2015 Fayette County Fair proved one of best attended in recent years
Good weather helped make the 2015 Fayette County Fair one of the best attended in recent history, increasing revenue that helped the fair’s bottom line and providing a strong showing for the 4-H livestock auction that had another record-breaking year.
“We really had a strong fair this year. It was way better than the year before when we had nothing but rain. The weather cooperated and the crowds were good. We guesstimate it was probably the second or third largest attendance in the last 10 to 12 years,” said Bill Jackson, fair board president, who estimated crowds reached 98,000 during the 10-day fair that ran from July 30 to August 8.
Jackson spoke during Monday night’s annual dinner meeting of the Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association Inc., held in the Fiddlers Building at the fairgrounds in Dunbar Township.
Good weather during the fair meant no shows were canceled in 2015, compared to a rainy 2014 fair when shows were canceled three nights in the Chevron Outdoor Arena.
Treasurer John Blaney said revenue was up over $100,000 from last year.
Before the start of the meeting, Blaney pointed out areas where revenue was up, including the gate where admissions brought in $670,120 in 2015, compared to $560,447.15 in 2014. Income from commissions and sales were also up from $40,012.66 in 2014 to $83,849.51 in 2015 due to a different sponsorship deal with Pepsi.
The fair board also put $7,500 into its fund at the Community Foundation of Fayette County, which the foundation matched. That fund now stands at $48,002.93.
In addition, the 4-H livestock auction garnered its biggest amount ever at $477,373.15, breaking last year’s record-setting amount of $469,130.70. Money from the auction goes to directly to 4-H youths although buyers can donate the animals they purchase for resale with the new funds going to a scholarship fund for 4-H youths involved in livestock projects.
The association also held its annual election Monday, retaining five incumbents and electing one new member to the board of directors.
Incumbents re-elected included Jackson of Redstone Township, who has been on the board since 1989, serving as president for 20 years; Tony Regula of South Union Township, who has been a board member for 32 years; RaeLynn Regula of Uniontown, who has been on the board for six years; Linda Rooker of Smock, who has been a board member for 12 years, serving as secretary for the past six; and Ed Stanish Jr. of South Union Township, who has served on the board for 16 years.
Chris Piwowar Sr. of Franklin Township is the newest member of the board but has been involved with the fair as a 4-H youth and has been employed at the fair since 1985, living on the fairgrounds from 1993 until 2005 as a year-round caretaker. He has been involved with many of the maintenance and capital improvement projects as well as everyday maintenance of the fairgrounds and is a member of the buildings and grounds committee.
“I’ve worked here the last 30 years and I’m looking forward to moving on to a new level,” Piwowar said.
The association’s board includes 13 members with one appointed from the Penn State Agricultural Extension Office and six elected at each annual meeting to serve two-year terms.
Other candidates included incumbent William S. Gardner, of Washington, who served on the board for 16 years and was vice president for 11 years. He is employed as program coordinator and a faculty member of the business department at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Jessie Ross, of Bullskin Township, who served as the 2010 Fayette County Fair queen and has traveled to Pennsylvania’s fairs as an educator and livestock judge; and Pierce B. Willson of Jefferson Township, who is employed as an agricultural coordinator for the Fayette County Conservation District and serves on the Fayette County Farm Bureau Board, also ran for the board.
Jackson thanked Gardner for his years of service and also noted the passing of two important figures from the fair: Tim Piwowar, who died in March and had served as fair board president before Jackson, as well as Jack Cooper, who died in June and was a long-time volunteer who had been honored by the state in 2013 as outstanding fair ambassador for the Fayette County Fair.
Jackson also thanked volunteers who helped when a near-fire struck a building near the Indoor Arena after a machine malfunctioned about a week before the fair started. The incident occurred in a part of the building that is used to feed entertainers while the adjacent side is used as an office. Jackson said several volunteers helped clean and paint the building, particularly noting the work of Chris and Linda Diamond.
The next fair will be held July 28 through August 6.