SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR E-NEWS

South Carolina State Fair Agricultural and Mechanical Society of South Carolina

WINTER 2006 FAIR DATES ~ OCTOBER 11 - 22 COLUMBIA

www.scstatefair.org

Greetings from the South Carolina State Fair!

In this issue:

• We're Moving!!!...New Fair Dates for 2006
• Goodman Completes Reign as IAFE Chair
• SC State Fair Receives International Recognition
• Annual SC State Fair Employee Appreciation Party
• Recap of 2005 SC State Fair
• Thanks to our Sponsors
• Competitive Exhibits Entry Registration Period To Change in 2006
• SC State Fair Academic Scholarship Application
• USC Football Fans "Tailgate Under the Rocket"
• Monthly Calendar of Events
• Host Your Event at the Fairgrounds

We're Moving!!!...New Fair Dates for 2006

October 11 - 22

We're pushing the fair back a week and adding an extra day of fun in 2006!!! The new starting day is the second Wednesday in October and the fair will run for a total of twelve (12) days.

Goodman Completes Reign as IAFE Board Chair

South Carolina State Fair General Manager, Gary L. Goodman, CFE, completed his duties as Chairman of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) during the annual IAFE Convention held in Las Vegas, NV on November 27 - December 1. His successor is Gary McRae, CFE, Western Fair, Ontario, Canada.

In a closing message to the members of the IAFE, Goodman stated, "I can't begin to express how much I appreciate your confidence in allowing me to serve. Your hospitality and cooperation throughout the year has been truly inspiring. I was reminded on a daily basis that the true joy from our business doesn't come from sunny skies, successful promotions, and a positive bottom line. It all comes from the people you work and cross paths with."

SC State Fair Receives International Recognition

For the second year running, the SC State Fair has received the first place Agricultural Award of Excellence from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) headquartered in Springfield, MO. The Award was received for the SC State Fair's program featuring its Exhibitor Handbook on the Web (locally known as the Online Premium Guide). The awards were presented during the Agricultural Awards Breakfast on November 29, 2005 during the 115th Annual IAFE Convention held in Las Vegas, NV.

There are a total of fourteen Agriculture Award categories, each divided into five divisions by attendance, that a Fair or Expo can enter. The entries are evaluated and judged by a team of industry leaders. These individuals are selected from the membership of International Association of Fairs and Expositions, which has a membership of over 3,200 from around the globe.

The IAFE stated in a press release the following: The South Carolina State Fair can take great pride in knowing that their event has been selected for this prestigious honor. These awards are sponsored by John Deere, who is an avid supporter of the Fair and Expo Industry around the world. The Agricultural Fair and Expo Industry is not only very important to rural and urban economies globally, but also is steeped in tradition and has a tremendously positive impact on the social well being of our rural and urban society.

Annual SC State Fair Employee Appreciation Party

SC State Fair full-time and seasonal employees were honored on Thursday, December 15 with an "Appreciation Party" using a Fair theme in the Moore Building. Guests were treated to fresh spun cotton candy, roasted peanuts and lemonade during the social period, followed by a BBQ dinner prepared by Palmetto Pig. Special thanks to Displays Unlimited (George Crowe) and Cromers (Barry Cromer) for the extraordinary decorations and favors.

Three employees were selected by their peers to receive the 2005 Employee of the Year Award sponsored by Paper Pro (Steve Rabon):

Willie Linder (South Gate)

Matthew McCants (Richland County Sheriffs Dept.)

Hilda Simon (Home & Craft Dept.)

The first Annual SC State Fair Employee Talent Search was next on the agenda. As a prelude to the Talent Search, five members of the SCSF Office Staff entertained guests with their rendition of  "Village People - SC State Fair Style". Decked out in costumes depicting the SC State Fair Rocket, a candy apple, popcorn, cotton candy, and Pepsi® Cola, the quintet ROCKED!

The Talent Search followed and the winners were:

$200 First Place Carrie Outen (Song a cappella)

$100 Second Place Craft Dept. (Kazoo Song)

$50 Third Place Hilda and Doug Simon (Shag Dance)

$25 Honorable Mention Wilbur Ashley (Standup Comic)

Recap of 2005 SC State Fair

Theme: We're Talkin' Mega Thrills 2005

Parking: Free

Admission: Gate admission was $5 in advance for those age 6 and older and $7 at the gate, with those 5 and under admitted for free. There were six days of Pay-One-Price (POP) unlimited ride promotions, the first Thursday and Friday, and then Monday through Thursday. The POP cost was $18 in advance and $20 on the grounds. The Youth Admissions Policy, enacted during the 2004 SC State Fair, was again enforced at this year's fair. This policy has been added to the South Carolina State Fair General Rules and Regulations.

