SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR E-NEWS

South Carolina State Fair Agricultural and Mechanical Society of South Carolina

WINTER 2004/05 2005 FAIR DATES ~ OCTOBER 6-16 COLUMBIA

www.scstatefair.org

Greetings from the South Carolina State Fair!

In this issue:

• SC State Fair General Manager Named IAFE Chair
• SC State Fair Awarded IAFE Agriculture Award of Excellence
• SC State Fair Appreciation Party Highlights
• Monthly Calendar of Events Update
• Host Your Event at the Fairgrounds
• SC State Fair Academic Scholarships ~ Attention: High School Seniors
• "Tailgate Under the Rocket" ~ Attention: Gamecock Football Fans
• 2004 SC State Fair in Review
• Know What's Happening at the Fair

SC State Fair General Manager Named IAFE Chair

Congratulations to South Carolina State Fair General Manager, Gary L. Goodman, CFE, who assumed the official duties of Chairman of the Board of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions located in Springfield, MO at the annual IAFE Convention held in Las Vegas from November 28 - December 2, 2004.

SC State Fair Awarded IAFE Agriculture Award of Excellence

The South Carolina State Fair received the 2004 IAFE Agricultural Award of Excellence for Best Exhibitor Handbook on the Web in the division for fairs with attendance of 500,001 to one million.

SC State Fair Appreciation Party Highlights

The South Carolina State Fair staff, Board members and seasonal employees gathered for the annual Appreciation Party in early December and were entertained by Wes Harrison "Mr. Sound Effects", East Coast Entertainment. The annual event was catered by Parklane Seafood.

Three (3) "seasonal" employees were selected by their peers as Employee of the Year and received a plaque presented by Paper Pro, Inc. in appreciation for their service:

• Laticia (Tish) J. Petty (Home & Craft Department)
• Howard C. Still (Guest Services)
• John M. (Matt) LaSchuma (North Gate)

News reporter and columnist, Bertram Rantin, for The State newspaper was named "Friend of the Fair" for his twenty (20) years covering the South Carolina State Fair.

Monthly Calendar of Events Update

As winter grips our land you may ask.what could possibly be happening at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds? The answer is PLENTY! Just log on to the web site at www.scstatefair.org and click on the menu tab Throughout the Year , then select Calendar of Events from the drop down menu. Find a monthly listing of events held on the fairgrounds, complete with location and contact information.

Host Your Event at the Fairgrounds

Interested in hosting your event at the fairgrounds? Click on the home page menu tab Throughout the Year, and then select Facility Rentals from the drop down menu. Contact information and application forms are available on this page.

SC State Fair Academic Scholarships ~ Attention: High School Seniors

Over the last decade the South Carolina State Fair has returned over $2 million to the community through endowments and grants to non-profit organizations. Scholarship applications will be available at www.scstatefair.org and all South Carolina public and private school Guidance Counselors in early February, 2005. From the home page, select Throughout the Year then click on Academic Scholarships from the drop down menu.

"Tailgate Under the Rocket" ~ Attention: Gamecock Football Fans

Application forms for Reserved Football Parking are available at www.scstatefair.org for all USC home games except the Kentucky, October 8 game which is held during the 2005 South Carolina State Fair. Also available are applications for RV/Camper parking reservations and RV/Camper parking reservations for Concessionaires and Commercial Exhibitors during the 2005 South Carolina State Fair.

2004 South Carolina State Fair in Review

The 2004 South Carolina State Fair is now a memory but what fun to reflect upon:

• Record breaking attendance of 630,152 persons
• Eleven perfect "Fair" weather days and nights
• Dedication of the new 80' flag pole located at the South Gate
• FREE PARKING in all SC State Fair lots
• PEPSI® Grandstand entertainment
• FREE Stage Shows (Cirque Equinox, a Live Shark Encounter, Hypnotist, Dennis Lee, The Nerveless Nocks, Kandu Magic Variety Show, performances by SC Students)
• Delightful "roving" entertainment (Lady Stiltwalker, Hillbilly Bob, One-Handed Juggler, SC State Fair Calliope, Denny the Clown, the Procrastinators)
• Special Attractions (America's Ultimate Fashion Doll exhibit, Under the Sea sand sculpture, Andes Cosmos, SC Society of Miniatures display, Commerford & Sons Petting Zoo, Wild Science Gone Ag)
• Exciting Conklin Midway rides and games (Pay-One-Price Rides!!!)
• "Lunch at the Fair" (Best deal in town)
• Informative Commercial Exhibits
• Educational Agricultural Exhibits
• Competitive Exhibitors registered from 45 of 46 counties in SC (McCormick County, where are you?)
• 265 livestock exhibitors registered from other states
• Total of 3,680 Competitive Exhibitors and 18,984 entries were registered
• 1,596 new Competitive Exhibitors registered!!!
• Premiums and awards in excess of $200,000 were awarded to competitive exhibitors
• Excellent Fine Art and Student Art Exhibits
• Livestock judging and exhibits
• Four (4) SC Farm Bureau Federation Scholarship recipients were awarded total of $8,500 in scholarship funds
• One (1) SC Pork Board and SC Pork Producers Association Scholarship recipient was awarded $750 in scholarship funds
• The Paso Fino Horse Exhibition
• Host Site for the International Nubian Breeders Assn. District Specialty Show
• Agriculture and Flower exhibits
• Home and Craft displays
• Live Judging during Special Baking Contests
• Special Days for Kindergarten Tours, Students, Seniors, Exceptional Citizens, Girl Scouts, and Red Hatters
• Last, but not least, FAIR FOOD!!! We feasted on corn dogs, elephant ears, Fiske fries, cotton candy, fried mushrooms, Italian sausage, fried Oreos, Polish sausage, foot long hot dogs, candy apples, fried Moon Pies, lemonade, mini-doughnuts, super-size pretzels, Dippin' Dots, creamy ice cream cones, caramel corn, Key Lime Pie on a stick, fried turkey legs, fruit slush, and Greek salad, to mention a few food items. What was your favorite?

It was truly eleven "FEEL GOOD FUN" days and we can't wait until next year!!! We are working hard to make your State Fair the best ever and look forward to opening the gates for the 2005 South Carolina State Fair on October 6 - 16 .

Know What's Happening at the Fair

Receive free quarterly issues of the South Carolina State Fair E-News by logging onto www.scstatefair.org and complete your e-mail address in the designated box on the home page. We'll keep you posted in future e-newsletters re: dates for Advance Ticket Purchases (early September) and dates to register for the Competitive Exhibit contests and livestock shows (early July.

In the meantime, come on out to the South Carolina State Fairgrounds.we'll have something going on.all year long.