By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The summer season is also the county fair season, and both are about to get into full swing.

Kentucky is home to well over 100 such local extravaganzas that have remained popular from generation to generation, and no one knows this better than the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s (KDA) director of Show and Fair Promotion, Steve Mobley.

“About 108 of the 120 counties have a fair of some sort and typically each summer, somewhere in the neighborhood of two million people will visit a county fair across the state; that’s right at half the entire population of Kentucky,” he said. “So, we do very well.”

Mobley pointed out that even in a tough economy, the fair business has been good.

“The economy was pretty bad last year, too and we didn’t see any significant decrease in attendance. As a matter of fact, we may have seen an increase,” he said. “I think a lot of that is due to the fact that at a time when people go to Florida or Myrtle Beach, now they are staying home and many are visiting their county fairs.
“I think we underestimate what an economical engine these fairs are to the communities, with people coming from surrounding counties buying gas and eating meals. They’re spending money. The county fair program is alive and well in the state of Kentucky.”
Mobley also said many of these fairs, even though they may be small in size, have top-notch livestock shows and exhibitions.

“You take places like Germantown, in Mason County – it’s one of the best livestock shows on the county fair circuit,” he said. “Their numbers will rival those of the state fair as far as what they sell the champion steers, lambs and hogs for; it’s a tremendous event.”
Mobley mentioned the Mercer County Fair, too which bills itself as the country’s longest continuously running county fair. The event got its start in 1828.

While each fair is different, most have a fair board that helps run the show almost completely through the work of volunteers.
“That’s one thing that is really amazing, these things are put on by people that believe in their community and believe in what they’re doing and they go to work to have a great event,” he said.
For some, the fair is a central part of their summer as they plan vacations, reunions and other events that center on their county fairs, said Mobley. The KDA does its share to make these fairs successful.

In January it hosts a county fair convention for board members and representatives to attend to learn and plan, and even make arrangements with vendors and amusement companies. The department also provides matching funds, for those fairs offering a premium up to $4,500 for youth events.

“Commissioner Richie Farmer is a firm believer and strong supporter of our youth programs,” said Mobley. “He knows how important they are and he makes sure, no matter how difficult the budget times are, that he finds some money in there for 4-H and FFA kids.

“There are a lot of things competing for their attention these days, whether it be sports or the arts, and we feel like our programs are as good as any and we want to encourage kids to participate.”
Mobley added the youth programs not only teach about animal and science skills but about responsibility and life skills.

His six years on the job has brought him together with fair people from all over the state and one thing that stands out is the fact that each fair takes on its own personality, creating a unique fit into the community.

Of course, the state fair is sort of the culmination of all the county fair programs and becomes the goal of many, whether it is livestock shows or other events.

“It’s kind of the Super Bowl. It is where they all want to wind up and compete and I think we have one of the best state fairs in the country,” said Mobley. “It was a big deal to me when I was a kid, and it still is.”

For more information about fairs in Kentucky, go to www.kyagr.com/marketing/fair