Jerome County Fair has successful six-day run

Six days of favorable weather, combined with a 2020 nomination for PRCA Top Five Small Rodeo of the year, two nights of concerts, and high mud drag entries made for record numbers at the 2021 Jerome County Fair held August 9-14.

Fairgoers reacted favorably to many programming changes, including Tiny Town, the new interactive play experience for young fairgoers; additional entertainment options on the Hilex Poly Free Stage, including three free acts and multiple opportunities for community involvement; new strolling entertainment; the inaugural Fair “Food Fight”; and more than $25,000 in capital improvements.

“Our staff, board and volunteers knew that there would be expectations for a great event coming off the PRCA Top Five Small Rodeo nomination and we were up for the challenge,” said Fair Manager Andrea Wiesenmeyer. “From rodeo to concert events to livestock shows, we’re here to help create life-long memories for fairgoers, and we can look back and say we definitely did that in 2021.”

Wiesenmeyer continued that the success of the 2021 Jerome County Fair can be measured in several metrics:

Youth Involvement

  • 4-H and FFA exhibitors increased in multiple species for 2021, including record numbers for beef and turkeys.
  • The 2021 4-H Sale was the largest in the Fair’s history with approximately a $120,000 increase over 2020’s total.

Fairgoer Spending

  • Fairgoer spending on food and beverage was up 40% (in comparison to spending from 2019).
  • Brown’s Amusements made a return in 2021 after a hiatus in 2020, with an increase of 24% in revenue (in comparison to 2019).
  • Grandstand sales were up 30% (in comparison to 2020).

Gary Warr, Board President said, “I commend the staff, board, and volunteers for executing a successful event in a very short planning period, all while dealing with the challenges of a completely new staff and a tough labor market. We are excited to begin planning for 2022.”