We had a great fair this year. The weather was perfect and attendance was excellent.

Due to our aggressive fair specials, (Wednesday was free for everyone, 12 and under free everyday, and buy one fair pass and get the second one at half-price) our revenue from ticket sales decreased 20 percent from 2006 (but not from the years prior to 2006). Saturday ticket revenue was down 25 percent from 2006 (but not from the years prior to 2006), which was a little bit of a surprise. The positive part of the fair specials was that more people could afford to attend.

The vendors and carnival staff commented they were busier this year on Wednesday and Thursday than in 2006, which they attributed to these reduced rates and the Blue Mountain Eagle and Bisnett Insurance Community Appreciation Day on Thursday.

The pie auction and country market made over $700 for the Pavilion table and chairs fund. In fact, one pie went for over $90!

There were 121 Open Class Youth exhibitors and 149 Open Class Adult exhibitors an overall increase of 21 exhibitors of 2006. Open Class Youth entries numbered 601 and adult entries were 714, an increase in Open Class entries over 2006 by 202. The 4H & FFA had 627 entries, down from 912 in 2006, and 143 exhibitors down from 228 in 2006.

The 3-on-3 basketball tournament, a new event this year thanks to Kim Joslin, started slowly Wednesday, but more teams joined quickly when they realized what it was about. The winning teams won T-shirts that said “2007 Grant County Fair 3-on-3 Champs.” Ryan Carpenter, David Gill & Gordon Beil are excited to take the lead for next year and plan to get more teams involved not only locally but also from out of the area. It should become a very popular annual event.

To help with limited parking on the fairgrounds, Roy Densberger helped us find four John Day Golf Course members (Mike Lenz, Ron Lundbom, Gene Officer and the “Prineville Boys”) who would loan their golf carts to use as a means to shuttle fairgoers from the Third Street extension parking or other neighboring streets to the fairground gates. It was such a success, next year we plan to have more golf carts, drivers, longer hours and schedules.

The Grant County Fair Staff and Fair Board hope that you enjoyed the 2007 Fair & Rodeo.

Stephanie Walters is the manager of the Grant County Fairgrounds.