Free gate admission set for county fair

The Jefferson County Fair Board has eliminated gate admission for the 2011 Greater Jefferson County Fair.

?We?ve been thinking about this four or five years,? said fair board president Steve Fritchen. ?We?re trying to bring more people into the fair and the vendors.?

Fair board secretary Jared Schultz agreed the intention is to get rid of something that might be holding people back from attending.

Last year, gate admission was reduced $1 from $3 to $2 with the same hopes. Fritchen said the drop had little effect on attendance, so this year the fair board wanted to do even more to help out the community as other prices, like that of gas, soar.

The fair board hopes to offset the loss of revenue with increased pit and grandstand admissions, as well as the fair?s sponsorship program, Fritchen said. Schultz said admission to grandstand events will only increase minimally and increased pit admission may not be necessary.

Last year, admission to grandstand events was $7 per night.

Grandstand events this year will include Tough Trucks Thursday, quad races Friday, a tractor pull all day Saturday and a demolition derby Sunday.

Entertainment on the free stage will include bands Thursday and Friday, as well as a hypnotist Thursday evening. The Bill Riley talent contest will take place Wednesday evening.

The fair?s sponsorship program recognizes businesses and individuals at three levels of support. Sponsors are listed in the fair booklet and on billboards on the fairgrounds.

The sponsorship program, which has been in existence the past couple years, helped make the reduced gate admission possible last year.

Anyone interested in being a sponsor should contact Schultz at 472-4121.

Fritchen said the theme of the 2011 year fair will be decided this month by a committee that selects from ideas submitted by local 4-H groups.

Last year?s theme was ?a squealing? wheelin? good time at the 2010 Jefferson County Fair.? The cover of the fair booklet was designed by members of the Des Moines Ramblers 4-H Club: Molly Blakley, Taylar Brown, Kaylynn Lagle, Shelby Lagle and Brittany McElderry.