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State fair officials release attendance numbers
Despite extreme temperatures and a little bit of rain, the 2012 Nebraska State Fair is being hailed a success.
This was the third year of the fair being held in Grand Island and while there is still work to be done to get western and eastern Nebraskans to the fair, it was still a record setting year. Vendors are packing up and heading home as the 2012 Nebraska State Fair comes to an end. Massive amounts of people came to this years fair, something the state fair board is pleased with. "We have successfully put the 143rd Nebraska State Fair to rest," said Jana Kruger, State Fair Board Chairperson. It's clean up time at Fonner Park as vendors say goodbye to the 2012 fair. A very successful one. "We're very pleased with this number as rain and extreme temperatures worked against us on two or three occasions during the fair," said Joseph McDermott, State Fair Executive Director. Those numbers, 336,987 people attended this years 11–day event. "Up 1.2 percent from last year," said McDermott. Preliminary results from the 11,000 survey's filled out by fair goers we're also released giving high marks. "We asked fair goers how would you compare the 2012 Nebraska State Fair with last year, 97 percent said it was better or much better than 2011," said Kruger. fair board president Jana Kruger gave credit to the success of the fair to those who help put it all together. "Our high marks are a testiment to the Nebraska State Fair staff that work tirelessly to produce, direct, and carryout Nebraska's largest entertainment event," said Kruger. And of course the theme of this year's fair "high flying fun" couldn't have been possible without that new sky tram. "It was a hit with fair goers coming in at about 30,000 riders," said McDermott. While there still may be 353 days until the 2013 Nebraska State Fair, it's never too early to start thinking about what will be next and exciting. "I think one of our wow factors, if you will for 2013, is going to be that new midway," said McDermott. With those new rides and new vendors coming in for next year the 2013 Nebraska State Fair is sure to break more records. The new midway will host the Wade Shows, which is ranked number three in the country for their rides. |
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