforts the Green County Fair Board and organizers have put toward this year's event.
A beauty of the Internet is that it increases the ability for people to provide feedback on a particular event or issue. Unfortunately, a lot of that feedback tends to be negative. The Green County Fair received its, well, fair share of negative feedback on The Monroe Times Web site last year.
To the credit of fair organizers, they listened, and are making an effort to turn criticisms into something constructive. Certainly, this year's Green County Fair won't please everyone - nothing does. But hopefully even the slightest of improvements can be viewed as a benefit of how continued dialogue between the fair board and the public can promote positive changes in the future.
Perhaps the biggest change this year will be in the midway. Many of the criticisms of last year's fair were related to the carnival, which even fair board members would admit was lacking last year. So the board went out and hired another company to provide the carnival - Mr. Ed's Magical Midway. The Jefferson County Fair also switched to Mr. Ed's this year, and early reviews appear to be positive. Incidentally, the unlimited wristband ride deals at the Jefferson County Fair all were during the daytime hours. The Green County Fair has wristband rides from 5 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and during the day on Saturday and Sunday.
The Green County Fair also has added Bob Bohm's family-oriented shows, which will present three to four shows a day. On Friday, the Neal McCoy show at the grandstand has a paid admittance, and seating on the track will be available Friday if the weather permits. And added to the Saturday kids' pedal pull will be a celebrity event that benefits the Green County Food Pantry.
Kudos to the Green County Fair Board for making adjustments after last year's fair. And compliments to those who provided constructive feedback. Hopefully, after this year's fair, the same process can occur, except perhaps it can be a little more civil.
A beauty of the Internet is that it increases the ability for people to provide feedback on a particular event or issue. Unfortunately, a lot of that feedback tends to be negative. The Green County Fair received its, well, fair share of negative feedback on The Monroe Times Web site last year.
To the credit of fair organizers, they listened, and are making an effort to turn criticisms into something constructive. Certainly, this year's Green County Fair won't please everyone - nothing does. But hopefully even the slightest of improvements can be viewed as a benefit of how continued dialogue between the fair board and the public can promote positive changes in the future.
Perhaps the biggest change this year will be in the midway. Many of the criticisms of last year's fair were related to the carnival, which even fair board members would admit was lacking last year. So the board went out and hired another company to provide the carnival - Mr. Ed's Magical Midway. The Jefferson County Fair also switched to Mr. Ed's this year, and early reviews appear to be positive. Incidentally, the unlimited wristband ride deals at the Jefferson County Fair all were during the daytime hours. The Green County Fair has wristband rides from 5 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and during the day on Saturday and Sunday.
The Green County Fair also has added Bob Bohm's family-oriented shows, which will present three to four shows a day. On Friday, the Neal McCoy show at the grandstand has a paid admittance, and seating on the track will be available Friday if the weather permits. And added to the Saturday kids' pedal pull will be a celebrity event that benefits the Green County Food Pantry.
Kudos to the Green County Fair Board for making adjustments after last year's fair. And compliments to those who provided constructive feedback. Hopefully, after this year's fair, the same process can occur, except perhaps it can be a little more civil.
