way OT, Nebraska state fair being moved.

Not going to say more than I know for facts, hoping Allan In NE will give input also. Found out from my sister yesterday University of Nebr. wants the fair grounds for a "research" center. What UNL wants, they get. Governor has signed off on it. I understand some of the buildings have been condemmed in the last few years as not handicapped accessible, should have seen it coming. The HIGH dollar Devaney center has not had a state fair concert in it since B4 my mom died in 2005. Some of the dollar figures I have seen on internet search, regarding moving fair to Grand Island, are 300 to 400 million dollars. I can't think of any suitable place in G I for the fair, Fonner Park is too small, Husker Harvest grounds doesn't have enough buildings. DOUG

In the interest of Geography, if Allen lives where I think he lives, many people in IL live closer to the NE State Fair than he does. As do many in MO, some in Arkansas, OK, CO, SD, MN and Wisconsin. Sorry I forgot IA, but even if those people went to the fair they probably would not spend anything. In MN it is common knowledge that the IA farmer comes up here in his bibs, with a $20 bill, fishes for a week and goes back without changing either.

I haven't been to the Nebraska State Fair in years, and I live 20 miles from it. It's in a downward spiral in Lincoln. Revenue is down, so they try to make up for it by raising admission prices, etc. There used to be free parking, now parking is big business. And all the price increases decreased attendance.

I remember when we raced stock cars there in the '70's and '80's, if you drove up to the gate hauling a stock car, the car, the hauler, and four people got in free. No more.

The thing is, the University of Nebraska has plenty of room on the East Campus to build the research facility they want, so why the heck don't they just use land they already have?

I won't argue that the fair needed a major overhaul, but my opinion is moving it to Grand Island is counter-productive. Nebraska is 450 miles long, from east to west, and one argument is that Grand Island is more centrally located; however the majority of the population is still in the east half. There are counties in western Nebraska where the population of an entire county is a couple hundred people. (That's not a put down, I imagine I could enjoy living under those conditions.)

Grand Island got the short end of the stick in the deal. The State basically handed the fair to Grand Island and told them they'd need to spend whatever money it took to make it work. You're talking millions that Grand Island doesn't have.

Guess time will tell.

My rant for the day.

My daughter lives in Chadron, NE up in the NW corner where Allen lives its along way to go to a fair but that's the way it is out west where the states are bigger than most countries are.
I have been lucky in California I lived 30 miles form the fairgrounds here in Oregon I live 25 miles away.
Walt

My wife and I are very close to the gal that used to "run" the fair. Oh ya there was a bigshot that got all the credit but SHE did the work. They wouldnt pay her enough to stay on so she left for another job. They had to hire 3 people to do what she did. All this happened about 10 years ago. BUt shows frame of mind. I say "See ya State Fair". The Lancastor County fair is going to end up being the Cats meow now. They have already said that they plan to make it bigger and better with venders and rides etc. I also believe State Fair went away from the folks who kept it going which was those who brought in the live stock, tractors, farm produce, etc that what I understand was what the fair was initially for to begin with. ALso think Fair has more competition now with, Husker harvest, Omaha has a thing they put on about the same time, etc. You can see and get the same stuff at all these events. whew im tired now. bye

Hey, Walt, I know a Lutheran pastor, Karl Hollibaugh, who grew up on a ranch by Chadron. He was a genius for taking anecdotes from a wild and wooly childhood on a cow ranch and working them into a meaningful sermon. And his sermons weren't long winded. When he'd made his point, he was done.

Come to think of it, a couple of years ago his mother shot a bull elk that came close to being a new Nebraska record.

(quoted from post at 07:32:23 08/21/08) I won't argue that the fair needed a major overhaul, but my opinion is moving it to Grand Island is counter-productive. Nebraska is 450 miles long, from east to west, and one argument is that Grand Island is more centrally located; however the majority of the population is still in the east half. There are counties in western Nebraska where the population of an entire county is a couple hundred people. (That's not a put down, I imagine I could enjoy living under those conditions.)

Click to expand...

The population of Nebraska balances on 84th Street in Lincoln, I agree it is really stupid to move way out there.

It"s not a done deal, yet. Grand Island has to come up with some cash for the move; I believe they"re having a bit of trouble doing it. There"s also a petition drive to put the question on the ballot.

The property itself suffers from some "deferred maintenance" issues. And let"s face it-it"s some prime real estate that is used for only a fraction of the year. The fair itself is nowhere near the event it was in my youth (which, admittedly, was a quarter of a century ago). For my ag "fix", I go to Husker Harvest Days.

Wife and I do take the kids, and have been regulars at the fair for the time we"ve been together (approaching 20 years) even when we lived outstate (we"re in town now) but if it"s moved to Grand Island, we will not attend.

I believe the plan is to co-locate it with Fonner Park.

If the move does go through, I predict the fair will be gone within 5 years. I don"t particularly want it to go away, but I (just about along with everyone else except the bigwigs) see the move to Grand Island as the death knell for the fair.

It's interesting how different states treat their fairs. Colorado's fair I've heard is in trouble, SD shortened theirs to 5 days and claim to be happier, and Indiana is expanding the fair from 12 to 15 days.

Indiana's legislature has invested millions into the state fairgrounds. 38 blocks north and a little east of Monument Circle (downtown), the skyscrapers can be seen from the front gate. During the off season the grounds are used as an extension of the convention center downtown. The hockey team plays in the Coliseum.

Admission is $8.00 parking is free if you arrive early. Offsite parking is $5.00. 2 years ago for the 150th fair they had a 92 tractor parade from downtown to the fairgrounds. (Indiana has 92 counties.) This year they built a covered bridge on the grounds to celebrate the Indiana timberlands. The governor attended the opening day breakfast. If you watch the free shows and any judging the fair requires 2 days to do it all.

I've never been to any other state fair, but I'm sure the state's support makes all the difference.

Iowa had a record turn out for the state fair this year. They put up a new stalling barn and relocated several others to make way for a massive complex to be completed over the next few years.
I am saddened to hear of the problems at the Nebraska fair. Have many county fairs in Iowa that are going downhill as well.
Hear all of the new terms for farming as "agribusiness" Everone is business oriented and don't take time to enjoy the small things. It's a sign of the changing times.
Hopefully the Nebraska fair can survive this ordeal.