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Weather, shows boost fair attendance |
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Monday, 10 August 2009 |
By WILLIAM LANEY
Managing Editor
Great weather. Great crowds. Great shows.
Auglaize County Fairgrounds Manager Fred Piehl says they all helped add up to a great Auglaize County Fair in 2009.
“This week at the fair was just terrific,” Piehl said. “We were sort of cautious, we were not worried about the week just a little cautious, but it turned out extremely well.”
Recalling attendance figures from memory, Piehl said last Sunday’s attendance was up from a year ago and Monday’s and Tuesday’s attendance did not fall far off the pace, perhaps totaling a difference of fewer than 50 people. Attendance increased again each day the rest of the week compared to the 2008 fair. He estimated attendance up approximately 10 percent for the week.
“All our events from back in the livestock buildings to the sales, from the grandstand to the free entertainment tent, from the Gospel Tent to the other buildings on the grounds — it just all came together for us this year,” Piehl said. “It was a major team effort. It is not just the Fair Board that makes this fair a success.”
He would include the 4-H advisers, the Junior Fair Board members, the volunteers and the families as well as the exhibitors and participants to those ensuring the fair is a success each year.
Longer stretches of games and vendors in the midway made it seem like there were fewer people at the fair, but Piehl said the ride numbers “were in a whisper” of what they were last year, and the people running the games “were extremely happy” with the number of people playing.
“They say the games take a plunge during a bad economy, but these guys were very pleased and they did a fine job,” Piehl said. “Food vendors did well because of the weather. When there is nice cool weather, they sell a lot of food and drinks.”
The temperatures stayed in the low 80s for the week, and the only rain came with sprinkles on Friday night. He said it is the coolest fair since 1999.
Piehl said he believes the events “clicked with the attendees” by offering the right entertainment at the right time.
“I think it all clicked,” Piehl said. “We brought in extra seating for the Gospel Tent, to the grandstand and to the entertainment tent — there was more seating brought in every time we had an event and the people just filled it up.”
The grandstand filled for the demolition derby on Thursday night, the motorcycle races on Friday night and the tractor pull on Saturday. Other fan favorites included the W.A.R wrestling on Saturday afternoon.
Crowds gathered in the Gospel Tent throughout the week, with the largest crowd overflowing the tent on Saturday to watch The Isaacs perform.
Crowds also could be found in the Mike Swaney Free Entertainment Tent for the Country Star Playoffs, the Battle of the Bands and for Mustang Sally on Saturday night.
“I am extremely excited about the numbers and I think all the other Fair Board members are, too,” said Piehl, who serves as Fair Board secretary. “It makes you feel good because you did something right.”
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 11 August 2009 )
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