Long Time Gone-
* Don’t blame the failure of the Hendricks/Fitzgerald deal all upon the fair board or Rock County Board of Supervisors. I talked with one supervisor who wanted to say yes, but because Hendricks/Fitzgerald gave them such a short timeline. They did not have enough time to study the plan, ask questions, or get certain things in writing. Hendricks/ Fitzgerald would not change the timeline, so to protect the taxpayers and the county land which is so valuable they had to say NO. Put some of the blame on Hendricks/Fitzgerald for not wanting to work with the county board.

* Mr. Flury and the fair board job is to organize and run the fair. There is so much more to the fair then just opening the gates and collecting admission fees. The fair board members want feed back, they will talk with anyone, they know they are under the microscope all the time.

* Please stop comparing the different country fairs. Each is very special in their own right. The Rock County Fair unlike others showcase only the talents of the young people of the area. They are the real stars of the fair. The fair is still one the largest all youth fair in the nations. And if you talk with most of the 4-H and FFA members who exhibit there, they love their fairgrounds.

* As a veteran, you might like to know that the fairgrounds was part of the encampment that was used by the army to train young men that enlisted to fight in the Civil War. So under your definition it is indeed hallow. My son uses the term as a place greatly revered. He knows that county fairs, 4-H and FFA has been an important part of the growth in ag technology. He believes the role of the Rock County Fairgrounds has had in the development of farming , the ag industry of Southern Wisconsin and youth development should be honored and not just toss aside. My son doesn’t go down the midway, he hates funnel cakes, and has never brought a gold fish home in a bag. To him fair is about showmanship, friendships, and learning more, I am very proud of him.

Ynot - I have never been a member of Congress, or President of the United States either, so does that disqualify me from observing what is wrong with the leadership of Mr. Flury?
*
So are you saying that because the Rock County Board is the governing authority of the fair grounds, then Mr. Flury and the fair board should use that as an excuse to allow the kids of 4-H and the paying customers of the fair from enjoying better, safer, perhaps larger, facilities?
*
What is the responsibility of Mr. Flury, exactly? Why would anyone want to simply keep a chair warm, and not leave some sort of positive legacy for the county and the next generation?
*
The taxpayers of the county who subsidize the fair should be taken off the hook, and here you and I might agree.
*
Mr. Flury and the Rock County Board failed when Mr. Hendricks and Mr. Fitzgerald gave them that opportunity.
*
Lastly, your son's use of "hallowed ground" is insulting and you should teach him better metaphors to use. As a veteran, when someone uses that phrase, they better be talking about a military battlefield or a military cemetery - not a midway with funnel cakes and bowls of goldfish.

Long Time Gone, I am not one of Mr. Flury's colleagues. But you when you say Mr. Flury and that Fair Board do nothing, you have never sat on a fair board meeting. The fair board, the fair association do not own the fairgrounds, Rock County does. Rock County allows The Fair Board to organize the yearly event and to have an office on the grounds. The Fair board must go to the Rock County Board of Supervisor with recommendations every year plus even if the county board OKS a new building, it then must go to the City of Janesville for final approval. It is not the Fair board that will decides if the fairgrounds is moved. That is up to the county board. With Rock County suffering with layoffs and other economic woes, I don't think the county board will want to tackle building a new fairgrounds at this point of time. If you see an urgent need at the fairgrounds, let a county board supervisor know. As my son's comment about being "hallow ground". What is wrong with a young man having passion for something he enjoys. You must have forgotten what it is like to
be young.

Long time gone: You have still not ansewered the question. What do you have against Wayne Flury? Perhaps since you grew up in the 70's you might have showed against his daughters and they won!
**We cleaned up the fair grounds today and I would really like to know what exactly you consider "Lousey". If the fair grounds are moved it would have use up farm land. With the price of food going up everyday we need every little piece of land to grow food.

I will echo darius's compliments to tipi and twerp.
*
But I find it amusing every time I get specific about Mr. Flury's do-nothing leadership, his colleagues come back at me with "stop attacking the kids" comments.
*
Someone posted the fairgrounds are "hallowed ground"?? Geez, that is a bit over the top, but I guess that is what taxpayers get when they question why the Chair has not heeded one recommendation of the future Fair planning study.
*
I am not saying running the fair is easy, and I admire the 4-H clubs, kids and try to teach my little ones to be knowledgeable and respectful of the Ag community and farmland, but if they want to serve the general public, then we expect more than what the limited space provides.
*
I am sure all the volunteers on the board are busy, busy, but Flury and his crew signed-up for the service, so stop keeping the chairs warm and do something as significant as Joe Craig once did.
*
Leave your mark Mr. Flury, dare to be great. Something more than lobbying the Rock Ounty Board for more tax subsidies to run the fair - invoking "the kids" as your most powerful weapon.
*
We did see the Thresheree exhibit at the fair (and they seem to improve that venue out there every year - my kids love that train)and the photo exhibit in the Secretary's office was very well done. I did recognize some kids I grew-up with back in the 70s.

