Fair brings out 72,000-plus

by Matthew Weaver<br>Herald Staff Writer
| August 22, 2006 9:00 PM

Manager: 'Very smooth'

GRANT COUNTY — Last week's fair was one of the smoothest.

"Very smooth," said Grant County Fairgrounds fair and facilities manager Al Holman, calling it "one of the best-run fairs." Those fair board members who pre-date Holman also ranked 2006 "up there with any fair as far as smooth and planning being efficient," he said.

One operational issue which arose was a problem with rodeo parking blocking the fairgrounds' Dumpsters, Holman said.

More than 72,000 people attended the fair and round-up rodeo over the week, with more than 9,000 entries, roughly 6,000 of which were cakes, vegetables, pies, paintings and other items in exhibit barns.

Holman said plans are already starting to formulate for next year's fair.

"I would still like to bring in a shark tank or a grand novelty," he said. "I'm flogging that idea, and I'll flog it until I get one."