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Committee holds fair meeting
Staff writer
niedbala@observer-reporter.com
JACKTOWN - The Jacktown Fair, considered the longest continuously operating fair in the nation, opened on Tuesday for its 142nd consecutive year.
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The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee held a public hearing at Jacktown to listen to concerns of those involved in fair operations, at small fairs like Jacktown as well as larger fairs like those in Fayette and Washington counties.
"Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in Pennsylvania. We have to do everything we can to help promote it," said committee chairman Rep. Michael K. Hanna, D- Lockhaven.
"Fairs have always been the place to showcase agriculture and the place to showcase our rural communities," he said.
The hearing, arranged with the help of state Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, gave committee members a chance to hear what was going on with fairs "out in the field," Hanna said.
Three committee members were present. Hanna explained others would have been in attendance but the Legislature had been in session until late Tuesday.
Members of the committee heard from fair sponsors who testified on the difficulties of financing a fair and of attracting volunteers to help staff events.
But they also heard of the benefits of fairs in educating the public about agriculture and in encouraging and teaching youth, especially those who participate in 4-H and FFA programs.
Walter "Buck" Burns, president of the Richhill Agricultural Society, which sponsors the Jacktown Fair, spoke of what his board must do to keep Jacktown running. The fair operates on a budget of about $200,000 a year. For premiums and other eligible expenses, the fair receives about $20,000 a year from the state, an amount that has not changed since about 1993, Burns said.
The fair gains other revenue from gate receipts, the county and local sponsors. It also receives state grants for capital improvements. But expenses continue to rise and in the end, Burns said, "we still have a lack of funds."
Fair board directors, he said, give generously of their time and equipment. Members of the all-volunteer board help to operate the fair, but also are asked to do other tasks such as solicit sponsors.
"It puts a big load on them to go out and hunt sponsorships," Burns said. "That's one thing making it harder to get volunteers to work for us," he said.
"I know that about all small fairs have the same problems as we have," Burns concluded. What makes it possible for Jacktown to continue, he said, is "our guys are so determined; they hang in there and dig in; that's what it's about."
Fairs in Pennsylvania attract more than 6 million visitors a year, said John Blaney, treasurer of the Fayette County Fair Board. "The fair is most often the largest single event held each year in a local community," he said.
Fairs often operate on limited budgets and must rely heavily on volunteers, he said. Blaney said he has 22 volunteers on his outdoor arena committee. His fair, he added, also has 35 other committees.
Blaney suggested employers be given incentives to allow employees to volunteer at the fairs.
He also spoke of the importance of fairs, saying they give young people the opportunity to showcase their 4-H and FFA projects. Nonprofit groups, such as fire companies and church groups, also benefit from the fair, which offers a good venue for fund raising, he said.
Other issues also were addressed. Dick Horstman, president of the Washington County Fair Board, told the committee the 1984 state law requiring inspection of amusement rides has been a success. "If it's not broke, don't fix it," he said.
Lee Robinson, past president of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs, asked the committee to work to restore $400,000 in funding to the state fair budget that had been dedicated to an arena in one county that was never built.
The state fair budget is now about $3.9 million, Robinson said. The budget covers fair reimbursements, 4-H and FFA contributions and contributions for capital improvements.
Several 4-H and FFA members also emphasized the importance of local fairs.
Kelley Morris, president of the Greene County 4-H Goat Club, spoke of the confidence and leadership skills she gained from participating in 4-H.
"The 4-H is more than just doing a project," she said. "It is a close community of youth building their leadership skills, learning to be better citizens and retaining the skills learned from their time in the community throughout their lifetimes," she said.
Morris also said her club needed additional space to show its animals particularly at small rural fairs.
Though rides and entertainment might help keep fairs profitable, she said, some of the "spotlight" should continue to focus on 4-H participants and their work. Roland Daniels, president of the Greene County Farm Bureau, also emphasized the importance of fairs and said he believed money spent on fairs is usually money well spent.
"Where can you better invest dollars than in a young person's mind?" he asked.
"Money spent encouraging our young people to become active in agriculture is going to be absolutely critical in making sure we continue to have young people come into this vocation, or business," Daniels said.
"It's terribly important," he added. "If we don't, next thing we're going to be doing is importing our food from China as well."
