Page 6
Weekender
Thursday, October 11. 1979
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By CHUCK BURNS
The place is almost deserted. The only sounds are
those of another booth being set up or of a radio
playing in the distance.
That was the scene at the state fairgrounds last week
as workers prepared for the onslaught of the
estimated 600,000 people who will attend the N.C.
State Fair between Friday's opening and the finale
on Oct. 20.
But initial preparations for the 1979 state fair were
underway even before the 78 fair closed, said State
Fair Manager Art Pitzer. . . ,
Planning for the event begins with the state fair staff
considering the general layout of the fair, Pitzer said.
"We have to plan things well in advance so we can let
people know what they have to do."
After contacts are made and assurances have been
given, the planning gets more intricate and involves
the commissioner of the N.C. Department of
Agriculture, James A. Graham. (The state fair is a
division of the Department of Agriculture.)
One aspect of that planning involves those booths
now being set up. State Fair Publicity Manager Robert
Wills predicts that this year's fair -will include more
than 11,000 exhibits, each of which is classified as
either commercial or non-commercial.
There are many different types of non-commercial
booths, Wills says, including those exhibits financed
by the state. The state appropriates approximately
$140,000 a year in educational exhibitor premiums for
county and city civic groups and individuals.
Booths are first assigned to people who had them
a
m n no
last year. "People have the option to return," Wills
said.
Pitzer said people also may return to the same
location they occupied the previous year if they
choose.
"We have a waiting list of some 50 to 75 (groups and
individuals) who have asked us if they could set up
booths," Pitzer said. "We can't accommodate
everyone, and each year the (waiting) list gets longer."
The agricultural exhibits this year will be the
standards horticulture, livestock and farm
machinery, Pitzer said that an old farm machinery
museum is included as a nostalgic touch. .
Most of the commerce exhibits will feature energy
saving devices such as wood stoves. Also, anything
that would be of commercial value, like cleaning
products, are included in this group, Pitzer said.
The industrial booths will feature propane gas and
other products that have industrial value, Pitzer said.
The educational exhibits have many homemade
products such as quilts and canned goods. In the
Village of Yesteryear there are "how-to" displays and
demonstrations. Some of these displays are also a
commercial venture, but they are educational
because they show people how to do things, Pitzer
said.
The booths that are strictly commercial cost a flat
rate, and sell everything from food to hats to leather
belts, Wills said. The rate charged depends on
whether the booth is located inside or outside, and on
what the booth sells. The average rate for an indoor
booth is $2 per square foot, Wills said.
"Rates for (booths) selling food are the highest," he
said. . . .
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The state does not receive a Commission on the sales
of the booths, Wills said, and he did not know how
much money the people who run the concession
stands make. He did say he believes they take in a large
sum.
Many of the people who run concession stands
declined to say how much they made last year. One
man who has operated a stand there for several years
said, "I made a lot last year, and I figure everyone else
did too. I think I'll make a lot this year."
Pitzer said he felt the state fair makes more money
by just charging flat rates on the concession stands. To
operate them differently, he said, the fair would have
to hire more workers and spend more time and
money in planning and auditing than it does now.
"We make enough money this way," he said.
Since 1937, the fair has made a profit. And profits
have increased every year during the '70s. Pitzer said
the fair continues to be self-supporting. "We don't
have a budget from the state legislature," he said.
"However, we are allowed to keep the receipts of
non-fair activities and events which rent the
fairgrounds," Pitzer said.
During the 1978 calendar year there were more than
300 non-fair events held at the state fairgrounds.
Publicity manager Robert Wills also said the state
fair is not pre-financed. "We basically operate out of
our own revenue from the fair," he said.
Pitzer said last year's fair made approximately
$200,000 to $300,000. "That's what is needed to pay
expenses," he said.
One expense is the hiring of more than 600
temporary employees during fair week, Pitzer said.
The state fair also employs 25 persons permanently, of
which 21 are maintenance personnel.
Other people are employed by the James E. Straus
Shows, which provides the rides at the fair. Pitzer said
the state fair receives a graduated commission on the
percentage of profits from the rides.
Another facet of the fair dependent on the budget
is booking the entertainment which, since its
beginning in 1974, has quickly become one of the
fair's most popular and successful features. Pitzer said
acts are booked according to the fair's budget for
entertainment, as well as the availability of
performers.
