by Jim Wolcott, Lassen County Fair Manager
and Dan Douglas, Fair Board President
We would like to welcome you to check out the re-designed Lassen County Fair website at LassenCountyFair.org. It is chock full of new information about the exciting events coming your way at the Fairgrounds. There are pictures, links to special events, and details about everything important at the Lassen County Fair.
Our new Office Manager, Kaely Cuthill, is already busy with preparations for this year’s Fair, July 15th – 19th. Can you believe that the biggest single event in Lassen County will be here in less than four months? This year’s theme is Friendly Faces, Familiar Places. Premium Books will be out before you know it, so start planning for all your entries into this year’s Fair. Do not hesitate to call Kaely (251-8900) if you have any questions, or stop by the Fair Office (195 Russell Avenue).
Before we run out make sure you take advantage of our “two for the price of one” Season Passes for this year’s Fair. Details are available at our website, or check out our Facebook page and don’t forget to “like” us. You can also get information at the website, or our Facebook page, about this year’s Auto Racing Schedule, Blue Grass Festival and the many other events that take place at your Fairgrounds.
Our new Maintenance and Grounds supervisor, Bob Borders, is busy with improvements to the grounds and buildings. A current project that Bob is completing is new irrigation piping and timer for the beautiful Daylilies that line the main entrance into the Fairgrounds. Did you know that the Susanville Noon Rotary Club originally planted those Daylilies? Every year they provide a wonderful splash of color for our community members. Thank you Susanville Noon Rotary.
With last month’s windstorm we lost one big tree and, like everyone else, had broken limbs all over the place. Despite the age of most of our buildings we, luckily, did not suffer any major damage, and Jensen Hall performed as needed to house some of our community’s seniors when the roof at their facility suffered wind and water damage. We hope that you know the important role that we play in Lassen County’s Disaster Preparedness.
As with every small County Fair, volunteers play a major role in making all of our activities happening. From 4H, FFA, to all of the individuals, businesses and area organizations, our Fair could not do all of the important activities we do without their time, effort, and financial support.
Another, unsung, group of Fair volunteers, are the ten members of the Lassen County Fair Board. They meet monthly as a full board and have multiple committee meetings each month. Rarely does a day pass that at least one of the Fair Board members is not seen at the Fair Office or on the grounds.
Did you know that if it was not for the support by the Lassen County Board of Supervisors and the Administration of Lassen County that your Fair would no longer exist? In 2011 the State of California budget no longer provided any funding for County Fairs. It was a perilous time for all California Fairs, but our Board of Supervisors took the necessary action and provided the additional funding needed to keep our Fair going. Members of the Board of Supervisors, on a rotating basis, attend the monthly Fair Board meeting, when their schedules permit.
We still operate on a bare bones budget, but thanks to the support of our Board of Supervisors we have managed to keep our facility open and available to you, our community. We cannot thank enough the hundreds of volunteers, our community sponsors, the Fair Board, and the Board of Supervisors and administration of Lassen County for their support.
Let us know how you like our new website, LassenCountyFair.org, and we look forward to seeing you at the Fairgrounds.