tipi16 and twerp13
I just want to give you my kudos for getting involved in your kids lives and giving them the chance to grow! Too many couch potatoes out there raising the next generation of tater tots! Thanks to the 4-H program and all who support it and make it happen! You are all differnce makers! God bless you all!

twerp13: Your daughter rocks....I'm glad that I'm not the only mom out there trying to keep entries and judging time all straight. My son had 20 in Mech Science 6 in gardening (not a good year), 6 in crops, that was FFA. Photography in 4-H and was in Heatwave. My daughter had a few less, but was on Court. So here is to all the Mom's and Dad's that make sure that there are exhibits for all to see. A big pat on the back too all

Huh: I hate to dissapoint you but many of todays kids have many other outside intrest other than just video games. Sports,boyscouts/girl scouts, FFA, Church youth groups all are recruiting todays kids, so just because exhibit numbers are down, dosn't really mean kids are too lazy or un motivated.

By the way my daugter exhibited 31 enteries at fair this year so you know she didn't have much wated time on her hands.

Long Time Gone why are you so spiteful toward Mr. Flurry. Have you ever sat on the fair board and tried to improve the fair? It takes time, money, organization, and many volunteer hours to put on such an event. I have had family members exhibit in the nonanimal projects as well shown animals for over fifty years at this fair. I know it is a great fair when the kids are smiling and making plans for next year. Money and lots of it can build a new fairgrounds, but can it make it any better. According to my 17 year old son who show large animals, the fairgrounds is hollow ground and should never be touch. He believes "It is the best place on earth." Mr. Flurry and The Board Again IT WAS A GREAT FAIR.........

Yes tipi16!

The museum! It rocks!!! The board is limited, folks. I know it's human nature to always want more, but we need to be grateful for what we have!

Longtime, I don't follow the fair politics at all, but the "one thing" I see is the new barn that replaced the old pony barn. I am not defending Mr. Flurry. I don't know anything about him, but I can find that one thing....

Honestly, part of the fair's dwindling exhibits is the lack of motivation by today's kids. They'd rather be indoors playing video games than doing a project (sewing, cooking, varnishing, etc.) that might help them learn something.

Long Time Gone: This was my 50th Fair so I have seen alot over the years. Lets see last few years we got a new pony barn which do to number of goat exhibits was turned in to a goat barn (which I don't agree with) This year the Sales Arena got a remodel the new windows do make it much cooler while showing. The oldest buildings would be the Show Arena and the rabbit barn. Some of my Famlies best memories our of showing in the Arena. It's where I showed and my kids,newphews nieces have shown and now we are waiting for the grandkids to start Do you know that the Craig Center is rented out almost every weekend for shows, parties, and even a wedding reception. The Kitchen was remodeled by a 4-Her who is working towards his eagle scout badge. Yes the buildings do need some TLC paint &etc. Did you visit the old Secretary Office and see all the rich history of 3 of the 4-H clubs they change every year. If you did you would have seen some of my famlies history
**
You have to admit that the display From the Rock River Thresheree was wonderful and a addition to the Craig Center Area. It brought a lot of people down to that side of the grounds
**
Leave Wayne Flury and the rest of the board alone. I still wonder WHAT you have against him. Oh by the way my niece is on the board.

tipi - read my posts. I may have been to more Rock County fairs than you! Not living in Janesville anymore is hardly a prerequisite, unless you raise admission for "non-residents..."
*
garyprimer - Mr. Flury does not do a "great" job with the fair. He is a do-nothing chairman of the board who has left nothing for the next generation to build on.
*
Tell me one thing Mr. Flury can point to and say, look at that, we built that, added that, or improved that??
*
While I enjoy the fair and all the hard work of all the kids, the fair itself has gone backwards. Attendance is stagnant. The facilities are lousy (tipi, are you reading??), and the 4-H kids deserve better.
*
The best Mr. Flury can conjure is volunteers asking survey questions as parents try to keep track of their toddlers?
*
What is happening is the fair does not cater to the entire county, given its location. The fair does not serve the 4-H, ag community well, given the dilapidated facilities. The fair does not serve the general public as well as it could, given the limited space, limited entertainment options, and limited budget (are you still reading tipi?).
*
Nope, Mr. Flury will only be remembered for his longevity of serving the fair board, and anyone can simply hang around. He has not left his mark anywhere that anyone can readily see.
*
Having said all that, I will continue to bring my little ones to the fair every year, if for no other reason than they get to see where ice-cream really comes from.

average attendance during a fair week that had the best weather i can remember in years... as for new bigger fairgrounds... we need it, but im sure everyone wants thier taxes to go up. and i think some other fair goers must have noticed fewer venders this year.

