Skip to main content

Ag Society launches direct mail sponsor campaign to support Rock County Fair

Lead Summary
, , ,
By
Mavis Fodness

Organizers of the long-running Rock County Fair are seeking financial support in a direct mail campaign launched last month.
The Rock County Agricultural Society kicked off its first bulk mail fundraising campaign seeking support for entertainment offerings at the annual four-day event.
This year’s Rock County Fair is July 24-27.
Deadline for donations is June 1 in order to be recognized at this year’s fair.
“Because of the increased cost of entertainment, we are asking your help to continue to offer items for free or at a minimal cost,” the letter stated.
“With your sponsorship dollars, we will be able to continually improve the fair.”
Luverne Area Community Foundation is collecting the money for the fair board. Donations will continue to be accepted after the June 1 deadline.
Sponsorships include grandstand shows as well as events occurring daily on the fairgrounds.
 
Operating budget doubles over the past dozen years
On March 19 Ag Society President Isaac DeBoer and Secretary Lee Sells updated county commissioners about the non-profit organization’s continued goal to provide a quality county fair to the public.
That includes maintaining facilities on South Freeman Avenue in southwest Luverne.
Since 2006, the ag society completed more than $530,000 in capital improvements.
Revenue since then has more than doubled from $62,600 to $171,800 in 2018.
The increase was bolstered primarily by the $67,500 received in grants and sponsorships, an amount that was zero in 2006.
A portion of the money ($42,000) is earmarked for fair entertainment.
Large crowds at the 2018 county fair were positive signs that the events are attracting people to come to the fairgrounds.
“Last year was probably our record year,” DeBoer said. “We have stepped it up a long way with some of the on-the-ground entertainment that we did, and the goal is to continue to do that.”
As a free admission event, DeBoer said exact attendance numbers are difficult to track, but food sales can be a barometer for the Wednesday-Saturday event.
“Pork producers, by mid-day Saturday, were basically sold out of rib-ticklers,” DeBoer said. “They ordered more than they ever ordered before and that tells me how good presence on the ground was as a whole.”
Kelsey Maeschen, the county’s 4-H coordinator, said the food stand operated by the youth organization experienced a good 2018.
“We did set a profit record at the food stand with all the business that we received,” she said.
Increased attendance is not an experience shared among all local fairs.
“A lot of folks haven’t really thought outside the box,” DeBoer said. “A lot of county fairs are not making it financially.”
 
Turn toward direct mail campaign new for group
Rock County commissioners increased the county’s annual fair contribution from $16,000 per year to $20,000 beginning in 2019.
 “The fair board should be commended,” said Commissioner Stan Williamson. “This board doesn’t have to worry — when we give you a contribution, we know you’ve spent it wisely.”
The county’s contribution used to account for 26 percent of the fair’s income in 2006, now it is 9 percent.
Donations and sponsorships comprise 39 percent of the fair board’s total budget and the direct mail campaign is intended to make fundraising easier for the ag society members.
Sells said members previously stopped at sponsoring businesses to share event plans and to ask which event(s) the owners would financially support.
“This year we redid that whole process,” Sells said. “(It) is a mailer to the whole community, businesses and everybody in Rock County and including all of Jasper.”
The mailer was sent in late March to 5,000 mailboxes and to 250 businesses. Recipients can choose various levels of support.
Levels range from Purple Ribbon ($1,000), Blue Ribbon ($750), Red Ribbon ($500), White Ribbon ($100) or other.
Depending on the level, sponsors receive grandstand passes, meal tickets and/or media recognition.
While the committee of Sells, Barb Krapf, Lyle Rollag and Bob Remme didn’t set a specific fundraising goal, reaching the amount budgeted for entertainment ($42,000) or more would be ideal.
Entertainment comprises 24 percent of the group’s expenses.
However, some entertainment may not be improved through additional dollars.
A survey conducted after the 2018 event pointed out some key improvements areas.
Lack of parking, quality of the midway and cost of the carnival rides topped the list.
The group continues to weigh parking options but carnival options are a different story.
“That continues to be a challenge for fairs our size and smaller,” DeBoer said. “Fortunately we haven’t been one of the stories out there who paid money for a carnival but didn’t have it show up.”
 
Facility improvements and use planned in 2019
The fair board received $11,500 grant last year from the state Department of Agriculture.
It also received grant money to improve fair facilities for the 2019 event.
Ventilation in the enclosed livestock show arena will be improved, as will the commercial exhibit buildings.
The restrooms located in the 4-H exhibit building will also be remodeled to be more handicap-accessible facilities.
“We did get a lot of compliments last year,” DeBoer said.
Outside the fair dates, ag society members are exploring other activities.
They joined forces with two area racetracks to offer a point series for area racecar drivers.
Three enduro races are planned for the fairground’s dirt track. The local races will take place in June, one in July during the county fair, and one before Labor Day.
Success of the current fundraising campaign will allow the volunteers to focus more on the grounds and planning additional events and less on finding fair sponsorships.
For more information about the sponsorship program, contact Sells at 507-220-1725, Barb Krapf at 507-227-4307, Lyle Rollag at 605-261-4031 or Bob Remme at 507-220-0177.

You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.