“Who cares about the economy? We got steak and taters!”
GOSHEN, Ind.— Americans will give up a lot in a recession, but the county fair apparently is not high on the list of sacrifices they are willing to make.
Organizers of many fairs and festivals around the country say they’re doing booming business this summer as families pass up expensive out-of-town trips in favor of cheaper ways to have fun.
With hundreds more state, county and arts fairs to come in August and September, it’s impossible to draw final conclusions about whether the fair business will finish up or down for the year, according to the International Association of Fairs and Expositions. But organizers of some fairs that have already come and gone said they did just fine despite the tough economic times.
Evidence of Americans’ love affair with the fair has been on display at the Elkhart County 4-H Fair, which opened Friday and runs through Saturday.
Fairgoers have been lining up outside Nedderman’s Sirloin Tip Steak stand, waiting for the concession’s celebrated beef chunks, mashed potatoes and sautéed mushrooms. A bargain, with a drink, at $11.
“Who cares about the economy? We got steak and taters!” bellowed one man as he joined the end of the line.
This hard-hit community, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the U.S. at 16.8 percent in June, is deeply loyal to this annual event, billed as the second-largest county fair in the nation. Even though budgets are tight and many fairgoers unemployed, few were willing to pass up what may be their only splurge of the summer.
“We may pay our utilities a little later,” said Howard Mishler, laid off by Monaco Coach last August but taking in the sights with granddaughters Faith and Hope, “but we still bring the kids to the fair.”
Signs of recession among the festivities
But that’s not to say that the recession is absent from the sprawling fairgrounds. It’s visible in the strained budget of 4-H exhibitors, in families cutting back on spending for games and concert tickets and in the last-minute availability of commercial space.
Blake Huston, manager of Mid America Shows, which provides rides and concessions here and at about 200 events across the country each year, said his company has seen a 20 percent decline in the number of fairgoers playing booth games from last year, while rides and food concessions are up a bit.
His theory: Paying to play a game does not assure that you will win a teddy bear, but when you pay for a ride you're sure to get what you paid for.
Another early indicator that fairgoers are being more cautious with their money is that fewer people are buying tickets on the “floor” of the major concerts, said Robin Haag, executive director of the fair.
“It used to be this major decision: Did you want the convenience of a reserved track seat, because then you can go out and enjoy the fair until 10 minutes before the show, or were you willing to sit in the grandstand for three hours to have a free seat?” she said.
But while the free seats in the stadium bleachers were packed this year for a concert by Three Dog Night, the crowd in the $25 seats down in front of the stage was sparse.
“People are giving up the convenience factor for economic reasons,” said Haag.
Livestock shows, auctions walloped
The heart and soul of the fair — livestock raising and showing by kids in 4-H clubs — also has taken a hit, in part because Elkhart County cut its contribution to help balance its strained budget.
The county’s 4-H clubs received $20,000 from the county this year — $12,000 less than in 2008. Next year, because of ongoing budget cutting, the clubs have been told to expect nothing.
“We’ve cut trips, supplies and cut recognition of volunteers,” said 4-H organizer Laurie Sula. “This program runs on volunteers.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32049802/ns/us_news-the_elkhart_project/
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