EMBARRASS- A lot of things have changed in Embarrass over the last 84 years, but one thing that has remained the same is the Embarrass Region Fair. And this year, thanks to a rather energetic group of fair organizers, the fair was bigger and better than ever.
Attendance topped 8,000, according to the preliminary counts, which would be just about double last year’s fair attendance if the final numbers hold up.
“We ran out of admission wristbands both days,” said Embarrass Region Fair Association (ERFA) Chair Tana Johnson. “Lots of people have been saying it was the best fair ever,” said Johnson. “We exceeded all our expectations.” Johnson said she talked to many people who were attending the fair for their first time.
The ERFA board updated their marketing efforts this year, put out a color brochure, and published an updated website that had all the needed information for each event, entry exhibits, and all the other information needed to plan a day at the fair. Nice weather didn’t hurt, either. Saturday was overcast and pleasantly cool, while Sunday brought partly cloudy skies and slightly warmer temperatures.
The fair has about 40 “main” volunteers, covering each event, but then each of these volunteers recruits their own crew. Total volunteers probably clock in at close to 200 people, she said. “We had people volunteering we didn’t know were volunteering,” she said. “The community really pours their hearts into this.”
Fair organizers focused on bringing in new and returning events that would appeal to all ages. Bingo was back and turned out to be very popular, Johnson said. The kids’ entertainment, with a magician and a musician/puppeteer, were also popular. Fair board members William Ramponi and Sarah Wallert-Ramponi hosted a booth with children’s activities, including martial arts demonstrations, how-to’s, and lawn games. The animal barn, hosted again by the Johnson and Martin families, was filled with horses, piglets, ducks and geese, chickens, rabbits, and more. The ERFA board is looking for someone to be the livestock exhibit coordinator.
“We’d like to bring competition back to the livestock barn,” said Johnson, who added it might not be feasible due to the numerous regulations including having a veterinarian on site during open hours.
The exhibit barn had plenty of entries, and the judging process went well, Johnson said.
“There were so many highlights this year,” said former ERFA board member and this year’s fair director Sue Beaton.
“The parade lasted 30 minutes,” she said, which she is pretty sure is a record. Beaton herself didn’t get to watch most of it, because she was honored as this year’s Grand Marshal and rode in the front of the parade.
Beaton said there were 13 food vendors set up this year, and there was some concern there wouldn’t be enough business for all of them. But “all did very well, and everybody was happy.”
There were 83 entries in the classic car show, over 700 attendees at the mud run, and the demolition derby had many more entries than in previous years as well as large attendance.
The Lions Club went through 22 kegs of beer, up from 17 last year.
The Flying Finn 5K run and walk had a great turnout, and just about ran out of bib numbers for entrants.
Ava Redetzke was crowned Little Miss Embarrass Region Fair, Dallyce Hardy was first runner-up, and Lexa Barsness was Miss Congeniality. They were part of a group of young girls who sold raffle tickets for a fair fundraiser for this new event.
“Speaking for the whole association,” said Beaton, “we are so grateful for all those who came out to support the fair.”
The board still has plenty of work to do.
“Everything we knew about past fairs, we just blew by those records,” said Johnson. “We didn’t know what we didn’t know. Now we know how to plan and provide for more things.” Planning for more parking is near the top of that list since parking filled up early on both Saturday and Sunday.
“This was such an exciting weekend, but we are all drained,” said Johnson, who noted that she had logged over 50 miles on her feet for the five days around the fair. “My feet are feeling it.”
The group is looking for possibly as many as three volunteers to take over the role of fair director, currently held by Sue Beaton.
The ERFA board currently consists of Tana Johnson, chair; Sarah Wallert-Ramponi, vice-chair; Jerry Meier, treasurer; Janine Patten, secretary; and directors Preston Tripp, Carissa Smith, Zane Beaton, and William Ramponi. The group is also seeking additional board members. Learn more about the association at https://www.embarrassrfa.org/.
Future plans for Timber Hall
The public is invited to give input into how to best use the Timber Hall event center building. On Saturday, Oct. 7, the ERFA board will be hosting a community meeting to discuss ideas and options from 3 – 5:30 p.m. at Timber Hall. Johnson noted that the community has really taken ownership of the fairgrounds and Timber Hall, but they are looking at ways to increase use of the hall and grounds. That day will also include a pancake breakfast starting at 8 a.m., and a community blood drive starting at 8:30 a.m.