Kern County Fair attendance was over 400,000, which was higher than last year’s 379,000, according to fair CEO Michael Olcott.
Olcott said that he believed one boost in attendance was due to having Luis Miguel performing in the Coors Grand Stand. Also, he noted that it wasn’t as hot this year.
“The weather was probably the biggest boost to the attendance,” Olcott said. “We had just unbelievable weather that we haven’t seen for 15 years. It cooled things down and people actually loved coming out with the cool weather.”
Olcott said that the fair was a “very big success this year.”
Olcott commented that he was very excited about the results of the livestock auction. Olcott explained that there was an anonymous buyer that became known as “Buyer #9.”
“Buyer #9” bought “a lot” of animals and donated them to Community Action Partnership of Kern.
“They donated almost 97,000 pounds of food,” Olcott said. “Our local food bank is ecstatic. It’s going to help so many needy families this year.”
Olcott said that this anonymous foundation really helped the kids who the animals belonged to because it gives them money toward college funds and to possibly get another animal for the 2014 fair.
“It was a big blessing to our community this year, it truly was, to the community and the kids,” Olcott said.
Olcott stated that they have already begun planning the 2014 fair which will stick to the Best in the West theme. He explained that the planning of a fair is an extensive process, which they usually begin about a year and a half prior to the event itself.
Olcott explained that they are working on the entertainment lineup, which will be dependent on what artists are on the West Coast during the time that the fair happens.
“We had a great lineup this year,” Olcott said, “Now we’re looking for bigger and better things than this year.”
Olcott hopes to work with local bands to orchestrate a special event for the 2014 fair.
“I’d like to really focus on a competition with all the bands in town and actually give them an opportunity to win money for the best band and the best band performance,” he said.
The KCF proceeds go toward funding of the following year’s fair and for funding the fairgrounds for the rest of the year.
According to Olcott, KCF used to receive some outside funding from the state. “Two years ago, the state stopped funding all the fairs in California,” he said.
Olcott explained that he does not foresee that the cease in funding will ever have a negative effect on KCF because of the level of community support that the fair gets.
“We’re fortunate here,” Olcott said, “We’re sustainable here, we take care of ourselves here actually.
“Some of the smaller fairs don’t have the opportunity to get the fundraising from the local community,” Olcott said. “They’re not as big as us. There are quite a few fairs that aren’t going to be able to make it.”
Olcott explained that he was able to visit some of the events during the fair and really had a great time.
“I thank the community for coming out and supporting the fair and having a great time,” he said. “I hope everybody had a great time. I know I did.”