This year, the Columbia County Fair was a disaster. The absence of vendors, exhibitors, farm animals, and support from the general public reflects the lack of leadership demonstrated by the fair board. Obviously the board has no clue in how to run a fair. The past and current administrators have done little to entice visitors to the fair. They have achieved quite the opposite. Because of poor communication between the administrators and fair participants many of the long time fair exhibitors no longer rent booths, sell food or bring their animals to be shown.

Could the demise of the fair be contributed to the fact that there is very little advertising, with in Columbia County as well as outside the area? Could it be because the fair ground is poorly located? Could it be because there is nothing to draw visitors, such as known entertainers, Could it be because the narrow minded, fair board will not consider any new ideas that may come before them. The possibility that comes with any new ideas might bring in higher attendance. I guess why would any one want to chance that.

The lack of attention to the fair on Hwy 30 through advertising was minimal to none; there was no mention of the fair by outside media in the Metro area. People passing by on Hwy 30 may have stopped if they would of known that a fair was going on.
The so-called advertising that came in the local fish wrapper cost plenty and served no purpose, the fair was still a failure.

At one time the Columbia County fair was a great success, attendance was incredible, there were numerous vendors, food booths, and barns full of animals. There was something going on all the time, you could spend all day and half the night at the fair and be entertained. What has happened is truly a shame.

If the fair board really wanted to keep this fair going then they would change with the times, accept new ideas, work with people that want to participate in the fair, even if it means selling a booth spot for only 4 days instead of 5.

I wonder what has happened to the four-wheeler that the fair has been trying to sell raffle tickets for. Has the fair advertised this fundraiser? I have heard that raffle ticket sales have been going on for quite some time, I have not personally seen or heard of this activity, so why was it not advertised on the local radio such as KOHI?  Or the local fish rappers? Or even through local merchants, restaurants. Or even at the fair its self?

There are many hard questions that need to be asked of the fair board and administrators, along with the County Commissioners who support this white elephant.

Here is an idea, why don't the county take the money that they are paying the fair administrator, and contract in a well known entertainer for a night and see if attendance would improve. That is if they would have the good sense not to have the fair the same days as the concerts at the OLD Deer Island fair grounds.

For us older folks, who can remember what a good fair we use to have years ago, can only see a bleak future if any future, for a worthwhile fair in Columbia County.

I suggest that the fair board goes to Washington County and work with the sitting fair board there, and see how they brought back a fair that was as poor as ours, developing it in to a really nice, money making, self supporting enterprise that it is today.

The first step in creating a decent fair would be very easy and simple it is called...
                         
                                              OPEN MINDS!