Pitzer speaks on fair weather
By Steve Herring
Published in News on February 29, 2016 1:46 PM
This past year was a record setter for the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair, just not the kind of record anyone wanted, fair Manager Eddie Pitzer said.
"We had 13 days of continuous rainfall prior to, and during, the first weekend of the fair, four of the 10 days of the fair we did not open, and on the last Friday evening we had a record attendance mostly due to the forecast predicting rain on Saturday," Pitzer said.
The only option was to plan for this year and continue on, Pitzer told the more than 200 people attending the 68th annual meeting of the Wayne County Livestock Development Association held Feb. 22 at Lane Tree Golf Club.
The nonprofit association sponsors the fair.
The heavy rains also resulted in all of the livestock shows being canceled on the first weekend, he said.
However, contests such as the Queen of the Fair and several vocational competitions were still held.
"Even with the rainy conditions, we had good quality exhibits and participation in the competitions," Pitzer said. "The total number of exhibits entered was up, but the number of exhibitors entering items was slightly down."
Despite the rain-abbreviated schedule, the fair won the first-place Agriculture Award and Youth Award from the N.C. Association of Agricultural Fairs Convention and the Got to be N.C. Award given by the N.C. Department of Agriculture.
Retired fair manager Milton Ingram was also presented with an honorary life membership into the N.C. Association of Agricultural Fairs Convention for his service to the association.
The fair won four awards in competition sponsored by the International Association of Fairs and Expositions.
It won first places in general display for non-competitive or noncommercial display that was created by the fair or one of its noncommercial partners and for a competitive event.
It won a second-place award for a new or unique display and a third-place award for noncommercial or non-competitive display.
Pitzer estimates the fair suffered about a 60 percent decrease in revenue because of the weather.
Several years ago the association board began looking into the financial future of the association, President Curtis Shivar said.
"We identified capital and improvement projects, we also identified the need for operating funds each year," he said. "Therefore, the board has established a reserve fund that will allow the association to operate using its own funds in the event of a week of rain or some other occurrence that may prevent holding a fair.
"We may have to use part of that fund this year."
The association's original purpose was to promote livestock in the county and that remains it primary objective, Shivar said.
The fair and annual livestock show and sale remain the association's main two activities, he said.
Other objectives include promoting agricultural youth activities and the county's agricultural heritage, Shivar said.
"Rentals (of the fairgrounds) provide some income, but the fair remains the major source of revenue for the association," Shivar said. "Individuals and businesses have shown their support of the association by purchasing animals at the Junior Livestock Show and Sale, renting space at the fair, sponsoring fair contests, purchasing gate admissions for employees, general sponsorship of the fair and other ways."
Many changes have occurred since the association formed, Shivar said.
For example, livestock production has gone from a few animals on a farm to large commercial swine and poultry operations, he said.
Wayne County is the fourth-largest agriculture county in the state with agriculture accounting for 22 percent of the county's gross income, he said.
"Livestock production and sales represent 73 percent of the total cash farm receipts in Wayne County compared to the state average of 63 percent," he said. "The county ranks fourth in swine production and fifth in turkey production.
"Five of the six largest businesses in Wayne County are agribusiness. Considering these facts, agriculture has a prominent place in the economy of Wayne County."
The association continues to invest in making improvements to the fairgrounds, Pitzer said.
In 2015, a new 60-foot-by- 100-foot shelter was constructed in the grandstand area for the livestock shows.
New and brighter lighting was installed in the parking lots along U.S. 117 that moved the wiring underground and the light poles to the fence line to help provide more parking.
Some of the wooded section in the rear parking lot was cleared to add parking for an additional 200 vehicles, Pitzer said.
As Pitzer was preparing to speak some in the audience began joking as to how long it would take him to mention how many more days before the 2016 fair.
"I don't know if you realize it, but it is only 220 days until the opening day of the fair, and we've been busy working on the details for this year's fair," Pitzer said. "We have another great lineup of free entertainment scheduled for the fair."
The main stage will include the K-9s In-flight Frisbee and Dock Diving Dogs. Josh and Lea Extreme Illusions and Escapes will perform in the pavilion.
The Motocross Madness and Freestyle Show will be held over three days at the grandstand.
"Powers Great American Midway will be returning again this year with a variety of rides and games to amuse young and old," Pitzer said. "We're fortunate to have one of the best and safest midways in the carnival industry."
The goal is to continue to keep agriculture and youth involvement as the main focus of the fair, he said.
"Fairs are about fun," Pitzer said. Fun for the whole herd. This year's fair is scheduled for Sept. 29 to Oct. 8. We look forward to seeing you at the fair."