Fair Board Chooses Next Year’s Theme
COLUSA, CA (MPG) – With the 2023 Colusa County Fair wrapped up, the 44th District Agricultural Association has started planning next year’s exposition.
The Fair Board on June 28 selected “Star-Spangled Summer” as the 2024 fair theme so board committees, youth groups, and local organizations can begin planning next year’s theme-related activities.
Fair officials said the theme is everything when it comes to decorating and marketing.
“We like to pick ones that are the easiest to decorate for,” Director Mike Doherty.
Patriotic themes with red, white, and blue have been used before, including “Barn in the USA,” which was used twice in 2020 virtual livestock auction and 2021 in-person livestock show and sale, which were the only fair-associated activities held during the pandemic.
The Fair Board voted 8-0 for “Star -Spangled Summer,” to also coincide with a presidential election. Director Victor Matamoros was the only member not present.
Fair CEO Laura Ford said she received many suggestions from the public, including “Derby Cars and Stock Show Stars,” the theme preferred by Derby enthusiast and 44th President Terry Bressler. Themes related to carnival lights, country roots, hogs, and bounty of the county were too much like those previously used in the near 85-year history of the county fair.
“Some people came up with clever ones,” Ford said, after opening nominations on social media.
Since the Colusa County Fair wrapped on June 11, directors have discussed in length the “hits” and “misses” of the second in-person fair post COVID-19, and the first fair since Governor Gavin Newsom terminated the state’s COVID-19 State of Emergency in March, which brought out a greater number of people this year. Among the most vulnerable to the virus, senior citizens returned to the 2023 fair in droves, officials said.
About 1,400 people (13+) purchased advanced tickets and another 9,400 bought tickets at the gate, a 5% increase over 2022, and an 8% increase over 2019 and 2018.
The Junior Livestock Auction also saw a jump in sales, from $1.33 million in 2022 to $1.52 million this year, Ford said.
The biggest “hit” of 2023 was the new carnival company. Ford said Paul Mauer Shows had one less ride than the previous provider, but they were more modern and exciting, making it the best carnival the fairgrounds has seen. Now that the new provider, based out of Huntington Beach, has a better feel of the layout, the carnival is expected to be even bigger and better next year, Ford said.
The fair also held its first Weenie Dog Races, which will return in 2024.
“They were fun and very well attended,” said Director Laurie Costa. “It’s nice to be able to offer our community something new.”
The fair, of course, did not go on entirely without some “hiccups.”
Officials said beyond the regular issues, such as temporarily lost children and public intoxication, a large group of juveniles staged a “gang fight” as a Tik Tok stunt, including shouts of “shots fired,” which sent people scattering to the exit.
Directors also received complaints about the sharp decline in community participation, and hope to boost exhibit entrees next year, especially in the baking and canning categories.
The Fair Board also wants to increase the purse for the Destruction Derby to attract more drivers willing to invest in vehicles.
Doherty suggested a return of the “Chain and Go” class to promote greater interest in the derby and to give people on a limited budget an opportunity to compete.
Directors said they also noticed a general disrespect among youth, parents, and community members for showmanship judges.
Director Jamie Traynham said the public does not have to like or agree with the judges, but they do need to respect them.
“It’s sad to say but Colusa County did no to that,” Traynham said.
Other concerns the board wants to address before next year include amplification and sound issues at the derby, layout of fair, and parking. Directors also plan to review trailer leases and placement.
“We just have to make better use of our space,” Doherty said.
Directors, overall, said the fair was great, it met or exceeded their expectations, and comments from the public were mostly positive. H