Ideas sought for increasing Walworth County Fair revenue
If you go
What: Walworth County Fair listening session
Where: Activities Center at the fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn.
When: 7 p.m. today
ELKHORN — The bottom line of the 160th Walworth County Fair: attendance was slightly lower, and revenue is expected to be similar to previous years.
Revenue numbers are not final yet, but fair board members said checkbooks are balanced and they are not struggling financially.
Still, they are concerned about ensuring future fair boards have enough financial flexibility to keep the fair running strong for another 160 years and beyond.
What should they do?
That’s the question fair board members want Walworth County citizens to answer today.
“We’re talking about ways that we could improve the fair, fundraising, increasing revenue, (which is) the one thing we’ve really got to focus on,” said Bob Handel, vice president of the fair board.
Handel and other fair board members tonight host a listening session on how to raise funds for the county fair. The session takes place at the fairgrounds’ activities center starting at 7 p.m.
One of their most recent fundraising ideas, adding a beer tent to the fair, was shut down by public outcry just as quickly as it came through.
Fair board members still have a handful of ideas to increase fair revenue, from higher parking and admission fees to charging for access to the grand stand. They also looked at corporate sponsorships, but that idea didn’t pan out.
Officials are looking for any suggestions, Handel said.
Fair board spokesperson Sue Pruessing said finances are “kind of flat” at the Walworth County Fair.
“We’re holding our own, but we’re not gaining anything,” she said.
Officials want to be proactive about finances, Pruessing added.
“If we have one rainy year, that could wipe us out,” she said. “We don’t have reserves. We have no debt, and we have 100 acres there—we have that.
“But what’s concerning is: We don’t have any cash reserve. Not that we need a lot, but it’s needed for maintenance and upkeep of the place itself.”
Economic impact
Another tool fair officials will utilize is an economic impact survey developed during the fair by a UW-Whitewater professor and his team.
During the fair, some fairgoers were stopped and asked their likes and dislikes of the Walworth County Fair as part of an economic impact survey conducted by UW-Whitewater and the UW Extension.
Russ Kashian, professor of economics at UW-Whitewater and an economic development specialist with the UW Extension, headed the research and said he planned to have it completed by Oct. 1.
Pruessing said the study has been delayed and should be unveiled in the next month.
Kashian said his team is working to understand spending patterns at the Walworth County Fair. From there, officials may come up with ways to increase revenue.
Oct 16, 2009 at 11:25 a.m.
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The Walworth County Fair is one of the best fairs in the state! I grew up on a farm and showed there and go every year everyday. There are always new things. Maybe a fee for the grandstand acts is a good idea. Everytime I have been there except this year they have been full to capacity. Also ex FIB get a life...really a stripper. Funny or not that was a stupid comment. Its a family fair and has always been on Labor Day Weekend. Its tradition and my kids enjoy going every year! I hope they can come up with a solution.
Oct 16, 2009 at 6:22 a.m.
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This year they did NOT have full stands on the evening that I went. It was extremely dead in the ride area - I've never seen it that dead. I'm sure the economics played a big part of why. Once your kids are gone, and if you aren't involved in 4-H, etc. it does become same-old, same-old. They need some new blood to liven things up. I now go once every 3-4 years, maybe. This year the weather was great and I met an old friend. We spent about $5 on food and on nothing else.
As far as having it so late, I believe it's been this date since its inception. It definitely is affected with school in session, although Elkhorn students were not yet.
Pete - as a local, I'm amazed how much the grounds are used for other things. It's almost every weekend, minimally, part of the grounds are used for something. One of the big events is the 4 flea markets held. A lot of local groups use these as big fundraisers for parking, food, etc.
Oct 15, 2009 at 7:39 p.m.
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I have a great idea, dont have it right before school starts and parents are broke from school supplies and cloths etc. We support the fair but the timeing really is horrible, and its hard to schedule it for the kids because like this year we are already strapped. Over priced rides, and over priced parking etc is one reason that I did not bring the kids this year it was just to much. If it were in say July, or early August its alot less hindering. Just a thought.
Oct 15, 2009 at 7:17 p.m.
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Raising admission and parking fees in a recessionary period affects those who can least afford them. Does the fair really need top name entertainment in the grandstand? I and others stopped going to the fair years ago because nothing changes. It's the same vendors, same attractions, same rides. Go once and you'll never miss going to another one.
Oct 15, 2009 at 6:18 p.m.
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Two words....
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"Stripper Idol"
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