Fair revenues slightly up for 2008

Early fears of a poor economy affecting Roosevelt County Fair revenues and attendance were silenced with an increase in earnings.

“I was a little worried that our attendance and earning would suffer like other county fairs,” board president Tim Alison said.

This year’s gate totals was $54,500 an increase from last year’s total of $52,800, Alison said.

“It seemed like there were less people this year, but I was pleasantly surprised when I heard the final totals,” said Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Director Sharon King.

Allison said a lot of the increase came from adding an additional day to the fair this year, and King said the extra day helped spread events out.

“The extra day helped to make the fair a little less stressful for those families that were showing animals and enter exhibits,” King said. “The extra day also allowed families to enjoy the fair on their own schedule.”

There were more than 2,000 entries in the indoor entries including horticulture, home art and 4-H, said board member Melissa Lamb.

The weather cooperated nicely with the fair with nice daytime temperatures and little rain to spoil the music events, King said.

One new program that showed success and will be continued next year is the Special Needs day, Lamb said.

The board was approached by a resident with a disability and asked to have a separate category for disabled entries, Lamb said.

The idea was well received, and the board has decided to hold an entire day of events for the 2009 fair.

“This program was a tremendous success and the board plans on expanding and continuing the program next year,” Lamb said.