VENANGO TOWNSHIP — Recognizing the 2017 Crawford County Fair had losses totaling more than $200,000, the county Fair Board reviewed plans for the 2018 edition at its annual meeting Wednesday at Venango Valley Inn and Golf Course in hopes of generating more interest and revenue.
The annual treasurer's report showed the fair lost $219,519.73, of which $38,904.77 was from the grandstand acts.
The operating expenses totaled $1,361,987.30 compared to revenues of $1,263,010.54. Expenses increased when adding capital expenses totaling $120,542.97. Of that, $50,000 was the final payment to commissioners for the grandstand.
When not counting the capital expenses, the 2017 fair lost about $99,000.
Of 10 acts in front of the grandstand, six showed a profit. They were: Saturday evening demolition derby, $31,426.08; Straight No Chaser concert, $30,49.01; Friday truck and tractor pull, $13,773.46; Old Dominion concert, $6,305.60; Saturday afternoon demolition derby, $4,32762; and Monday truck pull, $2,370.56.
Losses were: King and Country concert, $85,492.83; Fair Queen pageant, $11,635.41; six hitch class, $26,372.73; and Saturday morning tractor pull, $5,104.
An analysis of increased expenses show an increase of $84,951.74 in various categories. Increases of more than $10,000 over 2016 included: marketing and advertising expenses $36,636.70; official expense and audit, $18,145.97; labor in the office, $16,610.16; equipment rental, $12,138.83; harness racing purse, $17,759.37; and entertainment, $57,338.51.
The Fair Board last year hired Julliette Enfield, educator and agriculture entrepreneurship with Penn State University, to draft a business plan for the fair's future. She is meeting with the board and others to gain research and information to come up with a plan. The next session is set for 9 a.m. Jan. 8 at the Crawford County Cooperative Extension Office, 1099 Morgan Village Road, Suite A.
Enfield is based out of Warren and her duties have included marketing and business plans for fairs. The university has agreed to pay her expenses to attend the State Fair Convention as well.
When the Fair Board voted to purchase land last year, commissioners had requested the Fair Board develop a business plan and that is why Enfield was hired.
In relation to the new land purchase, the Fair Board approved adding another gate near Gate 2 (across from the land acquired) that will be only for walk-in or those on golf carts to use. It will be a movable gate to accommodate the public.
The board also voted to have evening meetings — on a trial run — in February, March, April and May. Meetings are at 6 p.m. at the extension office at 1099 Morgan Village Road, Suite A.
Board members noted the belief that younger people are needed and thought perhaps moving meetings to evening hours would help attract more interest.
The lineup of grandstand entertainment for 2018 is: Saturday, Aug. 18, truck pull; Sunday, Aug. 19, fair queen pageant (free admission); Monday, rodeo; Tuesday, six hitch class and veterans programs (free admission); Wednesday, country music concert; Thursday, Christian music concert; Friday, truck pull; and Saturday, demolition derbies in afternoon and evening.
Also free on Tuesday will be a logging contest from 2 to 5 p.m.
Admission to grandstand acts (except for the concerts) will be $7 for the grandstand and $10 for race track seats.
Tentative agreements have been reached with country and Christian music acts, board member George Deshner reported, but those names will not be released until April when all contracts are finalized.
The board gave Deshner the authority to investigate the possibility of having the Rhinestone Roper Show if he is available and to investigate possible sponsorship for the cost of $1,900 a day for six days. Roper would perform two or three times daily if he is added to the fair.
Board member Bill Good suggested this could be a new act to attract more people.
Also approved was requiring campers to have a number 10 electrical cord. Discussion is being held to upgrade electric in the area, and board members said it is imperative that the cords be upgraded. Anyone not having the proper size will not be permitted to hook up.
The board heard a request from Kenny Carr to reconsider its action to have zero free senior citizen days in 2018. He requested that at least a half day be free for seniors.
Also, the board heard a request concerning the increased cost in 2018 for vendor passes, noting a letter to the editor from a member of Fallowfield United Methodist Church. It was noted that many volunteers cannot or will not help with the increased pass price.
The cost of a 2018 concessionaire weekly pass will be $35 in 2018, up $20 from $15 in this year.
Anne Hall has agreed to research the number of nonprofits at the fair and the impact the increase will have on the nonprofits as well as the anticipated loss to the fair revenues. She will take that information to the next meeting for the board to consider.
The board re-elected its officers: William Winters, president; Ron Kerr, first vice president; Good, second vice president; Diana Perry, secretary-treasurer; and Shelby Proctor, executive secretary. Also approved was to recommend Winters and Perry to commissioners for another term on the Fair Board.
By Jane Smith Special to the Tribune