SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR E-NEWS

South Carolina State Fair Agricultural and Mechanical Society of South Carolina

SUMMER 2005 2005 FAIR DATES ~ OCTOBER 6-16 COLUMBIA

www.scstatefair.org

Greetings from the South Carolina State Fair, recognized as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by Southern Living Magazine! Log on to www.scstatefair.org on Monday, July 18 for our newly designed web site, the 2005 SC State Fair theme, and the start of the Competitive Exhibit Registration Period.

It's summertime and the living is easy.for most folks! For SC State Fair personnel, summertime means finalizing plans put in motion during the past twelve or more months in preparation for the State Fair which begins the first Thursday in October. This issue of the SC State Fair E-News is designed to focus on Education, Recreation, Competition, and Opportunity.

The SC State Fair Staff are often asked "What do you do the rest of the year?" The answer is "plenty", but we won't bore you with details; instead we'll share some interesting facts about the Fair in the Focus on Education links below to help you understand a little more about what it takes to "build a fair".

In this issue:

FOCUS ON EDUCATION

• SC State Fair Facts
• Academic Scholarship Recipients Named
• Monthly Calendar of Events Update
• E-News and Archive

FOCUS ON RECREATION

• New Carnival
• PEPSI® Grandstand Renovation Underway
• Prepare for the Fair
• USC Football Fans ~ "Tailgate Under the Rocket"

FOCUS ON COMPETITION

• Competitive Exhibits Registration Period
• Important Notice for Competitive Exhibitors!
• Home & Craft Department Adds Scrap Booking Class
• New Special Baking Contests (2) Announced

FOCUS ON OPPORTUNITY

• Fine Art Purchase Patron Program
• Host Your Event at the Fairgrounds
• Become a SC State Fair Sponsor
• Work at the Fair

SC State Fair Facts ~ Did You Know?

• The State Agricultural and Mechanical Society of South Carolina (The SC State Fair) is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of ten (10) persons representing the six (6) congressional districts in South Carolina .
• The SC State Fair is not state-owned and receives no appropriation whatever from the State of South Carolina . Find a history of the SC State Fair at www.scstatefair.org .
• The SC State Fair is an eleemosynary institution owned and controlled by life members.
• The SC State Fair currently employs twenty-three (23) full-time staff employees on a year round basis and several part-time employees. The full-time staff is comprised of a general manager, seven (7) office staff persons, and fifteen (15) grounds staff persons.
• Security, electrical, plumbing, building and ground maintenance personnel must be in place around the clock for the duration of the SC State Fair, as well as several days prior and following the Fair for set-up and tear-down. Medical teams, ambulances, and medical equipment must be in place during fair operational hours.

• During the fair, the number of employees increases to 700+!!! This number does not reflect the custodial grounds crew or persons employed by the carnival, which are recruited by the SC Employment Security Commission (Job Service).
• Persons interested in working as a ticket seller, cashier, ride/game attendant, set-up /tear-down worker, cook, food server, or money handler should report to the SC Employment Security Commission Trailer at Gate 9 on George Rogers Blvd. beginning Tuesday, September 20 - October 15, 2005 . A schedule will be posted at www.scstatefair.org on the FAQ's page or contact Job Service at 803-737-9999.
• A typical restaurant is inspected on average of once in a year. Concession stands at the SC State Fair are inspected daily!

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Academic Scholarships Recipients Named

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. This year, the SC State Fair Board increased the number of $2,000 scholarships to fifty (50) from thirty (30) given in recent years. Scholarship applications totaling 579 were received.

We salute the fifty (50) scholarship recipients who will be honored later this summer at a reception hosted by the SC State Fair. Click HERE to view a listing of the scholarship recipients and their respective high school. There is also a SC State Fair Scholarship Archive where you may view scholarship recipients since 1997.

Monthly Calendar of Events

Here is a partial listing of events held at the SC State Fairgrounds during July and August: Sports Car Clubs of america "SCCA Autocross, WIS-TV "Back to School Bash", US Supreme Court "Bar Exam", USC Athletics "Football Preview", SC Wildlife Federation "Wild Summer's Nite Auction", and the Home Builders Association of Columbia "Fall Home and Garden Show". Events are not scheduled during September as we prepare the grounds and buildings for the State Fair.

