FEBRUARY 2007 -- We are finding that members are either wondering what we are doing or have resigned themselves to the idea that the Fair is dead forever. We want everyone to know that the Connecticut Agricultural Fair formed an investigative committee in the fall to look at the various options and to make recommendations to the Board of Directors at an upcoming meeting. Several meetings have been held and a trip to the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was even planned.
The purpose of the trip to Pennsylvania was to see what the trends are for a more industry oriented event. For those not familiar, the PA Farm Show is basically an indoor state fair held each January for over 80 years. It is held in more than a dozen buildings in the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex that are all connected making it possible for visitors to visit every aspect of the event without going outside. It includes rodeos, livestock auctions, farm and home living expos, entertainment and much more. The event and the Farm Show Complex are very heavily funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and no admission is charged. As a result, the event has NEVER turned a profit. Income is instead derived from non-Farm Show events held at the Complex year round.
It was the opinion of the committee members attending the show that an event similar to this one held in Connecticut would be very difficult and even more challenging to make profitable.
It is expected that the committee will evaluate options again at its next meeting and will make a recommendation to the full Board of Directors in March.
