Pre-Fair Podcasts

Countyfairgrounds, USA or countyfairgrounds.net is actively seeking fairs and fairground events who would like free advertising exposure in the form of national and state specific podcasts. We do podcasts of 15 minutes over the phone. The podcasts are recorded, downloaded ad put through a sound editor. They are then uploaded to our national RSS feed which is a national feed and available on I-Pods. This is a free service. Podcasts are typically done with fair managers or public relations people about three to four weeks out from an event. Questions of the podcast cover items like: the history of the event, age of event, activities of event, what is new and exciting at the event this year, what makes it cost effective for families, what is there for children to do, what is there for the seniors, what is there for the teenagers, do you have exhibit building and what is in them, how many food vendors and types of food., special events at the fair, grandstand entertainment, strolling entertainment...carnival specials and information, any special program you have involving the community in your event. The podcasts are being done to help you with having absolutely free exposure for your event. Please e-mail Karen at karen@countyfairgrounds.net to schedule your pre event podcast.

Second Life Virtual State Fair to Celebrate eXtension Launch

Celebrate the launch of eXtension with colleagues from across the country...and people from all over the world... at the eXtension Virtual State Fair in the 3-D online community Second Life!

Watch video of the eXtension ribbon cutting ceremony streamed into Second Life from the USDA Ag Outlook Forum. Visit the Expo Tent spotlighting 16 Communities of Practice. Take a virtual horseback ride, tour the animal barns, try out the bumper cars…and the virtual cotton candy is calorie-free! Fireworks, games and live music performances will be scheduled throughout the three day celebration, on February 21, 22 and 23, 2008.

Fair Accident

Posted: 4:33 PM Feb 8, 2008
Last Updated: 8:34 PM Feb 8, 2008
Reporter: bobeth yates
Email Address: bobeth.yates@wjhg.com

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Teenage Girl Seriously injured in Walton County Fair Accident

Each year thousands of people line-up to ride carnival attractions at area county fairs, without much thought for their safety.

We have a story about a Defuniak Springs family that might make you think twice about those rides.

Their day of thrills has turned into a life time of tragedy.

On Oct. 7, 14-year-old Katherine Cosson, her mother and some of her brothers and sisters decided to have a little fun at the Walton County Fair.

Katie and her sister Seana climbed aboard a ferris wheel-like ride with enclosed cages called the rock-o-plane.

Katherine's Mother Valerie Cosson says the ride changed life forever.

Karen's note: this is serious. There are a lot of carnival companies out there who don't train their ride attendants well, they are also not well supervised and often very tired and dirty to boot. It is a subject that should be brought to the attention of everyone. Everyone really should help and be concerned about this problem.

Florida State Fair on MySpace

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All acts, concerts, scheduled times, exhibitors, prices, and other advertised events are subject to change and/or cancel without notice. Fair gate admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages six to 11; and free for children five and younger. NO RE-ENTRY is permitted without an admission ticket. Gates open daily at 9 a.m. and parking is free during the 12 days of the Fair.

The Florida State Fairgrounds is located just seven miles east of downtown Tampa, with easy access via I-75, I-4, U.S. Highway 301, Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, and Orient Road. For more information about the 2008 Florida State Fair, call toll-free (800) 345-FAIR or (813) 621-7821, visit http://www.floridastatefair.com/ or http://myspace.com/floridastatefair.

The 104th annual Florida State Fair will take place on February 7-18, 2008. The Florida State Fair – always in Tampa and always in February – is organized by the Florida State Fair Authority under the leadership of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson leads the Fair Authority, which oversees the Florida State Fairgrounds and the annual Florida State Fair.