Find a listing of events held on the fairgrounds, complete with location and contact information at www.scstatefair.org and click on the menu tab Throughout the Year , then select Calendar of Events from the drop down menu. If interested in holding an event at the fairgrounds, e-mail Tim Wilson or telephone 803-799-3387, ext. 11.

E-News and Archive

Receive notice of quarterly issues of the South Carolina State Fair E-News published at www.scstatefair.org by logging onto the web site and complete your e-mail address in the designated box on the home page. Your e-mail address will be added to our E-News database to receive notice of news throughout the year from the South Carolina State Fair. You will also find an E-News Archive in the drop-down menu tab titled Throughout the Year . The 2005 Fall E-News is scheduled to be published on September 22, 2005 .

New Carnival

Conklin Shows, our midway vendor for many years, has merged with Thebault-Blomsness and Farrow Shows to become North American Midway Entertainment. Look for several new rides at the 2005 South Carolina State Fair in October.

PEPSI® Grandstand Renovation Underway

Demolition of the old cinderblock grandstand was completed in April to make way for a new look and more intimate feel at our concerts. The new grandstand arena has been paved and offers 2,000 reserved seats and 4,000 General Admission seats available on a "first-come, first-serve" basis.

Removal of the old grandstand created extra space which will be used to place a new stage for local entertainers and a new Food Court!!!

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Prepare for the Fair

Summer is the perfect time to prepare for your visit to the SC State Fair in October. The 2005 SC State Fair web site at www.scstatefair.org will be launched on Monday, July 18, 2005 . Log on to discover the new 2005 SC State Fair theme, Advance Purchase Ticket information, PEPSI ® Grandstand entertainment, Daily Schedule of Events and Entertainment, and FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) for the 2005 SC State Fair. The web site is always under construction, adding information as it is received to keep you informed of the latest news so check back often.

• SAVE.by purchasing fair gate admission, ride vouchers, and PEPSI® Grandstand entertainment tickets in advance of opening day of the fair at reduced prices beginning Monday, September 12, 2005 via online or telephone. See details at www.scstatefair.org .

• SAVE.PEPSI ® Grandstand tickets purchased prior to opening day of the fair include gate admission; when purchased after the fair begins, grandstand tickets do not include gate admission.

• SAVE.Piggly Wiggly ® stores statewide will again serve as a ticket outlet for gate admission and ride vouchers; however, PEPSI® Grandstand tickets may only be purchased online, by telephone, or at the SC State Fair Ticket Box Office .

• SAVE .Free Parking at all SC State Fair lots!!!

"Tailgate Under the Rocket"

USC Football Fans

Space is very limited at this time; however, 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 parkingreservations for Concessionaires and Commercial Exhibitors during the 2005 South Carolina State Fair. E-mail Steve Felsberg or telephone 803-799-3387, ext. 22.

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Competitive Exhibits Entry Registration Period

Whether you grow the biggest pumpkin, stitch the prettiest quilt, bake the tastiest cake, or are a talented artist, register to earn the title of statewide champion! Flower shows await your finest specimens. Think your animal is a champion? There are competitions for beef and dairy cattle, dairy goats, donkeys and mules, draft horses, sheep, chickens, rabbits, cavies, turkeys, pigeons, waterfowl, swine, horses, and wether goats.

Monday, July 18, 2005 will be the first day competitive exhibitors may register their exhibits using either the Online Entry System or by downloading an entry form from the Online Premium Guide to be mailed or hand delivered to the address on the entry form. The Competitive Exhibit Entry Registration Period dates are as follows:

Exhibitors may also download hard copy entry forms from the web site and mail or hand deliver to the address on the entry form. Exhibitors are encouraged to complete their registrations early in the registration period. Entry registration closes at midnight of the deadline date.

Important Notice for Competitive Exhibitors!

Exhibits Must Be Claimed on Following Dates:

Fine Art exhibitors must claim their artwork by 6:00 PM on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 . Art work remaining on October 19 will become the property of the South Carolina State Fair and will be disposed or given to charity. No exceptions.

Student Art exhibitors must claim their artwork by 6:00 PM on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 . Art work remaining on October 20 will become the property of the South Carolina State Fair and will be disposed or given to charity. No exceptions.

