HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 Mintues January 7 8 9 10 2024Grant County Fair
916 E. Elm Street Suite B
Lancaster, WI 53813
(608) 723-2135 Email – aolson@co.grant.wi.gov
AGRICULTURE AND EXTENSION
EDUCATION/FAIR COMMITTEE MEETING
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
January 7, 8, 9, 10, 2024
Chula Vista Resorts, Wisconsin Dells, WI
Sunday, January 7
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson, Pat Schroeder, in addition to Chairperson
Schroeder, were Gary Northouse, Joe Mumm, Kathy Kopp, Bob Keeney, Roger Guthrie, and
Amy Olson.
The meeting notice was posted at the Administration Building, UW-Extension Office, Youth &
Ag Center, and media by Amy Olson.
Motion by Gary Northouse, seconded by Joe Mumm to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Contracts were signed for the 2024 Grant County Fair for the following:
Tri-State Truck and Tractor Pullers, Saturday night grandstand - $9,200
Motion by Gary Northouse, seconded by Roger Guthrie to accepted the above contract. Motion
carried.
Discussion on the possibility of moving the Gotta Dance Academy of Performing Arts from
Friday to Sunday of the fair. Suggestion to have a band for senior citizen day on that Friday
instead of the Gotta Dance performance. Kathy knows of a band that would do well and will
contact them for availability and Amy will contact Brandi from Gotta Dance to see if the change
will work for them.
Discussion on what entertainment we have left to look for at the trade show.
Amy is going to check into the robotics team at UW-Platteville to see if they could do a
demonstration at the fair. Also, Amy will contact UW-Platteville to see if we can get the pioneer
guy dressed in costume and Bucky the Badger at UW-Madison.
Recess til call of Chair.
Monday, January 8
Those present were Pat Schroeder, Roger Guthrie, Gary Northouse, Kathy Kopp, Joe Mumm,
Bob Keeney, and Amy Olson
Committee board members and I attended workshops and the trade show today to find
entertainment for the fair.
We met with Badgerland Midways to discuss the 2024 fair and the future. Badgerland has
invested in kiosk stations for fairgoers to purchase tickets, mega passes, or daily passes.
Fairgoers will also be able to pick up wristbands for their pre-purchased mega passes from the
kiosk station. Kathi will let Amy know how the pre-purchased and sponsor passes will work this
Spring with these stations. The board and I agreed to stop selling mega passes at 5pm Tuesday,
August 13 (the day before the carnival opens). There will be a slight price change for 2024 passes
and the possibility of the fair office putting bands on people that pre-purchased mega passes on
Wednesday at 5pm. We also discussed lack of help and rides.
The board met with Badger State Tractor Pullers to discuss classes to run for the tractor/truck
pull. A proposal was drafted with classes and prices, and a final draft will be sent to Amy for the
board to look at during the January fair board meeting.
The board met with the WAF Auction Committee to discuss how the auction will run Monday
and Tuesday night.
Recess til call of Chair.
Tuesday, January 9
Those present were Pat Schroeder, Roger Guthrie, Joe Mumm, Gary Northouse, Bob Keeney, and
Amy Olson.
Committee board members and I attended workshops and the trade show today to find
entertainment for the fair. We got price quotes for strolling acts and musical acts.
Discussion was held on moving the wood carving tent and the eating tent between the Eckstein
Building and Jaycees Building. The kids tent will then move on the midway where the eating tent
was in 2023. Amy will measure out the spaces to see if this could be an option so the wood
carving tent won’t be next to the entertainment tent but still on the main drag.
Amy, Pat, and Joe additionally meet with Tim Stevens of G.L. Berg for prices on musical acts at
his condo. Amy will outline all quotes from today for the January fair board meeting.
Recess til call of Chair.
Wednesday, January 10
Those present were Pat Schroeder, Roger Guthrie, Joe Mumm, Bob Keeney, and Amy Olson.
Members of the board and I attend the WAF business meeting and the board attended our district
meeting in the morning. Workshops in the afternoon with fairest banquet that evening.
Discussion on convention topics and the Chula Vista resort were held. Next year’s convention
will be held again at the Chula Vista, January 5-8, 2024. We are contracted through 2025.
All concerns and suggestions that were discussed at the district meeting will be brought to the rest
of the Wisconsin Association of Fair’s Board at our next state board meeting February 17 and 18,
2024 at the Chula Vista Resort, which Amy will be attending as the District Director.
Carnival workshop presenter, Shari Black, gave a presentation on the future of the carnival
industry. It was expressed that if you have a carnival right now, do your best to keep it and not
change as all carnivals are having issues with help and being able to run their rides. The OABA
is also working to have a law change so more workers can come from oversees to help the
carnival industry. This was a particular informative workshop for us, as we have been having
those issues with our carnival.
Next meeting is Monday, January 29, 2024.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Olson, CFE
Grant County Fairgrounds & Operations