‘Fair’s going to go on’: Jefferson County Fair officials plead for state funds
Bill McIntire, board president of the Jefferson County Fair, shows a rotting roof atop the restrooms at the fairgrounds camp site, which he and other volunteers are replacing through a $6,000 grant. Fairgrounds leaders fear the loss of some $33,000 in state funding from the Department of Agriculture, especially since they are constantly grappling with repair projects at the 75-year-old fairgrounds, home of the Jefferson County Fair. -- Photo by Jeff Chew/Peninsula Daily News By Jeff Chew Peninsula Daily News
PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Fair officials fear the loss of $33,000 from the state Department of Agriculture — a loss anticipated because of state cutbacks in recent years.
“If we do lose the income, the fair’s going to go on,” said Bill McIntire, fair board president.
“We are just going to have to do different things.
“We don’t want to raise the fares” to the fair, he added, saying it would drive people away from the summer event that draws more than 13,000 paying fair-goers.
Bill McIntire and his wife, Sue McIntire — both long connected with the fair — recently visited 24th District state lawmakers in Olympia — who represent the North Olympic Peninsula — to plead for continued funding.
They left expressing doubts about whether the state Department of Agriculture funding they have relied on will be there this year.
“The outcome looked pretty gloomy,” Sue McIntire said.
They said they should know the good or bad news by Feb. 17.
State cutbacks could affect everything from energy-saving light bulbs to cutting costs for fair entertainment at the Jefferson County Fair.
This year’s fair, celebrating its 75th year, will be Aug. 10-12.
The fairground’s board of volunteers budgets about $200,000 a year to run the fair and maintain the grounds at 4907 Landes St. in Port Townsend.
The volunteers are in the process of painting the Erickson Building, which includes a dance hall, a kitchen and exhibit area and the administrative offices at the fairgrounds.read more at:http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120208/news/302089991/-8216-fair-8217-s-going-to-go-on-8217-jefferson-county-fair
“If we do lose the income, the fair’s going to go on,” said Bill McIntire, fair board president.
“We are just going to have to do different things.
“We don’t want to raise the fares” to the fair, he added, saying it would drive people away from the summer event that draws more than 13,000 paying fair-goers.
Bill McIntire and his wife, Sue McIntire — both long connected with the fair — recently visited 24th District state lawmakers in Olympia — who represent the North Olympic Peninsula — to plead for continued funding.
They left expressing doubts about whether the state Department of Agriculture funding they have relied on will be there this year.
“The outcome looked pretty gloomy,” Sue McIntire said.
They said they should know the good or bad news by Feb. 17.
State cutbacks could affect everything from energy-saving light bulbs to cutting costs for fair entertainment at the Jefferson County Fair.
This year’s fair, celebrating its 75th year, will be Aug. 10-12.
The fairground’s board of volunteers budgets about $200,000 a year to run the fair and maintain the grounds at 4907 Landes St. in Port Townsend.
The volunteers are in the process of painting the Erickson Building, which includes a dance hall, a kitchen and exhibit area and the administrative offices at the fairgrounds.read more at:http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120208/news/302089991/-8216-fair-8217-s-going-to-go-on-8217-jefferson-county-fair
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