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FLORIDA FAIR NEWS Continued…….……………………...…………………………….. Manate County Fair


FLORIDA FAIR NEWS CONTINUED…..………..……………………………………….. The 107th Florida State Fair Deemed a Success


By Rip Stalvey


2011 the 107th edition of the Florida State Fair was deemed a rousing success. “We were blessed with great weather this year and that encouraged lots of guests to come out and enjoy the Fair,” said Chuck Pesano, Executive Director of the Florida State Fair Authority. Attendance this year fell just short of 487,000, not a rec-


After the gates closed for the last time on February 21,


ord but well above average attendance, ranking fourth out of the last sixteen years. Revenue was another story how- ever, ranking first out of the last sixteen years. It was obvi- ous that guests were enjoying themselves, riding rides, eat- ing outrageous fair foods, and taking in all the exhibits and entertainment. The 2011 Florida State Fair saw increases in youth live-


over 2000 and the Youth Livestock Show had a record number of Swine, Dairy, Goats, Rabbits and Poultry exhib- its. Coupled with the wonderful weather was great enter- tainers like John Anderson, Jeff Cook, Craig Campbell, Eden’s Edge, The SideWalk Prophets, Heather Williams, Dennis Lee, The Yesterdayze Band and The Harry James Orchestra. Popular Strolling Acts such as Rocket the Ro- bot, Ed and Geraldine’s Old Time Music and Jim Herrington’s One Man Band kept the fairgoers attentive during their visit. With the success of our 2012 Fair, we would like to thank all of the volunteers who contributed their time and dedication in helping make this year’s Fair memorable for all who attended.


South Florida Fair Attendance Up 4%


stock entries this year as well. More than 1200 youth ex- hibitors from around the state were showing everything from steers to Llamas and everything in between. “The quality of our youth and the animals they show gets better every year,” said Vina Jean Banks, Director of Agribusiness for the Fair Authority. The Florida State Fair changed its’ marketing approach


Manatee County Fair Manager Dan West and Jeanne Keaton, Past Federation President.


The 96th Manatee County Fair took place January 12th through the 22nd at the fair- grounds in Palmetto. The at- tendance at this year’s Fair has been recorded as the highest in Manatee County Fair history with over 172,000 in attendance. This was an 11% increase over our record year of 2006. The weather for all eleven days was beautiful and very relaxing. Aside from record attendance the Fair also had a record number of Arts and Crafts entries with


this year. “Everything from media buys to radio and TV commercials were done by in-house staff,” said Rip Stalvey, Director of Marketing and Museum Operations for the Fair Authority. The Fair Authority Marketing Staff made the decision after the 2010 Florida State Fair to stop out sourcing everything and to do it themselves. “We felt we didn’t need to depend on outsides agencies and people who didn’t know the Fair as well as we did,” Stalvey added. The results were that it reduced the Authority’s marketing budget by approximately 10% and resulted in greatly im- proved marketing results, in some cases doubling the re- sults of the previous year. This year the Authority moved to drop the use of a new


cent compared to a year ago. Total reported attendance for the 17 day extravaganza was 588,370 the third straight up year. “It was a solid Fair,” beamed Rick Vymlatil, South Florida


theme each year and instead begin the process of branding the Fair. A new tag line, “The Best Time of the Year” was introduced and will be used over and over during the com- ing years. On the midway 105 rides and attractions provided guests


weather, the 100th Centennial Edi- tion of the South Florida Fair was up in attendance by over 4 per


With near idyllic and dry


some of which grew rapid legs. The 1st Annual South Flor- ida Fair 5K Run debuted on December 31 at Okeeheelee Park attracting 480 running enthusiasts. A whopping 1,800 children signed up and participated in the Fair’s 1st annual Kids Fitness Mile presented by Steinger, Iscoe and Greene the opening Saturday on the Fairgrounds. The “Party of The Century,” the fair’s signature Centennial event, drew much praise. The debut of the carnival Gold Access pass,


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Fair President and Chief Executive Officer. “Both midway (carnival) and admission revenues were up nicely. Once again, a number of individual or daily records were broken including 5 single day midway records and 2 single day admission records. Since this was our 100th anniversary, we were hoping this would be a special year and it was.” Vymlatil noted the introduction of a number of new events


with lots of high speed fun and enjoyment. “We probably have more coasters and giant wheels than anywhere else,” said Fred Brown, Director of Operations for the Fair Author- ity. Brown works hard every year to put together a midway second to none and always strives to have the best of the best. Also featured this year was a helicopter trapeze act flying high above the fairgrounds several times daily. Cracker Country, the Fair Authority’s rural Florida living


history museum debuted its’ African American Sharecrop- pers exhibit this year. There were lots of interactive dis- plays, photos, and artifacts used to tell the story of the early African American Sharecroppers life and contributions to early Florida agriculture. Over the coming years the plan is to develop this exhibit into a fully functioning home site, complete with hands-on learning activities and first person interpretation.


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enabling riders to enter quick entrance lanes, was a hit. “We will promote this heavier next year,” Vymlatil noted. The 2012 Fair was also the first under a moderate reor- ganization of the Fair’s 1,800 volunteers designed to better unify the sprawling number of community volunteers who make the Fair possible. The Fair’s national recording acts were moved back outside to the spacious and convenient Bennett Auto Supply Party Pavilion and Pepsi Stage. Fair- goers enjoyed John Anderson, Aaron Lewis, New Found Glory, Fuel, John Michael Montgomery, Colt Ford, Eli Young Band and Grand Funk Railroad. The Fair invested heavily in its annual theme, this year


A “last minute event” was watching Rip Stalvey, Director


of Marketing and Museum Operations keep his pledge to the staff. He pledged that if the staff worked hard to put on a great Fair they could shave his head. On the last day he honored that pledge and the staffs’ hard work, and now sports a shiny new chrome dome as the result. One of the highlights of the 2011 Florida State Fair was


celebrating 100 years! The 70,000 square foot Centennial Expo included a red carpet through historic timelines, a retro look at some of the Fair’s past popular themes, a 32 foot birthday cake sand sculpture with indoor fireworks, a Florida East Coast Railway Palm Beach to Key West Dis- play, 50 Years of Rock N Roll and 5 Centuries of Florida Cattle Ranching Tradition. The bustling South Florida Fair Kubota Agriplex was


alive daily with everything from Pet Costume, Mutton Bustin’ and Rooster Crowing contests to remarkable dis- plays of beef and dairy cattle. Fairgoers and their families once again got an opportunity to witness the birthing of over 3 dozen calves in the Mooturnity Tent while not far away, baby chicks hatched their way to life in the poultry tent.


seeing Adam Putnam, Florida’s Commissioner of Agricul- ture and Pam Bondi, Florida’s Attorney General ride down the giant slide. They were accompanied by some 4H and FFA youth ambassadors and everyone had a great time. Hopefully this won’t be the last time we get to watch this race. “There are lots of metrics for measuring success, for us


here at the Florida State Fair success is all about producing an event that showcases the best in Florida agriculture, provides family oriented fun and entertainment, and it has to provide a good value for our guests,” concluded Pesano.


Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam and At- torney General Pam Bondi, accompanied by 4H and FFA members, enjoy a race down the Giant Slide at the 2011 Florida State Fair.


“Kids Time at the South Florida Fair” - Children from the audience come into the horse arena and participate in various activities. Bettye Thompson demonstrates PONY HOP RACING!


Florida Fairs Be sure to send in an article about


your Fair for the next issue of the Faircracker Articles due by October 1st


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