It's hard to compare the various fairs around the state due to the type of fair (open, 4-H, etc.), where it is located (Rock County, Ozaukee County...), etc.,

There are stipulations, for the good or bad, that limit the Rock County 4-H Fair.

When it comes down to it, Rock County does a great job. I am very happy to live in the county. At one point, I am not sure if this is still the case, Rock County was the largest 4-H fair in the nation.

We are not Ozaukee County. Ozaukee is the richest county in the state. If you've been there you know that. It is quite obnious.

Can improvements be made here? Yes, of course, but probably the most finanially sound way to make those improvements is to start from scratch with a new fairgrounds.

Beat Colbert to the punch.

Wayne Flury does a great job for the 4-H Fair. The tradition and history and charm of an actual county fair would be diluted by a change of venue. Let's not walmartize© the Rock County 4-H Fair.

Long Time what are the lousey conditions you are pertaining too? What do you have against Mr. Flury and the Fair Board? You don't even live in the area.

Well my family thoroughly enjoyed it. Regardless of the fact that I dished out $230.00 for 4 adults and 3 children...in entrance fees, arm bands and all the fair "comfort food" we could consume.
I'm grandma and building memories for my children and grandchildren is all important to me. In 20 years, it won't make any difference that I spent a wad on the fair in 2008, but my grandchildren will take these memories into adulthood and perhaps have a different outlook on being a family by remembering what made a difference to them when they were small.

Its all about perspective. Of course, any venue could always improve, but I had so much fun watching my family have fun, that the memories were priceless!

Be a "glass half full" person and you'll be happier. Its always easier to blame someone than jump in to help.

look Out Mr Flurry! The Boo Birds are out and looking to drop their load on you.. free free free free

jeez, i didnt think the fair was "astronomiacally" costly. Rides were cheaper than those crappers they had at the fireworks. not to mention the rides looked WAY more up to date than those relics. We went on Thursday afternoon and my kids both got the bracelet for $23 each. Talk about getting their moneys worth, holy cow. They LOVED it, which means I loved it. Still think it would be even better in a larger venue, but overall myself and my kids all had a GREAT time. cant wait for next year.

With the weather so nice, even with a struggling economy, attendance should've been higher than "average". It's a shame there can't be some solution to move the fairgrounds to someplace more accommodating to more people and with better facilities.
*
By the way, Dane County charges $6 for admission, but that may have to do with the higher population, I don't know. Anyway, I don't think $8 is unreasonably high. It would be nice, though, to see that money go to maintaining better quality grounds. Just a thought.

Wayne Flury should not be congratulated. The kids of 4-H, absolutely, for enduring the lousy conditions that Flury and his board have imposed on the kids.
*
To Mr. Flury, good enough is good enough.
*
He will soon be back at the Rock County Board, asking for next year's subsidy.

This is the biggest case of spin doctoring that I've seen in some time. Don't give me the comparison to the average of the last 20 years. Show us the numbers for each of the last eight. Attendence is down significantly. I found fewer food stands, both professional and community organization based. Commercial exhibitors were down. In my judgement, even the 4H exhibits were down. Obviously the fair board refuses to admit it, but this event is fading away right in front of them. A new larger venue and far better grandstand acts may be the only answer.

Some fairs may possibly be free, but then they charge you for entertainment or other things like tractor pulls, etc. I purchased a week pass for a family member at $23, which is not unreasonable.

It was a great fair, congrats to Wayne Flurry and the Fair Board, and all the young people who exhibited. I really enjoyed the afternoon fun at the Craig Ave Tent especially "Are You
Smarter Than A Dairy Farmer" Contest, Heatwave,
and The Cream Puff Eating Contest, just to name a few. The entertainment on the Food Court Stage was great too.

"astronomically high?"
*
Not true. Not true at all, for what you get for your admission.

The cost is astronomically high. There are a lot of fairs that are still free- Ozaukee, for one,and few more in IL.

The fair is an enjoyable time, but, it could be so so much better; for the kids, for the 4-Hers, for city-folk, and for old timers like me.