Agenda - 05-21-2013 - 8c - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

and farm products; share local foods, enjoy games, activities and shows; and simply gather for social interaction. Most county fairs still retain these components, though many are augmented to varying degrees with outside vendors and carnival or "midway" providers that offer activities and food options not easily procured by the local community. Most counties for example, do not have a local midway and carnival provider and contract with regional or national companies that provide these services. Typical components of county fairs established in the state include: • Agricultural shows and exhibits (livestock, food and farm products) • Special events and music (concerts, performances) • Some type of games (ranging from local games that are grassroots organized, to midway carnival games and amusement park style rides) • Some type of amusement structures or rides (ranging from "bounce houses" to full - fledged midways with roller coasters, Ferris wheels and the like) • Food vendors (ranging from local foods produced by local organizations to local organization food tents to the more exotic "Fair foods" offered by outside vendors that participate with the midway contract providers. Organizational Structures and Managing Entities As is the case with fair activities, there is a wide range of diversity in the organizations that put on county fairs. In some cases, county governments are directly involved in the production and management of the fair, but in most cases, it is a non - profit entity — often working in conjunction with a county or the local Cooperative Extension Service — that is responsible. Some of the organizations that run county fairs in North Carolina at present include: • American Legion posts • Community non - profit associations ( "County Fair Associations ") • Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs and other civic service clubs • Chambers of Commerce • Industrial Associations • Visitors Bureaus and tourism organizations • Loosely- organized "county committees" In most cases, the organizations above rely in part on associated efforts from the local business sponsors, county governments and /or Cooperative Extension Service. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences is also available to provide assistance in planning a local fair.