By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
With two months to go until the start of the 2023 Wood County Fair, the fair’s finances are substantially improving.
At the May fair board meeting on Thursday, Fair Board Treasurer Jim Grames reported the year-to-date figures don’t necessarily show the financial progress, but overall the budget numbers are headed in the right direction.
The year-to-date numbers between 2022 and this year show a difference in general operations of negative $49,000. However, Grames provided some of the reasons for the negative comparison, including a $29,000 payment for the concert, which last year’s fair didn’t have; a delay in membership ticket sales, accounting for about $4,000; and a slow start to receiving concessions contracts.
Fair Board President Kyle Culp affirmed the positive outlook for their finances. “Our finances look really, really good. With a net income of almost $228,000 compared to a loss of almost $50,000 last year, we are substantially better than we were a year ago.”
In continued preparation for this year’s fair, which is billed as the 150th Wood County Fair, the board approved appropriations for several important expenses.
Security costs for this year’s fair will increase slightly. The contract with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department was approved for $15,650, which included $10,650 for the deputies service, a $1,775 increase from 2022. According to Brock Abke, safety and security committee chair, the contract includes 355 hours for deputies to be on the grounds, 200 hours for auxiliary coverage at the gates and on the grounds, and for Explorer Scouts to help at the gates from 4 p.m. to midnight each day of the fair.
For EMS coverage during the fair, the board approved a contract for $3,100. Abke explained that the EMS contract with Wood County Hospital is paid through Wood County, but the fair pays for EMS squads to be on the grounds at $210 per day and $150 per special event. With 10 events at this year’s fair that will require squads, the EMS coverage contract is $1,500 for events and $1,600 for daily coverage.
An increase in fire department coverage during the fair will increase from $3,500 to $4,000. The contract with the Wood County Firefighters Association provides for a fire marshal to do initial inspections, daily walk-throughs, communications and dispatch and scheduling of departments throughout the day. With the increase, the firefighters’ association plans to “pay forward to the departments” that provide the fire coverage, Abke said. The remainder will go to the association.
The board also approved $12,000 to begin advertising for the fair. Fair Director Jessica Nagel, who heads the advertising, fundraising and sponsorships committee, plans to start working on television, radio and digital advertising for the fair, kicking off the major advertising campaign on July 1.
Angie Swartz, co-chair of the 150th-anniversary celebration, reported plans are falling into place for the celebration. There will be specialty merchandise available with the anniversary logo, including Christmas ornaments, shirts and baseball caps.
The committee is also working on a project to provide historical facts about the fair and the buildings on sandwich boards across the fairgrounds. According to Deanne Corken, co-chair of the anniversary celebration, they have collected facts about most of the buildings, but asked for additional information, especially for the pig barn, fine arts and women’s buildings.
In other committee announcements:
The 2023 Fair Books are printed and in the process of being distributed throughout the county.
Camping spots for the 2023 fair are sold out, according to Fair Manager Laura Westgate.
For this year’s Junior Fair King and Queen Contest, 22 king candidates and 33 queen candidates submitted nomination forms. The complete applications are due June 9 and the interviews will be July 9.
The parade committee is still looking for recommendations for a grand marshal.
The Memorial Day Campout Weekend includes activities such as a bike parade, DJ dance, crafts, and s’mores. Approximately 40 campsites have been reserved for the weekend event. Reservations continue to be available for the BG Boom events for the Fourth of July.
The number of overall beef projects at the fair is expected to be higher this year, which means space might be tight this year. Fair Board director Bob Strow indicated the biggest increase is in the number of registered beef feeder projects.
