2015 FAIR ATTENDANCE UP SLIGHTLY
Attendance was up slightly for the 147th edition of the Washington County Fair.
According to Fair officials, the 2015 edition saw 50,029 people come through the gates on opening Saturday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and the closing Saturday.
That is slightly less than 4000 more than the 46,048 that paid to attend last year’s fair. That is an 8-percent increase over 2014.
Officials also announced that over $2.4-million was spent on livestock.
A total of $2,420,755 was spent between the Junior Livestock Sale, Commercial Steer and Commercial Heifer Sales—with add ons.
What’s your Reaction?
+1
+1
+1
Let’s face it- the glory days of the fair are long gone. I remember when we had vendors, better entertainment, all the barns were full, all the exhibit halls were packed. Now, vendors are selling crap from overseas, we might as well have a couple guys on a kazoo and a washboard for entertainment, and the barns silence and empty space speaks for itself. But, hay, at least we have a better beer barn now.
My curiosity lies in how the sale proceeds are dibbied up. How much of that do the kids actually get? Grand champion steer sold for $23,000. What did Rhealee Spies walk away with? I’m asking because I truly don’t know. But, I’ll venture a guess that she didn’t get half. I’ll be really surprised if she did. Cause, hay, that beer barn didn’t build itself.
While going to the fair is not one of my favorite things to do, I go to support the kids-my own and others of this county. To those of you complaining about the entertainment-have you ever considered volunteering to take over on the Entertainment Committee? I’m sure they would appreciate your help and input. I’m sure it is just like most committees-plenty of people to complain but no one wants to step up and volunteer to take it on. And perhaps you do give of your time and volunteer elsewhere. In that case, take a minute and think about what goes in to your volunteer time-VOLUNTEER being the operative word here. If you are giving of your time and talent and expecting nothing in return, how would you appreciate nothing but negative comments? Just something to think about…
It’s one thing to volunteer to be on the committee.
It’s another to have the funds to have the entertainment.
If the head honchos of the Fair Board who dole out the money don’t want to spend the money to get the top talent, it won’t matter the number of volunteers. Simply put – money talks and right now the Fair Board is being a bit more stingy in this area, and it IS affective the amount of goers at night. The Thursday night show alone to me looked like a group of 30 people watching the band – they could’ve sat down and still had space.
Of note, I do not have much time to be in a committee but have told people on committees my suggestions on the helicopter (including the potential giant legal issue if a kid or animal had gotten hurt or killed due to the latter being skittish of the sounds), and the talent show (particularly trying to get it back to the original date, even if it means they went back to the sales facility). Best I got on the latter was “we’ll try, it’s up to the board.” I’ll be surprised if the talent show lasts another two years given the drop in attendance.
I’ve been nothing but open and honest about what I saw at this year’s fair. I think it can improve, but there have been some bad choices and I hope that they look at this year’s fair to see some of the weaker choices made.
Have been a resident for 62 years, and the last time I considered the fair worth attending was too long to remember. Possibly a half dozen times in the last 35 years only long enough to see exhibits in creations building and the canine talent exhibit. If the fair association wants to improve, then ask for new board member applications with an extensive essay on what they would do bto improve and how it could be done. Encourage written public input. Then let a committee comprised of members of youth organizations, educators in science, agriculture and the arts choose the new members. No politicians, big business and old guard please.
Everyone is welcomed to come out this week to the Colorado County Fair. Saturday night features Ray Wylie Hubbard at 9:00, and Kevin Fowler at 11:00. Hope to see y’all there!!
Disgusted with the whole afair! Third class entertainment that starts way to late, bad concert area on a slope asking for inhuries, not enough seating for older folks and young, no parking, to many of Brenham’s high class running things. It’s time for a 100% change in management with term limiations! Get someone in there that embraces the real theme of a county fair and not one focused on resume building and finacial success. It’s about the kids not a concert that drags on into the wee hours!
Attendance may be up (I’m skeptical myself using all of my pass and observing) but it was way down elsewhere. I had fun but I’ll be honest – way too many bad choices IMHO.
Country creations way down. I’ve never seen pictures intermingled with handcrafts or three towers total used in photography. Even the fair in ’08 just after Ike had more entries – and folks nervous entering as they didn’t know what could happen to projects.
