Both Michael Jackson and Johnny Cash will be taking the stage at the 2010 Schoharie County Fair.
Or at least tribute bands named in the late-greats’ honor will.
Dates for the ’10 Fair will be Friday, July 30-Saturday, August 7 and directors for the Cobleskill Agricultural Society held their annual meeting at the Fairgrounds Saturday to jumpstart planning for the event.
It will be at least the third time the tribute to Mr. Cash has performed at the Fair, President Doug Cater said, and it continues to draw a crowd.
New in ’10, though, will be the Michael Jackson Tribute Show from Las Vegas, complete with 8-10 dancers and billed on the Oprah Show as the “#1 Michael Jackson Tribute Show,” Mr. Cater said.
“And we’ll be selling white gloves, too,” quipped Director Lois Goblet.
Motorized BMX racing, “Big Foot”, the monster truck; the Idol Show, sea lion show, Masters of the Chainsaw, Powers Midway, and birds of prey are just a few of the other new or returning attractions already signed.
2009 was the first year for the nine-day Fair, and directors reported it was a financial success—despite a near-wash-out opening day and a repeat of the weather on Sunday.
According to Office Manager Joanne Corsall, admission was up 35 percent, box seat revenue was up $3,100, concessions were up 28 percent and sponsorships were up 58 percent.
“We increased our total income,” Ms. Corsall said. “Yes, our expenses increased because of the longer Fair, but not as much as our income. All in all, it was a very good Fair.”
The wet weather hit the fair’s horse shows especially hard; Director Sandy Emanuel, who oversees them, said they were only able to use the ring three days out of the nine.
In the works to address that is a covered 120-bY-240-foot arena to be built by Fingerlakes Construction at the Fairgrounds, with construction starting in January and slated for completion by spring.
To date, directors said, they’re received about $130,000 in pledges toward the $319,000 project.
The rest of the cost will be financed through the Bank of Richmondville over 20 years while the CAS continues fundraising efforts.
“We’ve talked about it for years; now it’s really do or die,” Mr. Cater said. “It will be one of the highlights of 2010.”
In addition to shows during Fair Week, the grounds are rented out for horse shows almost every weekend, Ms. Emanuel said, something she estimates generates $2 million in related spending in the community.
That’s one reason the project has drawn interest from State Senator Jim Seward, she said.
“Even with the state of New York’s economy, there are pockets of economic development money out there,” added Ms. Goblet. “Senator Seward was very encouraging.”
Jack McNerney, another director, said he also hopes to be able to start renting out the Hall of Agriculture, where substantial improvements have been made over the last few years, for things like weddings and family reunions—something else that would generate revenue for the Fairgrounds.
Overall, directors said, most exhibitor and animal numbers were up, even though the Fair ran longer.
One criticism they heard was that there weren’t enough dairy cows there for the nine-day event, something directors blamed on miscommunication on their part.
The different breeds were rotated in and out so families didn’t have to be at the Fair the entire time, but directors said they’ll do a better job this time of letting those exhibitors know they’re welcome to stay all nine days.