By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
The Wood County Fair appears to be in good financial health in 2023 compared to a year ago, the fair board learned at its October meeting on Thursday.
The profit and loss report presented by Secretary-Treasurer Kathy Thomas showed a net income of $167,933 from Dec. 1, 2022, to October 25, 2023, compared to a loss of $44,983 during the same period in 2021-22. Gross profits for 2022-23 were $1,683,645 with total expenses of 1,515,711. The previous year had gross profits of $1,515,265 and total expenses of $1,560,348
Admissions income, rentals, state aid and local government grant-in-aid provided the biggest boosts in income this year. More than $400,000 was collected from admissions income, which included exhibitor tickets, general admissions, grandstand tickets and privilege tickets (pit passes). Last year’s admissions income was $317,682.
Of the almost $84,000 increase in admissions income, grandstand tickets provided more than $52,000 and general admission tickets accounted for nearly $36,000. Revenue from pit and vendor passes fell about $4,400.
The Craig Morgan and Easton Corbin concert was the biggest difference-maker for admissions income since the 2022 county fair did not have a grandstand music concert.
Just under 2,000 tickets were sold, including 200 VIP tickets, 363 on the track, 1,392 general admissions, and 40 for VIP sponsors, Thomas reported separately from the profit-loss report. Also, 62 media tickets were distributed.
While the Morgan.Corbin concert brought in $82,538, concert expenses totaled $84,757, a difference of about $2,200. Concert costs included $45,000 for Morgan, $30,000 for Corbin, and $8,500 for staging. She pointed out that the income totals do not include any income from concertgoers who came for the concert and paid gate admission.
In addition to more expenses for entertainment this year, the fair board also spent approximately $44,000 more for property services, including the installation of security cameras in conjunction with the Northwest Ohio Tractor Pullers.
“If you look at the comparisons, you may wonder why there are some accounts that seem to be off so much. Last year they were lumped into one account. This year, I broke the accounts down more so you can see where you are making money,” Thomas said.
Entertainment plans discussed
Dave Niez, entertainment committee chair, shared a tentative schedule for the main grandstand entertainment during the fair: Sunday, junior fair parade; Monday, cheerleading competition; Tuesday, harness racing; Wednesday, Micro Wrestling; Thursday, concert (undetermined); Friday, demolition derbies for combines, minivans; Saturday, tractor pull; and Sunday, car and truck demolition derby.
The committee is also thinking about finding some acts to fill in the gaps for families to watch, Nietz said. In the past they have had acts like racing pigs and log-rolling exhibitions “that gave something that kids can watch and give their parents a little break,” he said.
The cost usually runs about $1,500 per day. The fair’s eight-day schedule might be difficult to find available acts, he said. “I also know it’s hard to find good locations on the fairgrounds, but once we have our committee budgets, we’d like to consider it, so if anyone has any ideas for possible acts, let us know.”
Fair Board Director Jessica Nagel reported the judging categories have been finalized for the Home and Garden departments for 2024 and the specialty classes for 2025. A category for quilt blocks will be added into the needlework judging for 2024. The quilt blocks that are created in 2024 will be used to make a quilt that will be auctioned to help offset premium costs in 2025, she explained.
Eclipse camping in the works
Plans for the fair board to host camping at the fairgrounds for the 2024 total solar eclipse are under way, said Second Vice President Paul Perry. The special committee established in September is working on a plan to attract camping in the fairgrounds and possibly paid parking in the south parking lot.
“It will not be a free-for-all,” he said. “All of the sites will be assigned and they will be taken to their site.
“There will be no single-night camping. The reservations will be for the entire weekend,” he said. There will be a limited number of spots with electricity, with the possibility of adding more if the demand warrants it.
Social media messages about eclipse camping will be posted soon once details are finalized, he said. “We should know more by December or January. This could be big, or it could be small.”
In other business, the board:
- Agreed to allow Veterans Matter, an organization that assists homeless veterans, to use the south parking lot for a car show on June 8, 2024, pending proof of liability insurance and a $500 refundable deposit if they don’t use any electricity or require any grounds clean up after the show.
- Approved Melissa Leimgruber to fill a vacant seat on the board, representing District 3 which includes Milton, Liberty, Portage, Montgomery, Jackson, Henry, Bloom and Perry townships and the City of Bowling Green.
- Discussed the need for more sponsorships. John Nissen, fair board president plans to set up a “supercharged sponsorship committee” to identify more sponsorship opportunities and potential sponsors.
- Reported all the livestock sale checks have been mailed to junior fair members. Additionally, invoices have been mailed and calls are being made to a handful of sale sponsors who still owe money.
- Heard from Fair Director Tony Violi that the Halloween camping event had 45 campers and raised over $3,000.
