By Maureen Vander Sanden
SLN Staff
Crews at the Walworth County Fair have been busy making final preparations for the area’s quintessential end-of-summer event, which attracts upward of 140,000 people to Elkhorn.
Kicking off Wednesday, Aug. 29, organizers are promising this year’s six-day, extraterrestrial event will be a “Blast.”
This year’s theme, “We’re shooting for the stars,” reflects all those who shine during fair time, according to public relations coordinator Susan Pruessing – whether it be in knitting or other crafts, showing animals, or taking the stage in one of the many fair competitions.
“The theme has been really well received this year,” she said. “Right now kids are really into space stuff, NASA space program has been discontinued and just the nostalgia of Star Wars, Space Trek.”
Pruessing said fairgoers would see the theme well represented throughout the barns, parks and midway.
“We’ve asked every department and participant to decorate using our theme.
“It should be interesting,” she added.
She promised a special surprise to go along with the space theme at the opening ceremony Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the main gate.
Locals Dennis Duesterbeck and Robert Handel will have the privilege of kicking off activities during the ceremony as this year’s honorary fair marshals.
Like most large-scale events, much of the fair’s success is contingent upon the weather.
For the past six years, the fair has seen a consistent drop in attendance over the previous year, with its lowest turnout since 1981 last year – 140,677 fairgoers.
But even with Mother Nature’s cooperation, Pruessing said the county fair has not been an exception to the impact of the lagging economy.
“The economy over the last few years has been very hard for folks,” she said, adding that increased festivals in the tri-county area have spiked the competition since fairgoers are spending their limited tourism dollars at other venues.
By keeping costs low, boosting advertising and introducing more educational programs, Pruessing hopes to see the ticket sales increase for the 163rd county fair.
“We kind of plateaued out,” she said, “but the trend right now, across the nation, is that fair attendance is up.
“It’s been a very hot summer, Hopefully if the weather is great we will see that same trend,” she continued.
Staying true to the Fair Board’s mission of promoting the area’s agricultural heritage, Pruessing said officials have expanded their Barnyard Adventure area in Kiddieland to include “Ag in the Classroom” seminars.
“We will have speakers come throughout the day, presenting seminars on things like how to make lip balm and lotions,” she said. “While the kids are enjoying Kiddleland, teens and adults can go over to that tent.”
Pruessing is also excited about offering fair patrons an opportunity to get a hands-on experience harvesting corn through a combine simulator.
Participants can take a seat inside the cab of a large combine, as a three-dimensional video offers rows of corn to be harvested.
“Ag education goes back to our mission statement and we’re trying to stay true to that,” she said. “Every year, we’re that much more removed from the farm, generationally and this is a fun way to keep kids interested in the farm.”
While the bulk of the fair’s activities center on farm life, Grandstand headliners are sure to attract even the city slickers.
Country star Chris Young is set to take the main stage Friday, Aug. 31. Wynonna & The Big Noise debuts Saturday, Sept. 1 and ‘80s pop band REO Speedwagon are scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 2. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m.
While the concerts are included with general admission on a first-come, first-serve basis, Pruessing said the fair is quickly selling out of VIP seats for REO Speedwagon, so special seating for that show is limited.
New this year, will be an additional fee for those wishing to watch the popular demolition derby events held every Labor Day.
According to Pruessing, the Fair Board decided to charge $3 for seats to each show in order to increase the prize money awarded to participants.
In previous years, the fair awarded $3,000 total in prize money. This year, demo drivers will see $6,000 dispersed. The fair also added a stock car class to its shows.
“These guys spend a lot of money on their cars. The price of scrap metal is not cheap,” she said.
This year, the stands will also be emptied between each show in an attempt, according to Pruessing, to make it most “equitable for everyone to see the show.”
The demand for seating exceeds the room available, she said, so oftentimes, people cannot get in and out of the stands. The grandstand offers about 5,000 seats, Pruessing said.
“Last year was the worst. We had people lining up for the second and third shows who couldn’t get in.”
“This was a way for everybody to have a fair chance to see the shows,” she said, adding that if it does not work out well this year, the Fair Board would look into other options.
Pruessing said if the main stage attractions and kid-friendly learning activities are not enough to attract locals to the fair, she hopes the many local civic groups that depend on fair fundraisers each year will.
“One of the unique things about us is that we have a lot of civic groups that supply food and have other fundraisers at the fair,” she said, citing the Walworth County Historical Society’s annual book sale, Kiwanis cream puff sales, and others.
“If it weren’t for the fair, a lot of those groups could not give scholarships or build park pavilions,” she said. “And the food is really good too.”
Pruessing said fair officials really pride themselves in being one of the state’s longest-running fairs and in maintaining the most family-friendly environment.
“We’re the only fair that doesn’t serve beer. We’re very committed to having a family friendly environment here – not that the others aren’t – those fairs generate a lot of revenue, so it makes us work that much harder seeking sponsors.
“Maybe a show like REO Speedwagon would have more attendance if we served beer, but from our ticket sales, it looks like people are happy with what we’re doing.”
Pruessing is hopeful the community will come out and support the fair.
“If you’ve never been here, at least come out and try it out, see what you think. I don’t think you will be disappointed. We have something to offer everybody,” she said.
