Where Are Our Priorities?
By Trent LoosSummer brings about many opportunities for family outings but for me there is none better than fairs. It doesn’t matter if it is a county or state fair, I think I would qualify as a fair groupie. Sadly however, one of the best methods for telling the story of agriculture and food production is in jeopardy. Fair boards all across the nation are seeking creative ways to replace funds once contributed by the government.
Leading the way appears to be my home state of Nebraska. The Nebraska State Fair saw its attendance dip 6% and ended up $975,000 in debt last summer after state budget cuts forced the elimination of cash prizes for winners of popular competitions such as the swine and llama shows. This year, Nebraska is restoring some prizes, cutting admission prices, and, like other states where attendance is down, seeking fresh and innovative sources of funding.
On the other end of the spectrum appears to be the Iowa State Fair. They have developed an excellent Foundation and obviously individuals within the organization have accepted and met the challenges to make the Iowa State Fair “Still the One”. That is the theme for this years fair which marks the 150th anniversary. Fair officials anticipate the third straight year of breaking the mark of one million in attendance.
I agree with Max Willis of the International Associations of Fairs and Expositions when he says, “Fairs are a strong basis for agriculture and a showcase for agriculture.” I think many state governments are overlooking a golden opportunity. They are looking to cut funding for events such as fairs while our society is spending record amounts of money on entertainment. Why can’t state fairs be an opportunity to combine education and entertainment?
Price Waterhouse Cooper recently reported that domestic spending will be up an average of 5.4% this year to $680 billion. $9.3 billion alone is left at the box office and another $9.1 billion goes toward record sales. Some states like Iowa have proven that all it takes is a little commitment and you can capture your fair share of the consumer’s entertainment budget. It wasn’t the Iowa State Legislature that understood this philosophy but it was the individuals who established the Iowa State Fair Foundation.
It appears most all State Governments see this as another opportunity to slash “non-essentials” from their budget. Fairs seem to rank right up there with education. My question is, if we have more money gathered from taxes and lottery proceeds now than ever before, where does all that money go?
A Golden Opportunity is being missed by state bureaucrats that vote to axe funds for state fairs. Those of us in agriculture have a soft spot for these events as there is no better window into our barnyard than the fair. Elkanah Watson, a New England patriot and farmer earned the title, “Father of US agricultural fairs” by tying two Marino sheep to an old elm tree in the town of Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1807. He reportedly said "Many farmers, and even women, were excited by curiosity to attend this first novel and humble exhibition."
I don’t buy the rhetoric about the need for budget cuts. I believe it is a matter of priority. It seems as though the elected officials need a little more encouragement from their constituents regarding the importance of education. Furthermore, by placing a priority on products produced in their home state, they would enhance the PRIDE of the residents of that state. People like to be a part of something positive. When thousands of people gather and get excited about something, it becomes infectious.
Whether it be food, natural resources or this nation’s greatest asset – it’s people - each state has something to brag about and proudly display. It seems to me any community should and would be willing to devote a little volunteer time to display the positive attributes we have to offer. I know of no better place than a state fair to provide a family atmosphere with the values and venues that laid the foundation for this great nation.