A dozen acts in the talent show. Said show also poorly attended since they moved it to the first Saturday at the beginning of the fair (has been since the year they moved it). Got dozens of comments from folks upset they missed the show thinking it was last Saturday of fair.
There were tickets still available for the chuck wagon cook off – a new event that had potential to draw in folks but again, no real push.
The singers had poor turnouts. Not surprised after folks very angry that Fayetteville County got ZZ Top and here the cover band version.
Worse, the first Saturday band tested their equipment during the talent show (started at 2, ended about 3) affecting a few performances as they couldn’t hear their song. Surely the association would know there is a talent show and tell the band to test later or have a relay person so they knew when they could test?
Pet show had far fewer entries this year.
And then there were plenty of angry parents and kids showing animals who had to deal with skittish animals who didn’t like listening to the helicopter flying above them all hours of the fair.
The helicopter – it’s a liability because animals CAN get spooked and run into something, harming or killing themselves. You can’t train for that situation.
Food court so few choices not funny. I do hope FFA and 4-H really benefitted there though.
Now again I did have fun, but I would say the 147th fair needs a good hard look at for next year as to what NOT to do in order to draw in people.
Attendance up slightly…hmm ok. I too agree with all the posted comments. To add the VIP room still is not worth it to me. It is for people with out kids or parents escaping their kids for the time they are in there to drink and party, what are you showing the kids?? I think every committee member, remember all the hours they spend volunteering, should be given a food booth voucher. What are committee members getting out of their work year after year? Speakers went out during the steer show also!! What is up with exhibitors only getting one picture if they sold an animal and any other photos needed come out of the exhibitor OWN pocket!??? Perhaps that is bc most JLA sellers have more than one buyer now, what another way for either the fair to make more money or the photographer to make a little more change, and I am sure the fair pays them!??? Lets make sure it is known every year the JLA record is broken! And that champions records are broken and the auctioneer pushes that.
We were told that all buyers will receive a photo. Unfortunately you still have to purchase one for yourself if you choose.
The VIP room hurts the food vendors. The fair charges a good penny to rent the food booth spaces then turns around and draws people away from them to sell their own food, don’t seem right. I know one vendor that said he wouldn’t be back next year due to what they would only let him sell and booth placement.
The volunteers are being “taken advantage of” too. It costs them $100 for their VIP pass. I think in theory, the VIP room is a good idea. A place for the volunteers to go and relax and get away from everything. I just think it needs to be more of a lounge area with water and soda (perhaps a dispensing machine) a few snacks, couches and chairs for people to sit around and relax and NOT cost the volunteers an arm and a leg to use it!! Wise up Fair Association-yes people will always volunteer because they owe it to their kids and truly enjoy it but quit abusing them and taking advantage of them!!
The biggest complaint I have is the total lack of seating located around the fair grounds. Why haven’t the “old side” bleachers of the rodeo arena been updated like the other side? Why isn’t there more seating around the concert area so you can “enjoy” the entertainment or at the carnival? For all the money the fair rakes in every year, why aren’t there any obvious improvements to the fair grounds, heck the speaker system went out during the commercial heifer show and we couldn’t hear the judge. What can be done about the lack of space during the commercial steer and heifer sale, it’s not easy for us buyers to get in and out of the sale to purchase the animals and help the kids!
I call bull on this one. Weds. night I like the theme “faith and family night” but that’s not going to draw your big crowds (like in the past, way past), Thurs. night when the “headliner” was on stage I walked down to there and counted 29 people on the stage floor (not including me). Fri. was better crowd wise but not full. Sat. was the best day crowd wise. But the best band there this year in my opinion was from 5-9 in the food court with the Dujka Brothers playing! What does that say?!?
I’m with you….There was absolutely no crowd what so ever thursday night. Not even a line in the restroom! I’ve been going to the WCF for 27+ years, never seen anything as bad as this year. Even the teenagers and young adults are complaining. Sad to see something so good for the community and our youth go downhill!
Maybe if they had some decent entertainers the attendance would be much better. Went thursday night, it was an ambarrassment….nobody was there. To be the “Oldest County Fair in Texas” you would think they would have decent entertainment. Austin, Burleson and Waller counties can get it…..why can’t Washington? Maybe it’s time for some new committee members!