"Our first priority is the safety of our patrons."

Gary L. Goodman, CFE, SC State Fair General Manager (10/14/04)

Overview:   Despite rain on six of the first seven days, the South Carolina State Fair set a food record bettering last year which recorded the highest attendance ever. "The first four days were the worst in history," said General Manager, Gary Goodman, adding that while attendance dipped 19% to 508,390, the ride gross for North American Midway Entertainment was off only 4%. "After opening on Thursday, the people started coming on Monday and Tuesday. It's the first time I ever remember them coming in the rain like that, and they kept coming until we closed Sunday night."

Although gate admission was down, Goodman believes the paid percentage was up. "Remarkably, when people came, they spent just as much money one time as they would have if they had made several visits. I don't have a top 10 of highest grossing food vendors, but as always, Bill Lordy's Elephant Ear Bakery was No. 1." Bob Commerford's Petting Zoo did a great job, with plenty of hand-washing stations, and we increased our own hand-washing stations, tripling the number.

Sponsors:   Special thanks to the following sponsors of the 2005 SC State Fair...Pepsi®, SC Education Lottery™, Piggly Wiggly®, Blanchard Machinery, Lustre Craft®, Pork The Other White Meat®, SC Farm Bureau®, SC Army National Guard, NBSC, FlexTran® Inc., Time Warner Cable, and UPN 47.  

Since 1869 the South Carolina State Fair has been a part of Columbia 's landscape. Over its twelve-day run (an extra day has been added to the 2006 SC State Fair), 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 2006 SC State Fair Sponsor! For information regarding specific sponsorship opportunities, please e-mail Nancy Smith or telephone 803-799-3387, ext. 16.

Pepsi® Grandstand Entertainment:   The old grandstand was torn down, and with the installation of bleachers, capacity dropped from 8,300 to 6,000 for free shows that were booked by Jimmy Jay's Jayson Promotions of Hendersonville, TN. Loretta Lynn canceled a week before her scheduled appearance due to health reasons, and were quickly replaced by the Oak Ridge Boys who did a great job and filled the grandstand. A crowd of screaming kids between the ages of 10 and 12 filled the Pepsi® Grandstand to see UPN-TV star and recording artist Jesse McCartney. Also performing were Phil Vassar, Jamie O'Neal, Darryl Worley, Christian artist FFH and Matthew West.

New Chevy Food Court:   In place of the old grandstand, a new food court, sponsored by Chevrolet®, was added in front of the new Pepsi® Grandstand in cooperation with Butch Netterfield of Netterfield Concessions. Colorful tents were erected and convenient picnic tables placed in the 40 by 140 foot area. Vocal Trash, a dynamite high energy group out of Texas, performed daily on the WOLOstage and was a very popular destination for fair goers.

Special Promotion Days:   Military Appreciation Day, Kindergarten Days (2), Seniors Day, NBSC Day, Physics Day, FFA Day, NASCAR Night, Exceptional Citizens Day, Student Day, and Scout Day. The "Lunch at the Fair" promotion was held each week day (M-F) from 12 Noon - 2 PM.

Special Attractions:   Commerford & Sons Petting Zoo, Sports Fest, SC State Fair Sky Ride, and Swamp Jewels Sandscape.

Free Stage Shows:   Bounce Ooo La La & Daniel, Carl Brunson - The One Man Band, Chef Landry's Cooking Show, Denis IGnatov's Dog & Cat Show, Dennis Lee, Miscellaneous Local Entertainment, Movie Magic, Nerveless Nocks Glove of Thunder bike Show & Space Wheel & Tower of Chairs, Performances by SC Students, Robinson Carving Company, Ron Diamond the Hypnotist, Swampmaster's Gator Show, and Vocal Trash.

Roving Entertainment:   Andes Cosmos, Kid Davie - Stiltwalker, The Harmonicats, Mo Vint and the 'Mo Train', Denny the Clown, Skate FX - russian Rollerblade Skating, and the SC State Fair Calliope.

