Attendance rises at 2018 Clark County Fair, livestock sale nets $800K

Mackenzie Grimm, 16, holds her Grand Champion Steer as she listens to the auctioneer during the Auction of Champions at the 2018 Clark County Fair. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Mackenzie Grimm, 16, holds her Grand Champion Steer as she listens to the auctioneer during the Auction of Champions at the 2018 Clark County Fair. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Attendance at the Clark County Fair last month increased from previous years.

The 2018 fair was held from July 20 to 27. It brought in about 79,000 attendees, according to a news release. That’s a 2 percent increase in attendance from last year, according to Dean Blair, executive director of the Clark County Fairgrounds.

“It was a very successful fair and we’re certainly proud of it,” Blair said.

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“The fair board works so hard all year to put together a fair for everyone to enjoy and when you see the numbers, it truly shows us how much people care about coming to the fair,” said Bill Agle, president of the Clark County Agricultural Society in the news release.

Attendance started out slow early in the week due to rainy weather but the numbers shot up as the weather improved, according to the news release.

“It was wonderful to make that up and to post a gain on top of it,” Blair said.

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Revenue from food sales and rides also increased from previous years, according to Blair.

This year’s fair saw 1,350 4-H and FFA participants, according to the news release. The community spent about $800,000 at the junior fair livestock sale, according to the news release.

In 2016, admission to the fairgrounds was lowered to $6, which Blair said contributed to the rise in attendance this year. More rides and activities were also brought to the fairgrounds this year, he said.

“It’s more bang for the buck,” he said.

The Clark County Fair Board has already started planning for next year, Blair said. The fair will take place from July 19 to 26 next year. The board hopes to “continue the interest from the community and increase attendance even further,” Blair said in the news release.

Prices will stay the same at next year’s fair, Blair said.

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