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Greetings friends of the Florida Federation of Fairs
from the Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA)
Thanks to Dan West and your association for inviting me to write an update in this issue of Fair
Greg Chiecko OABA
Cracker. If there is anything positive in 2020, it is the closer collaboration that our associations have formed. There is strength in numbers and the synergy that we create will be used to make our industries stronger in the future. At the beginning of 2020 it appeared that we were poised for a banner year. The economy was strong, unemployment
President & CEO
was low, and families were looking for quality entertainment and time they could spend with their families. All of a sud- den, we learned that the Miami-Dade Youth Fair was shut down opening morning, and the Houston Livestock and Ro- deo Show was halted just days into the event. We all were in disbelief that our industry was being shuttered. After all, we live by the motto, “the show must go on.” Well, in 2020 the show did not go on and there was nothing we could do to control it. Almost every industry in our country was shut down, especially mass gatherings of people. Our industries became
creative and launched drive-thru food events, roadside events, and anything else we could do to keep our employees busy and provide some form of income. Some retreated to calling the season over and did everything in their power to survive the financial devastation that the pandemic caused. One thing is for certain – our industry cannot survive anoth- er year of shutdown. In 2020 a few fairs and events were held that proved we can successfully run a carnival, with protocols in place, safe- ly. We held events that did not produce a surge in Covid-19 spread during or after the event. In 2021, we must press hard to open our events. They may not be the same and they may look different, but we must open our gates. Carni- vals can open safely! Please take the time to include your carnivals in your re-opening plan. The OABA and our mem- bers have substantial plans to provide to national, state, and local officials that demonstrate how we can safely operate in these challenging times. In 2021, “the show must go on.” If there is anything the can do for help to
OABA you to
Faircracker FALL 2020
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