Special Contests:   Marriage on the Midway, Greatest Grandparent Essay Contest, SC Education Lottery Hog Calling Contest, and the SC State fair Princess and Prince Pageant.

Non-Competitive Exhibitions:   Paso Fino Horse Show and Backhoe Rodeo.

Competitive Exhibits remained strong in 2005 with a total of 3,400 exhibitors (1,434 were first-time exhibitors) and 18,376 entries. Exhibitors registered their entries using the Online Entry System, by postal mail, and hand delivery to the Dowling Administration Building on the fairgrounds. While most departments remained steady in number of Exhibitors, the Small Stock, Sheep, and Youth Wether Goat departments showed marked increases. Entries also increased in Small Stock, Sheep, Draft Horse, Open Swine, Open Beef, Open Dairy, Junior Dairy, and Youth Wether Goat departments. Premiums and awards in excess of $200,000 were awarded to competitive exhibitors. The SC Farm Bureau Federation, the SC Pork Board and the SC Pork Producers Association sponsored scholarships totaling $10,500 to students showing in Junior Beef, Junior Dairy, Junior Swine, and Youth Wether Goat departments.

Competitive Exhibits "Open Entry Registration Period" To Change in 2006

AUGUST?......THINK SC STATE FAIR

Planning to enter an exhibit in the 2006 SC State Fair? Think AUGUST and mark your calendar now! The following schedule is designed to encourage our exhibitors to register their entries in August, enabling the Entry Department the time necessary to process the entries and the multitude of other tasks handled by this department. However, if there are reasons which necessitate a late entry registration, it will be accepted according to the following schedule, provided the entry registration is complete and is accompanied by the Late Fee(s).

There will be three (3) entry registration periods offered in 2006 as follows:

• Open Entry Registration Period - August 1 @ 12 Noon - August 31 @ 12 Noon

  (Regular entry fees apply)

• Late Entry Registration Period

(Late Entry Fee of $25 per Exhibitor)

1.   Fine Art and Student Art

August 31 @ 12:01 PM - September 7 @ 12 Noon

2.   Agriculture, Flower, and Home & Craft

August 31 @ 12:01 PM - September 14 @ 12 Noon

3.  Livestock Only (Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Dairy Goat, Donkey/Mule, Draft Horse, Sheep, Swine,   Youth/Open Horse, Youth  Wether Goat)

August 31 @ 12:01 PM - September 21 @ 12 Noon

• Very Late Entry Registration Period

(In addition to Late Fee above, a Very Late Fee of $25 per animal / class / pen, dependent on department fee dictates, will apply)

Livestock Only - September 21 @ 12:01 PM - September 28 @ 12 Noon (edited on 2/1/06)

IMPORTANT: Please note all Small Stock entries must be received by August 31 @ 12 Noon. The Small Stock Building fills fast, so entries will be accepted on a First-Come basis. Register Early!!!

REMEMBER...REGISTER IN AUGUST!!!!

SC State Fair Academic Scholarship Application

High School Seniors may log on to http://www.scstatefair.org in February to download an application for a South Carolina State Fair Scholarship. From the home page, click on Throughout the Year, and then Academic Scholarships. Fifty (50) $2,000 scholarships will be awarded in 2006. In addition to the scholarship, each recipient will be able to view his or her name on a handsome banner displayed on Academic Avenue during the 2006 SC State Fair. Academic Avenue was initiated in 2005 and the idea is to add, each year, banners for all scholarship recipients, and in time, the entire fairground will be covered with scholarship banners. Click here to view a list of 2005 SC State Fair Academic Scholarship recipients.

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.

"Tailgate Under the Rocket"

Attention USC Gamecocks! Application forms for Reserved Football Parking spaces will be available online in early January at http://www.scstatefair.org/throughout-the-year/usc-reserved-parking.htm for all 2006 USC home games.

Also available online in early January will be applications for RV/Camper parking reservations throughout the year and RV/Camper parking reservations for Concessionaires and Commercial Exhibitors during the 2006 South Carolina State Fair. Click on Throughout the Year menu tab, and follow the drop-down menu. Or e-mail Steve Felsberg or telephone 803-799-3387, ext. 22 for more information.

Monthly Calendar of Events

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