Sweat comes first at fair

After more than a year of planning, five days of fair-filled fun are coming to the Yuba-Sutter area. The festival, which kicks off Wednesday with music, rides and cotton candy, also showcases the talent of local artists and tradespeople. 'It's five fun-filled days of relaxation and enjoyment for the community,' fair manager Regina Goody said. Goody has already traveled the fair circuit preparing for next year's ideas. She usually has the entertainment booked by December. Immediately after the fair ends, its board of directors starts looking for an agricultural theme, such as this year's 'Sheepwrecked.' Goody spends the following months looking for sponsors, concessions and community vendors, she said. Some things are a staple from year to year, but she is always looking for new ideas. The Yuba City fair tries to have new attractions every year but also keeps what the public likes. 'After the fair we get e-mails, phone calls, little notes,' Goody said. 'We keep tabs on what they're asking.' The fairgrounds setup begins a week before the fair. The fine arts and photography exhibits start arriving, then the carnival and halls are set up, and the livestock finally fill their pens. The fair costs more than $250,000 to put on, with about $105,000 dedicated to entertainment, she said. The fair budget receives no state funding and is built on previous fair profits and horseracing fees, Goodly said. The fair usually receives about $124,000 in fees attached to racetrack betting. After the last of the popcorn is swept and the rides are unbolted, the fair usually breaks even with an income of $250,000, she said. Last year's fair raised an exceptional $400,000 with about 65,000 attendees. Goody said about 7,000 more people came than what was expected. She attributed the increase to the Budweiser Clydesdales attraction and excellent weather. Next year will be the fair's 150th anniversary. Harry Bristow has seen the fair grow a lot and become a safer, cleaner event in his 17 years with the fair's board of directors. 'It's nice to see how it all came together,' he said. The fair showcases many wonderful aspects of the Yuba-Sutter community, he said. 'Many people move to town and don't understand where milk comes from or where peaches come from,' he said. 'Our fair is very educational.' Ashley Gebb can be reached at 749-4724 or agebb@appealdemocrat.com