Florida Fair News Osceola County Fair Breaks Attendance Record


The 71st Annual Kissimmee Valley Live- stock Show and Osceola County Fair was held February 13th – 22nd, 2015 in Kis-


simmee, Florida. This year’s theme was “More Than You Think!” as the members of the organization, Board of Directors and staff worked together to promote the huge variety of events and possi- ble experiences available at the annual event. Although the Ferris wheel and cotton candy will always be industry favorites, there is so much more at today’s Fairs and festivals. As with most large events, as soon as the lights of the carnival


midway turn off on the final day, planning for the next event im- mediately begins. This idea took on new meaning for the 501c3 Non-profit Organization that runs and supports the Osceola County Fair. At the close of 2014, their new General Manager, Miranda Muir, had completed her first Fair with the group and her fresh ideas and enthusiasm, combined with the motivation of the Board of Directors and staff were a sign that exciting things were on the horizon. New committees were formed, established com- mittees encouraged to meet more frequently, and there was a renewed determination to make 2015 bigger and better than ever. The Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show and their carnival pro-


vider, Strates Shows Inc., have always been fortunate to have a close, working relationship and this year the two entities came together with one common objective, improving the Fair and reaching 100,000 in attendance. This long-time goal had eluded the Osceola County Fair for several years and knowing how excit- ed and committed the group was to accomplishing the mission, Strates Shows generously assisted in a variety of ways. Togeth- er, grounds improvement and beautification projects were com- pleted, new daily promotions and specials were advertised, and additional avenues for sponsorships and other corporate relation- ships were opened. The results of furthering the partnership were hugely successful and the attendance topped 106,000, shredding the 100,000 mark for the first time since the Fair began operating in 1944. Although the relationship between Fair and Carnival made a


huge impact on this year’s event, other factors also weighed in heavily. Several generous and long-time supporters of the organi- zation went above and beyond in 2015, giving funding, support, and among many other things, assisting with staffing the 10-day event. Many individuals do not realize the Kissimmee Valley Live- stock Show currently has only one full-time employee, their Gen- eral Manager. Miranda Muir is assisted by a small part-time crew and otherwise relies on the assistance and support of more than 250 volunteers. Without the continued support of area business- es like The Southern Ford Dealers, Experience Kissimmee, and Kissimmee Utility Authority, as well as a variety of hard-working community members, the Osceola County Fair could not exist. Finally, aligning with this year’s theme, “More Than You Think!”


the Board of Directors added new contests and events to encour- age a variety of individuals to attend and to provide even more for every age group and the diverse make-up of Osceola County. This year boasted the 1st Annual Car and Jeep Show, the Miss Osceola Scholarship Pageant, and a wealth of additional perform- ers such as the Castillo Kids, the Osceola Community Orchestra, country duo Kari & Billy, as well as the group J. Quiles. All of the entertainment was free to the general public with paid admission to the Fair, and each of the new events were successful. The group is already planning and working on ways to improve again in 2016. In today’s fast paced world, the traditions and history of our


county Fairs could easily be lost to all of the new technologies and upcoming trends. Families are often too busy to enjoy a Sun-


22


Invest for Success by M


ar When I became the manager of the


North Florida Fair, I inherited a facility that was aging and, in many areas, in a state of disrepair. After previous financial


looking at statements and


budgets, it was obvious that any in- come had been used to prop up the books and stay financially afloat. Noth- ing had been going back into infra- structure improvement. What had I gotten myself into? We just had to roll up our sleeves and get to work with what we had. We started small with the improve-


ments. The installation of picnic tables improved seating and dining capacity, allowing patrons to rest and stay long- er. Strategic improvements in land- scaping improved the curb appeal of the facility. Painting of the buildings not only improved the looks but made the fairgrounds appear cleaner and fresh- er. Who knew paint would make the grounds look


cleaner. Many other


things were done to improve the looks and performance of the grounds and the customers responded. But, as they say


in the “everybody GEICO knows that.”


commercial, If


you’ve


bothered to read this far you know the value of investing in your facility. What happened next surprised me in


the return on the investment dollar. It was near the end of the year and I had some money that was basically “use or lose.” It was money that had been held from damage deposits when renters had caused some damages or failed to clean up after an off season rental. I could spend that money on just about anything


k Havey


the fairground I would just donate that money to the local 4H chapters. The donation amount was $1500 and it was no strings attached. I knew that 4H struggled with budgets just like every- one else and that they had needs too. What they did with the money was to invest in displays that they could use in the 4H building at the Fair. They bought butterfly houses, banners, flags, and a number of other items that really dressed up the 4H building and made it more appealing to the Fair customers. They knew what they needed better than I did. They had never asked for these items because they knew money was tight and they were just trying to do the best they could with what they had. That worked out so well that I have done it several years now and they have always responded in some way that benefited the Fair as well as them- selves. I tell this story to illustrate the fact


for the fairground but if I


didn’t, it would go back into general operating funds for next year. I decided that instead of buying something for


that it is just as important to invest in people and projects as well as your infrastructure. My 4H investment and the dividends that it paid has led to an investment in the area occupied by the University of Florida’s IFAS (Institute of Food and Agricultural Science) Pro- gram. The North Florida Fair is in the process of installing raised bed gar- dens that local agriculture agents will use as a teaching tool to demonstrate gardening practices to Fair customers. These investments in people, projects, and infrastructure make the stakehold- ers feel valued and motivates them to perform at a higher level. The custom- ers receive a better product and the Fair’s reputation improves along with its bottom line. We all win.


day afternoon at the Fair and children seem to enjoy faster, more interactive and imaginative attractions than a Ferris wheel or Mer- ry-Go-Round. However, as proven with this year’s Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show and Osceola County Fair, do not count them out. While balancing customs and seeking out new adven- tures, the organization celebrated a record breaking year and is excitedly looking forward to doing it again in 2016.


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