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For media inquiries, please contact:
Denise Shreaves: shreavd@doacs.state.fl.usThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Manager of Marketing & Public Relations
Florida State Fair Authority
Phone (813) 627-4314 / Cell (813) 732-0141

Trailfire Trail - Arizona

Hello, yesterday I visited the Pima County Fair in Tucson. Boy, is this a well run fair. The fair was in its 10th day of operation, but you'd never know it from the attendance and activities going on. Some of my favorite things were the Giant Aquarium (one of the world's largest raveling aquariums with free fishing lessons for kids under 12 - Have Trunk Will Travel, Asian Elephant Exhibit, Sea Lion Splash (if you can imagine Sea Lions in the desert no less) - Mopapa Acrobats (who really really moved despite the heat). Super Science Exhibit (a real learning experience for kids and adults) The Budweiser Clydesdales and last but certainly not least the Freak Show!! featuring John Shaw and George the Giant performing among other things: Bed of Nails, Fire Breathing (fascinating), Sword Swallowing (yes, folks the sword was real), Bug EAting, Conortions, Escape acts and more...
Unfortunately, I couldn't stay to see what was on the main stage but I bet it was great. They had of course, the usual cows, pigs, goats and sheep - which included the annual action.
This fairboard really rocks - and so does this fair,,, I give it an A PLUS. If you ever get a chance to go. I guarantee a great time for any age. Well, except for the heat - except this is Arizona you know.

Streaker Sentenced to Help County Fair

JACKSON, Wyo., Mar. 26, 2007 (AP Online delivered by Newstex)
-- A man arrested for streaking during the Teton County Fair's annual demolition derby must volunteer 40 hours of service to this year's fair, under a plea agreement a judge approved. Seamus McKinney, 25, also will be placed on a year of supervised probation.

The demolition derby is always the last event at the fair. A rash of streaking at the derby over the last couple of years has led to arrests and warnings from police that anyone caught streaking would face severe penalties.

In 2005, a sheriff's deputy used a Taser to subdue a man who was running naked through the arena with a fire extinguisher. In 2006, the same deputy repeatedly punched a streaking man after the man lowered his shoulder and ran into the officer.

McKinney was arrested at last summer's derby and charged with three misdemeanors and a felony. The felony charge of interfering with an officer and causing or attempting to cause bodily harm was later reduced to a misdemeanor.

Under the plea agreement, McKinney pled guilty to one misdemeanor charge of interference with a peace officer. All other charges were dismissed.

Clay County Florida Agricultural Fair

Since 1987 the Clay County Agricultural Fair has provided North Florida with a Family oriented event. The Clay County Agricultural Fair strives to be a showcase for Clay County's agricultural, educational, civic and commercial interests, providing an opportunity for citizens to work and have fun together. Along with outstanding exhibits, there will be free amusements and attractions everyday at the Fair, like K-9 Frisbee, pig races and much more. The Florida High School Rodeo Association will hold a sensational High School Rodeo . You will see nationally recognized entertainers daily on the Fairs Main Stage. Take a walk back in time to the Early Florida Exhibit open during daylight hours on both weekends.

We look forward to seeing you during the ten (10) days of fun and excitement at the 21st Annual Clay County Agricultural Fair.

Champlain Valley Fair wins Awards, VT

The 85th annual Champlain Valley Fair in Essex Junction earned multiple honors, including the the John Deere Sweepstakes Award for Overall Top Agricultural Fair in all divisions from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions.

The Fair, which hosted 281,000 visitors in 2006, competed in the division for Fairs with attendance of 250,001-500,000 in attendance. Champlain Valley Exposition General Manager David F. Grimm, CFE, and Communications Director Stephen Mease accepted the awards at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions annual convention in Las Vegas, Dec. 4-7:


The list of awards Champlain Valley Fair won includes:

Sweepstakes Award for Overall Top Agricultural Fair in all five IAFE divisions.
Sponsored by John Deere.

- First Place for Non-Fair Agricultural Event of Program - Everything Equine
- First Place for Agricultural Photo - Agricultural Series photo by Stephen Mease
- First Place for Competitive Exhibits Judging with Fair Guests in Attendance
- First Place for Competitive Exhibit Display Photo Series by Stephen Mease
- Second Place for Printed Material to Promote Agricultural Programs
- Second Place for Media Commitment to Agriculture - Newspaper
- Second Place for Fair Agricultural Photo by Stephen Mease
- Second Place for Communications - Media Guide/Press Kit
- Third Place for Special Agricultural Event or Exhibit for Fairgoing Public
- Third Place for Communications - Email Newsletter

In other recognition this fall, The 2007 Champlain Valley Fair was named to the prestigious Top 100 Events in America list from the American Bus Association. It was the only Vermont event to receive the designation.

