I showed at Rock County Fair in FFA/4-H for years. Rock County has the most exhibited at/most attended fair of any in the state, yet it's on the smallest grounds. Doesn't make much sense, does it?

And you have to think bigger than just the one week of each year. With a bigger grounds/different location, the 4th could have an excellent venue, it could pull in major live-band acts for concerts, there could be major events there that would draw people into the Rock County economy from all over the nation... I mean really. Think *bigger* than just the "Rock County Fair." THAT is why the location needs to be drastically changed. It would be great for the economy here and allow for major events and depending on the type of buildings that went up with it, major expos could be located here.

Private funding needs to come forth to make this type of thing happen.

8 X 4 = 32. 32 IS LESS THAN $50 FAIR DAILY ADMISSION IS $8

Just think what the attendance would be if you could get a family of four IN for less than $50 bucks , I will not attend because admission is REDICULIOUS !!!!

IT IS NOT THE ROCK COUNTY FAIR!!!!!! IT IS A 4-H FAIR
As the oldest 4-H fair in the United States, the Rock County 4-H Fair in Janesville, WI has plenty to offer each and every visitor. From the numerous animals to the carnival and every unique exhibit in between, the Rock County 4-H Fair allows visitors one special week a year to experience the many projects and learn from the county's youth. The Rock County 4-H Fair is constantly evolving; showcasing amazing entertainment on its main stage and a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy year after year.

I know what the city could do with the current fair land if they moved the fair. Bulldoze it down and sell it as residential lots. The may as well put more houses over there since that area is primarily residential. Or they could put in another park. Janesville is the City of Parks after all.
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As for moving the fair to a different city, why would they do that? I understand that it is the Rock Co fair and not the Janesville fair. However, Janesville is just about the most centerally located city in Rock County. So, having it in Janesville makes it convenient for those who have to travel from all areas of the county.

The main point is that this is a 4-H/ffa fair, not a county fair. If you are involved in the fair, you know what a pain it is to drive large trucks/trailers through and between the existing buildings. More land would allow the buildings to be farther apart and less dangerous to pedestrians. Parking is a HUGE problem. That would be alleviated by opening the large wasted area at the school, but now you are back to politics. Quit living in the past and get a newer and better grounds for a better fair. Make it truly a county fair that we can be proud of.Make it a 4-H/ffa/county fair!

Ok, when I mentioned the GM site, it was just an off hand remark, with the knowledge that it will be sitting empty. Jspence, since you no longer live in the area, you cannot be aware of the height of the crime in that area. And yes, we don't know about the Volt, but that doesn't mean we need to do our "research". This is just a discussion, not a decision making panel. You seem to be far too offended for someone who moved out of town. Wasn't the land the fair currently sits on donated by a local Janesville man YEARS ago? Ok, didn't do my research, but I thought someone here could do it for me. :) As for the 4H'ers paying for their own improvements...shame on you all. That land is used for more than just the fair and I am not positive, but the land isn't owned by the 4H'ers. Again, I may be wrong, but I will still duck the tomatoes thrown in my direction. ;)

jspence, thanks for leaving our "lame" town.

the fair isnt just for the 4-h ers. its for allof us to enjoy. I have no problem with a few of my tax dollars going to improve it and make it much more enjoyable. Better than paying for lap dances for JPD for a year.

they really need to move the fair. Jefferson and Walworth counties fairs make ours here in Rock county look foolish. An expanded fairgrounds can be used for nore than just the fair. Look at walworth county fair grounds. There is something going on there almost every weekend.

I'm with Spanky too-keep the Rock county taxpayers out of it. Let 4-H fund their own upgrades.

I think we need to look out side of the city, the fair grounds have served their purpose when the were granted to the city many years ago, but now with groth of the city and the demands of the public we need to look else where. How long will it be befor the stands collapse? We also have many childrens art exibits that cannot be displayed properly because they dont have the room. What about the animals, this is a 4H fair, the facilitys for the barns are very sub par. And then there is the issue with the perfomers saftey and stage, we may be able to attract bigger names to the area with better facilites. If the facilites could also be used for concerts through out the summer in order to pay for the new site.

Everyone complains about how awful our fair is, but let's not spend any money to make it better, it's far easier to just sit and complain about it.

