Favorite Fair (Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Yankton: coupon, renting, schools)

[egg man]

OK,
Legislature is in session and the State Fair is again under assault. No doubt they will continue to endure the blows like USD Springfield did for decades until they succeed in eliminating it. Who knows, maybe Janklow will again rise to power and we can turn the state fairgrounds into a prison camp.

Heaven knows he had no use for the fair and surely did his part to try to wipe it out.

However, we have lots of nice fairs in South Dakota. So, would like to hear what your favorite fair is in our state.

Perhaps we could start a new thread to include celebrations such as Rhubarb Days, Czech Days, etc..

[Chris19]

Mine is the Turner County Fair in Parker. Free Admission. Many great food vendors and the booths and animal displays are also good. It is a 13 mile drive for me.

[Jammie]

My fave is the Sioux Empire Fair. I like the fact that they include a good old rock n roll band for their entertainment. However, we do always spend a day wandering around at the State Fair, too.

[tpabes]

Interesting to hear about your state fair, your neighbors to the south are currently having a big discussion about moving the state fair and opening up more land for UNL, the big thing being cost and location. That interest's me because maybe we should have a Nebkota fair, in maybe Yankton. A really long shot, but be neat if it could be discussed.

Sorry to kinda hijack your thread. County fairs and festivals are what make states like ours special.

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by tpabes

Interesting to hear about your state fair, your neighbors to the south are currently having a big discussion about moving the state fair and opening up more land for UNL, the big thing being cost and location. That interest's me because maybe we should have a Nebkota fair, in maybe Yankton. A really long shot, but be neat if it could be discussed.

Sorry to kinda hijack your thread. County fairs and festivals are what make states like ours special.

Are you suggesting that maybe Neb. and So. Dak. could get together and have a fair in Yankton? If so, that should be worth a consideration by our state governments. Has your state fair always lost money, too and has to be subsidized?

[tpabes]

Yes, that was my suggestion.

Our fair has been downsized a bit because of money, there is no danger of it being gone, but needs better attendence. While it will never be Iowa's, it could do better. The state fair park is located right on the campus of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, and the university is wanting the land for a research park. It would be expensive to move and put in the infstructure for a fair and also is a battle of weather it should stay in Lincoln or move to another city. That is the situation in nutshell.

I would say it might be worth looking into combining our fairs, no reason Nebraska and South Dakota can't get together and throw a party once in awhile

[itsMeFred]

I think a NebKota Fair would be a good idea, too.

That said, my favorite SD fair has always been Central States.

[egg man]

There are many things one could say have been nails in the coffin to the South Dakota State Fair.

First, under Janklow the 4-H kids gave up their premium money in order that that money might be channeled to the upkeep of the buildings. It *never* happened. For 20 years 4-Hers have been taking their projects to the state fair for the heck of it. We have a family active in 4-H and go several days every year. It's our vacation, like a big family reunion.

Next, the nail in the coffin is one word: DAKOTAFEST. This one "blessed event" has taken MUCH business away from the State Fair that used to be in Huron.

Next nail, the stupid tax system at State Fair and the cost of renting a booth there has drastically cut those exhibiting at the fair.

Next nail, The idiotic idea that someone had to move the dates of the fair away from the weekend it had been on since my great grandfather's day.
The screwed up dates really cut attendance and now it's going to take some doing to get it straightened out but I believe we're getting on the right track.



We are no longer an agrarian society like we once were. Our city people don't want to go to an agricultural fair because it doesn't have enough to interest them. With our big population in Sioux Falls, are they going to hop in the car and head up to Huron? Especially since everyone and their dog have other events planned on that same weekend closer to home?


SCHOOL. The schools are killing the fair. Schools start early but they did when I was a kid too. But we have all these sports activities on Fair weekend and to boot, the kids are told they *can't* miss school or God forbid sport's practice. (Maybe the Governor should declare a holiday and not permit any sports game that weekend.) Too, in my day we could go to fair and not be counted absent if we had 4-H or FFA activities that had us involved there.

Entertainment. Goodness knows that Sioux Falls has all kinds of venues today for entertainment they didn't have twenty some years ago. Also, we now have all the casinos too that have entertainment so a lot of people go there instead of to hear the same singer at the fair where it will cost more.

Gate fee was for many years too high. A family the size of mine could go to the poorhouse going there and we "had to be there". It was taking advantage of a few people. They could learn a lot from the Turner County fair or Brown County. I don't know about Aberdeen but the Turner County Fair has no gate fee and makes money every year.


Should the fair stand alone? Surely we've subsidized dumber things in the name of "the arts" etc..


Let's also not forget it is OUR STATE FAIR. Go to Iowa and see how intensely proud Iowans are of their fair. I know they have a huge population but businesses that do business in Iowa support the fair. Not just with a booth handing out a free yardstick but in sponsorship of building upkeep and entertainment. Their free entertainment is better than what we have to pay to see in SD.

Many South Dakota businesses should be ashamed of themselves. Where is Morrel's? They can't even give out a free bacon coupon anymore. How about the two mogul "healthcare" joints? Avera and Sioux Valley (I know it's not that anymore but I refuse to honor the fellow who wanted his name in lights) are missing. So are WellMark and a host of other businesses that suck money from South Dakotans every time we bleed or even if we don't. Why aren't they supporting the fair? WellMark in Iowa supports one of the stages and all the entertainment on it. They get good acts from Nashville or Branson.

I could go on and on, but I believe our fair can be salvaged and made better than ever. It's just we have yet to put someone in there that is willing or knows what to do. Gabriel tried in setting the date back. I'll thank him for that. Now let's go after some people to help support the thing.

I doubt any state fair actually stands on its own feet. It takes support from all levels but that comes from the private sector not necessarily tax dollars.

Let's pitch in, work together, and keep the South Dakota State Fair our "Big Family Reunion" for those who still attend and no doubt we can attract more people to it once we start doing things right.

[DannyBanany]

Central States Fair covers parts of Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, and South Dakota. I guess that could be considered a regional fair.

My favorite fair has to be, and this is for you ElkHunter, Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming! Now that's a fun one!

[debey]

Brown County Fair, aberdeen Sd
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/debeysenska/smilies/bcfair.jpg (broken link)
Brown County Fair, Aberdeen, South Dakota (http://www.thebrowncountyfair.com/default.html - broken link)