Everything Equine, sponsored by Champlain Valley Exposition and University of Vermont Extension has been named a "Top Ten Winter Event" by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, along with the Vermont Flower Show, which returns to the Robert E Miller Expo Centre on March 9-11. Everything Equine will be held April 28-29 at the Exposition.



Heavyweight pumpkin champion Kevin Companion of Huntington, VT brings one of his big pumpkins to the Champlain Valley Fair. Photo by Stephen Mease

State Fair Magic - Colorado State Fair

By Christi Lightcap

Director of Communications

Colorado Department of Agriculture



When I was a little girl, the fair was a magical place. Several families would get together and make the trek to Pueblo each summer for the biggest event of our summer vacations. All of us kids would run frantically from ride to ride at the carnival trying to stuff as much ice-cold lemonade and cotton candy into our mouths as we possibly could. It was a day spent laughing and having fun until the sun would set and we would finally load back up, exhausted from our day’s adventures, we would be asleep in the back seat by the time we got out of town.
At eleven, I thought I hit the big-time when my square dancing team performed in the 4-H building. I remember feeling so special walking around the fair in my pretty dress. I felt like an elite team. I just knew people were impressed; thinking, "Wow—she must be performing at the state fair!"
I remember the summer I rode a swinging Pirate Ship over and over again. I rode until I puked and I bravely got back in line for another ride. I felt like a super-hero.
Those are the things great childhood memories come from. But like all things, the glimmer and magic fades with age.
For years, even once I moved to Pueblo, I didn’t attend the fair. I became one of those cynics that say things like, "It’s the same thing every year." "It costs too much money." Or, "I have better things to do." Living just miles from the fair, I lost my desire to go. As an adult, I had forgotten what a wonderful place the State Fair could be. The magic was gone.
In May, 2006, I became the Director of Communications for the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Part of my job entails Public Relations for the Colorado State Fair. It would be my duty to organize media and press releases during the fair. Being the cynic I am, I figured it’s not the ideal way to spend my summer, but I could do this because I am a professional.
I must admit, I was nervous. How was I going to promote a fair I hadn’t been to in years? How was I going to find new and interesting stories for reporters every day?
But I did my best and worked hard everyday. All of the press was good and fair drew statewide attention. That’s success in my line of work.
After eleven days of non-stop work and worry, the Colorado State Fair came to an end. Here I am looking back at a whirlwind two weeks. The carnival rides are coming down, the food vendors are gone and the reporters have wrapped up their stories. I am now headed home.
I’m enjoying the peace and quiet. And I’m sad.
The Colorado State Fair isn’t the fair I remember as a kid. It’s so much more. I have traveled the grounds I ran through as a child.
I’ve seen the kids taking loving care of their animals, dreaming of a blue ribbon.
I’ve talked to a woman who was so proud of her granddaughter’s cinnamon roll recipe.
I’ve stood behind the bucking chutes as the clouds part and a rainbow greets rodeo fans.
I have smiled at the poet who sits on top of a long-horned steer, quoting his rhymes to those who will listen.
I’ve seen thousands of children running through the carnival, jamming down a corndog as they sprint to the next ride.
And I saw a little girl, a much younger version of me, walking hand in hand with her mom. This little girl was wearing a bright green, frilly, tap dance outfit with a matching hat. She had bright red lipstick and a huge smile on her face. I looked at that proud little girl, and I thought, "Wow, she must be performing at the State Fair."
Each person I came across was creating a new set of magical memories.
Now, at age 34, I no longer talk or see those young friends I once race around the fairgrounds with so many years ago. But those fond memories are still there.
I am no longer a child, but as a woman, that state fair magic I once believed in has returned. I look at the Colorado State Fair with new eyes. Not of a child. Not of a cynic. But as a woman who has found that magic again.
I close this out hoping that in 2007, young and old alike head to Pueblo in hopes of finding a little State Fair magic of their own.