I personally enjoyed the fair, but have to agree the food selection is the same at all the venues. What happend to Rolling Pin?!!!

I'm with Spanky.

it's just too small to hold some things that would be great for the fair.... move to a bigger location and the fair would be a lot better...

Not a real good time to start thinking about spending more money with the economy the way it is. If the 4-Hers want to build a new place then let them. Keep the taxpayers money out of it.

The area for the fair is too small. We have had an option from the mulder farm by the sheriff dept. and they turned it down. But the fair needs to move to have more room. Yes its only a week but its a long week when you have to work it and park miles away and leave at 10:30 p.m. This fair is not as exciting as others. Our music can be updated, and if we had more room we can add things to the fair to make it more exciting for people to come. You see more people going to other fairs and saying how nice it was and ours stinks. And for us moving to the GM site. That will never happen. It will cost to much for GM. We still have people use the site for the fair grounds, example are Relay for life. They use it every year. It can be used for a lot of things. IT dosen't have to be torn down. It can be put to good use for other things. But come on lets move the fair grounds!

I love our fair grounds, I bought retaining wall blocks their, and almost passed out in the hog barn. OK, I didn't like the hog barn part, it needs ventilation.

The fair should have been moved to the old Rock County farm site. And the reason it should remain in the Janesville area is because it is the Rock County fair and Janesville is the county seat.

The fair will and should stay where it is at, forever, and ever.
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Wayne Flury, and to a lesser extent, the fair board, blew it.
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Flury could have had his name on a new pavillion - could have gone down in history with Mr. Hendricks & Mr. Fitzgerald - but why make changes when good enough is good enough.

GM will not tear down their lot. GM wants to open that location back up only for the production of the Volt. Just because GM shut it's doors, it doesn't mean it's forever. The doors will open up again soon. I heard about GM's possible reopening on a national talk radio show... I'm surprised none of you have heard about it. If you have, you never mentioned it. Please do your research.

I moved out of Janesville a few years ago. I'm not moving back. The city is lame. The fair is just as boring as the city. It would be smart just to move the fair to an open area like others have suggested. It makes more sense. Why would you want to move the location of the fair to a higher crime area?

What nobody is mentioning is what to do with the old site should they move to a new location. I agree with whybesad, its only for one week a year, deal with it.

When the fairgrounds was built it was placed in an undeveloped area of Janesville. Why landlock it again by using the GM site? How about building a new fairgrounds in an area that is COUNTRY with lots of room to grow? I also don't understand why the fair has to remain IN Janesville. Politics, maybe?

i really like the idea of the fair being moved to the gm area. it won't happen because it makes too much sense.

i used to go for the food. now that isn't any good either. just alot of dust getting kicked up while a person walks around. it is way to commercial.

I dont even attend the fair anymore do to it be such a waste of time. There is nothing there to see anymore. Car dealers, Farm machinary have all left do to the lack of space. It is time the County go it act together and moved the Fair Grounds into a modern space large enough to drawn exhibitors and spectators. BTW I am a former 4-H member and showed at the fair for 8 yrs.

great idea, have Gm clean up the area and it would be a great fairgrounds. Now if we can just get GM to do the clean up!!

It's fine where it is. It's one week out of the year.

Why not put the fairgrounds between Beloit and Janesville? There is plenty of open space. It is not called the Janesville Fair.

I guess I always took for granted the accessibility of the fair because it is in Janesville. I wonder how non-Janesvillians feel about the fairs location, is it a huge pain coming into Janesville to go to the fair for you out-of-towners?

I believe that GM should tear down and refurbish the area (their cost)donate the land to the city and we plop the fairgrounds there. Big parking lot. :) Train traffic wouldn't be as huge anymore either.

The current fair grounds has been out of date for years. It's time the county step up and give us something to be proud of. Jefferson County has a beautiful grounds. Just driving by it makes me embarrassed for the grounds in Rock County. Every year the grounds seem more crowded and more run-down than the previous year. The facilities are old and disgusting.

Not only is it time to move the Fair grounds, it's time to address the parking issues that come with this increase. Also we need to think about public safety around all of the traffic issues that the Fair brings.