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.

Broward County Fair Florida, Nov. podcast

Hi, I interviewd Elaine Fitzgerald of the Broward County Fair in Fort Lauderdale, about this years 31st fair with an attendance of 250,000. The unique thing about this fair is that it is in a parking lot, they don't have a permanent fairgrounds yet.

"Jawz"
Phillip Peters brings the first traveling live shark show
in North America to the guests of the Broward County Fair.
Fact and fiction about sharks are discussed before Peters plunges
into the 5,000 gallon tank to swim with the sharks.

Charlotte's Web Arena
Rounding the turn at break-neck speeds is everyone's
favorite Racing Pigs! Watch as these swift swine race to
the finish for their favorite treat - cookies! "Pig Rooters" will be
chosen from the audience to help cheer on their team's porker.

OK Corral
A trip back in time with an old-time general
store, crafts and stories of days gone-by.
See a traveling mercantile complete with goods,
a working smokehouse and apple cider press.

Over the Rainbow
Who will he be today? Look up and spot the tallest thing
on two legs on the fairgrounds. Will he be the "Tin Woodsman"
or the loveable "Scarecrow?" Visit with this fair-favorite
several times daily near the OK Corral.

Showtime Stage
The "Best of Broward" appears on the Showtime Stage.
There will be the Miss Broward, dance and talent
competitions, on-the-spot-contests, band performances,
karate demos and much more.

Animal Show Tents
4-H Exhibits and Demonstrations
Horticulture Tent
Proudly showcases one of Florida's
major industries...agri-business.

Mr. Show Biz
Our beloved themed Fair mascot.

National Peanut Festival 2007

Saturday I did a interview with the president of the Alabama Fair Association on the phone. He was at the second day of the National Peanut Festival in Dothan Alabama. I don't know about you but I love peanuts. He also happens to be the Vice President of this festival and he is 75 years old and going strong I might add. We all should have so much energy at the age of 75. We talked for quite awhile about peanuts and the festival. Its a very very interesting podcast.
The following is by: Carrie Cavender from the National Peanut Festival's website.

HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL PEANUT FESTIVAL

As the peanut harvest arrives to the Alabama, Georgia, and Florida tri-states; people gear up for an enormous event that is held each year to celebrate the important role peanuts play in Southeast Alabama, known by locals as the "Wiregrass" area. During this time, residents also extend a salute to the actual peanut producers of this crop for their continued hard work and dedication in producing this healthy and tasty nut.

Known as the "Peanut Capital of the World," Dothan, Alabama, is a prime location for producing peanuts. In fact, if you're in Dothan, you're in the heart of peanut country considering this area produces more than 65% of all the peanuts produced in the United States.

There is no doubt that peanuts play a vital role in this area and with that in mind, let's take a look at the history of the National Peanut Festival.

A festival honoring the peanut was inaugurated in 1938 on a near freezing Thursday, November 10. The three day event included a pageant, a parade, a historical play, and a grand ball. The honored guest speaker was a modest, unassuming man from Tuskegee Institute who gained international fame with his development of over 300 products from the peanut, Dr. George Washington Carver.

In 1940, the Chester R. Vickery Post No. 12 of the American Legion sponsored the peanut festival and cadets from the new Advance Flying School at Napier Field were featured in the 1941 shortened version of the festival.

The peanut festival was celebrated annually through 1941. During the years of World War II, the festival was not held, but in 1947, the Jaycees presented the first post-war festival and has continued every year since.

By 1952, the National Peanut Festival had expanded to the degree that the Chamber of Commerce no longer had sufficient time to sponsor and oversee the event. After the 1953 National Peanut Festival, it was decided that a carnival should be included to help finance the annual event.

Although the festival has been held in various locations, with most of its past years at he Houston County Farm Center, the NPF purchased 150 acres located on U. S. Highway 231 in 1993 from Mrs. Broma Adams, whose late husband was president of the NPF in 1963. The move from the farm center to the new location took place in 1999, with a large celebration and festival activities centered around the appropriate theme, "A Peanut Premiere."

Today, the National Peanut Festival has grown from a three-day event in the late 30's, to a ten-day event with attendance in excess of 163,000 visitors to the fairgrounds. With such an enormous event, the NPF has more than 500 volunteers who give countless hours to the festival in order to continue its success. The peanut, peanut growers, and the entire Wiregrass agriculture industry is to be commended for their dedication and for giving the area a reason for celebrating such an important economic product.

Entertainers? are you looking to get booked?

I am starting to do a whole series of podcasts that talk about how entertainers can get booked at county and state fairs. You want information? Here is very very specific information. Below is a podcast on entertainers from October 2007, from the Central Florida Fair in Orlando, which takes place in April 2008 and is 96 years old. It is a discussion on how many stages she has, how many entertainers, what kind of entertainers she has and is looking for and when and what and how to submit your applications to her to get booked. It is very specific. This podcast is now free to you. There is a PayPal link to the right so you can subscribe to these podcasts. Cost is $25.00 for a year. There will be many more podcasts like this. Unfortunately, it takes time and effort and hence the charge. If there are any specific fairs you would like to have me interview regarding this please let me know by sending a e-mail to me. karen@countyfairgrounds.net

Countyfairgrounds, USA - Podcasts

Hello, as you may or may not know, there have been a bunch of podcasts done lately. Podcasting is a fairly new thing. If you haven't checked out our podcast page please do at the above link. There are some interesting things there. If you have something to contribute please e-mail me and let me know. We do have a lot of traffic. Our traffic slows down in November and is less in December and starts picking up in January and then more in February. The point is that - if you have something to contribute to the podcasts - like maybe you would like to do one with us, or have an idea for one - I would like to know. We are going to go into how vendors and food concessionaires can get booked at different events. Also planned are entertainers podcasts. I will be doing one on how to get booked at the Central Florida Fair coming up shortly. There will be more of these kind of podcasts. Looking forward to hearing from you.