"We start negotiations in January and continue
sometimes until July," he said.
Wills said the acts are booked by entertainment
.director Barbara Williams after the state fair officials
have been asked which performers they would like to
have.
"I select entertainment for everybody," Williams
said. "We do go heavy country (music) because that's
what goes well here. From past experience, we see the
biggest draw by country performers.
"We realize that some of the big rock bands might
be big drawers, but we can't afford them," Williams
said. "We are limited by a tight budget.
"I'm sometimes asked why there are so many
country performers booked," she said. "It's because
Thursday. October 11, 1979
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the fair is an agricultural fair, and agriculture is
country. But, primarily it's good family entertainment
with a little bit for everybody."
Williams said the doors to shows are open at 5:30
p.m., and seats are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Admission is free for all fairgoers and shows start at 7
p.m. daily.
"There has always been a good response to the
show," she said. "People enjoy going to the show. It's
nice to go someplace after a long day and sit down and
be entertained."
Williams said Ronnie Milsap, who will perform
tomorrow and Saturday, was booked for two nights
because, "This is his home. When he was here in 1977
he packed the house and ran it over. We wanted to
give everyone a chance to see him who wanted to."
Although the state fair receives no budgetary
allotment from the state as such, it does receive some
funds from jhe state legislature for capital
improvements. Pitzer said.
Some of '
fairgrounds
completed i
1974, the Li
the Forestry
Pitzer said
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12TM
9 a.m.
11 a.m.
1 p.m.
2 p.m.
Horse Show (Quater
Horse)
Fo!k Festival
The Buddy Young
Show
Official Opening of
the Fair
(Scott Bldg.)
Folk Festival
Paul Baron's
Harmonica Rascals
The Buddy Young
Show
Jack Kochman's Hell
Drivers
Paul Baron's
Harmonica Rascals
Jr. Steer Show Sale
Fairgrounds Parade
The Buddy Young
Show
Folk Festival
Paul Baron's
Harmonica Rascals
FREE Arena Show
Ronnie Milsap
jack Kochman's Hell
Drivers
9:45 p.m. Fireworks
3 p.m.
4 p.m.
5 p.m.
6 p.m.
7 p.m.
8 p.m.
Fairgrounds Parade
5 p.m. The Buddy Young
Show
Folk Festival
Jack Kochman's Hell
Drivers
6 p.m. Paul Baron's
Harmonica Rascals
7 p.m. FREE Arena Show-
Ronnie Milsap
8 p.m. Grandstand Show
Jack Kochman's Hell
Drivers
9:45 p.m. Fireworks
SUNDAY, OCTOEER 14TH
10 a.m
10:30 a
1 p.m.
Strates
Show
Young
SATURDAY, OCTOSEK 1JFM
10 a,m.-
11 a.m.
1 p.m.
2 p.m.
3 p.m.
4 p.m.
Horse Show (Youth 5 p.m.
Day)
Folk Festival
The Buddy Young
.Show
Bee f Cook out
Contest
Fplk Festival
Jack Kochman's Hell
Drivers
Paul Baron's
Harmonica Rascals
The Buddy Youna
Show
Paul Baron's 9 a.m.
Harmonica Rasch
James E.
Shows
Horse
(Appaloosa)
The Buddy
Show
Paul Baron's
Harmonica Rascals
Folk Festival
The Buddy Young
Kochman's Hell
Drivers
Paul Baron's
Harmonica Rascals
Pork Cookout
Contest
The Buddy
Show
Folk festival
Paul Baron's
Harmonica Rascals
FREE Arena Shuw
The Inspirations
Dixie Melody Boys'
jack Kochman's HeM
Drivers
9:45 p.m. Fireworks
11 am.
1 p.m.
2 p.m.
3 p.m.
4 p.m.
5 p m.
2 p.m.
3 p.m.
4 p.m.
Bria
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rest).:
(Dor;
Folk
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Jack
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6 p.m.
7 p.m.
8 p.m.
9:45 p m.f iff
TUtSDAY.Oj
Young
6 p.m.
7 p.m.
8 p m.
MONDAY, OCTOEIR 15TH
Horse Show (Aran
& Half Arabian)
9 a m
11 am.
1 p.m.
2 p.m.
3 p.m.
4 p Ml,
5 p m
Borv
Half
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