Home and Craft exhibitors must claim their exhibits by 6:00 PM on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 . Exhibits remaining on October 19 will be come the property of the South Carolina State Fair and will disposed or given to charity. No exceptions.

Agriculture exhibitors must claim their exhibits by 5:00 PM on Monday, October 17, 2005 . Exhibits remaining on October 18 will be come the property of the South Carolina State Fair and will disposed or given to charity. No exceptions.

Flower exhibitors must claim their exhibits by 2:00 PM on Monday, October 17, 2005 . Exhibits remaining on October 18 will be come the property of the South Carolina State Fair and will disposed or given to charity. No exceptions.

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Home & Craft Department Adds Scrap Booking Class

The Home and Craft Department has added a class for Scrap Booking in 2005. Find the Scrap Booking Class in the Hobby Craft Division - Amateur Handicrafts section of the Online Premium Guide . Scrap Booking has become a very popular craft and we have had many requests to add this class, so help us get the word out by telling your friends about this new opportunity to showcase their talent.

New Special Baking Contests (2) Announced

The Home and Craft Department announces two (2) new Special Baking Contests, the Pork Recipe Rally - "We Want WOW Now", sponsored by the National Pork Board, and KC Masterpiece Memorable Meal Contest. The Pork Recipe Rally Contest will take place on Monday, October 10 at 12:00 Noon in the Moore Building and judging will be open to the public. The KC Masterpiece Memorable Meal Contest will be judged prior to the opening day of the fair (Wednesday, October 5) and will be closed to public viewing. Other Special Baking Contests offered this year are the Nutritious Cookie Contest, the National Best Spam ® Recipe Contest, Fleischmann's ® Yeast Dynamic Duo Baking Contest, Hidden Valley ® ~ The Original Ranch ® "Friendly Food" Contest, Refer to the Online Premium Guide at www.scstatefair.org for additional details.

Fine Art Purchase Patron Program

You are invited to support South Carolina artists by making a financial commitment to purchase art from the exhibits entered in the 2005 SC State Fair Fine Art Exhibition.  The application process for the 2005 Fine Art Purchase Patron program is now open and closes on August 31, 2005 .

Each spring and summer, persons interested in becoming a SC State Fair Fine Art Purchase Patron commit a specified dollar "minimum" to purchase art from the SC State Fair Fine Art exhibit held during October at the South Carolina State Fair. In late September, the Purchase Patrons are scheduled a private viewing of the SC State Fair Fine Art Exhibit where they may select the art of their choice to purchase. The Purchase Patron may purchase more than one piece of art and may pay more than their initial commitment.

If a Fine Art Exhibitor wishes to have his/her art eligible for purchase through this program, he/she must list a Purchase Patron Sale price on his/her entry form. The SC State Fair receives no commission from sale of artwork; therefore, it is recommended that artists consider a lower selling price to Purchase Patrons than in a gallery which sells to the general public, but this is left to the artist's discretion. Listing the Purchase Patron price on the entry form is the agreement that the art work is eligible to be purchased through this program.

Purchase Patron Awards are recognized with a ribbon but are not announced or awarded at the Fine Art Reception. Payment is mailed to the artists within thirty (30) days after the close of the fair.

Persons interested in becoming a SC State Fair Fine Art Purchase Patron should send an e-mail to geninfo@scstatefair.org or telephone 803-799-3387 ext. 23 to request a Purchase Patron Program application.

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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.

Become a SC State Fair Sponsor

Since 1869 the South Carolina State Fair has been a part of Columbia 's landscape. Over its eleven-day run, the fair offers a unique opportunity to reach a very large and diverse segment of our population. Now is the time to become a part of this great tradition and we invite you to become a SC State Fair Sponsor! For information regarding specific sponsorship opportunities, please e-mail Nancy Smith or telephone 803-799-3387, ext. 16.

Work at the Fair

The SC Employment Security Commission (Job Service) trailer will take applications for ticket sellers, cashiers, ride/game attendants, set-up/tear-down workers, cooks, food servers, and money handlers beginning Tuesday, September 20 at the SC State Fairgrounds outside Gate 9 on George Rogers Blvd. Applicants must apply in person. When applying, please be prepared with the following information: hours you are available to work, type of work you are seeking, and your phone number and an alternate message number.