NI Fair public meeting: “I can’t even believe you can’t draw anyone here”
by Matt Marquardt -
MASON CITY – A public meeting was held Thursday night at the North Iowa Events Center to air ideas and hear complaints about the annual North Iowa Fair.
The purpose of the meeting was to hear what worked and what did not work at this year’s fair in an attempt to improve the event.
Fair Board President Dennis Higgins conducted the meeting. He took questions, ideas and heard complaints from a gallery of about 20 persons, not including several board members who were present and a few other vendors with signed contracts.
The the meeting was about 90 minutes long. The following video shows most of the highlights.
Watch video:
19 Responses to NI Fair public meeting: “I can’t even believe you can’t draw anyone here”
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anonymous
August 5, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Edie is a know it all. I’m amazed that she showed up there – I’m at the fair every year, all days of the fair, all day long – I’m a volunteer there and my kids are very active there. I have NEVER seen her there. Does she realize that making cookies out of a boxed cake mix takes about as much time as making them from scratch. And, 6 dozen cookies? Please. Try 5-6 cookies on a plate. It doesn’t take that much time. Those are not the type of things that will bring more people to the fair… Rarely do people want to go above and beyond to bake in the first place – let alone bring some baked goods to the fair for a $1-$4.00 premium and a blue ribbon.
As far as “projecting a rural image” – many Mason City residents go to neighboring counties fairs so they DO get a taste of the “rural life” because that’s what they want! Not all but some. She was annoying in high school and just watching this, and her talk like she knows it all when she’s not there to see what is there or isn’t there- annoys me still.
Yes, we could have other things there – I’m not saying we shouldn’t. What we need is the backers. We have no one to back up contests, free entertainment, etc. The community businesses do not care because they would rather see the land sold and developed. Why? Some want a piece of the pie- sure, but most do not see that they can make $$ off of people who come to Mason City whether it be gas stations, hotels, restaurants, or whatever… There just doesn’t seem to be any real pride for the city or the county for that matter.
It would be great if the Fair would stop having “meetings to share ideas” and just implement the dang ideas!
Anonymous
August 3, 2012 at 5:20 pm
Can someone explain who or what Hootenany is? I’ve seen references to it here but am unfamiliar with it/them. Thanks!
Anonymous
August 3, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Never mind. Watched the video and answered my own question. The fair board really needs to listen to what Edie Blanchard had to say. Times have changed.
tiffany
August 3, 2012 at 9:14 pm
eddie who?
Anonymous
August 3, 2012 at 10:10 pm
Edie is a self absorbed city employee that likes to waste taxpayers money, like her mom Amanda Regan. How do you think she got her job?
Anonymous
August 3, 2012 at 4:53 pm
If someone is offering to help. for the love of God, take the help!!!! It’s obvious that the board at the fair grounds needs someone!~
rukidding
August 3, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Matt thank you for at least covering this. People in this area do not care if the North Iowa fair grounds are plowed under. This fair and its board have run this place into the ground so lets sale it and give all Cerro Gordo County tax-payers a rebate. The number of people who care if the fair grounds are here or not is so low it should show everyone that it does not matter what happens to the grounds.
Meeting attender
August 3, 2012 at 3:09 pm
I attended this meeting and found it to be exciting. Lots of new ideas shared and it is clear that people want to work together to bring the fair back!
Who is calling who?
August 3, 2012 at 2:18 pm
I think it is hard for you to say the exact number of people that were there when you did not even stay for the entire meetin! You came set up preached your peace set up Hootenanny for his ad when he has been in talks with fair board before with unrealistic demands and then you ask stupid Q’s that are public knowledge! Where do you get off? Realisticly you just want to find out something to make it like dirt and complain because its News to you. If you were that good you would report the facts and not dress it up to what you want it to be and be a good reporter instead of what you are doing! Stop being so Little school like because the bullies beat you up and media is your only way to get back!
hootenanny management
August 3, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Unrealistic demands?????
Ric said at least four times during this meeting.
WE lease your building.
We lease your stage.
We give you 100% concessions/parking fees.
unrealistic??? really
Matt Marquardt
August 3, 2012 at 3:49 pm
@Who: Let me try to respond to your rambling, broken English that passes for a comment.
First of all, look at the video. It clearly shows approximately how many people were there, you can count them. The ones with gray and red shirts are fair insiders, do they count? Not really, they are not the general public and all have a bigger stake in how the fair does. So the turnout was really quite poor.
Second, are you saying that MORE people showed up after I left at 8:30, 90 minutes into the meeting? Let’s get real.
Third, you call my question about getting the CG supervisors involved “stupid.” I can tell you that your destruction of the English language is quite a bit more “stupid.”
Fourth, my other question about the NI Fair’s status as a non-profit has been called into question in certain circles. It was said that the proper paperwork was not sent in and was past deadline. I simply asked Mr. Higgins if the situation was rectified.
Fifth, to answer your other rude statement, “where to I get off,” I am a taxpayer, I have a right to be there and ask what I please.
Lastly, what are you hiding by posting anonymously? Why not reveal yourself?
Anonymous
August 3, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Matt,
-Don’t be so defensive. Be a journalist and take the high road. Somnetimes you come off as being too thin-skinned.
-Don’t be a bully. Your challenge to those who disagree with you to out themselves when you don’t make the same challenge to others. You’ve hinted before that you check IP addresses of the comments and know from whom they come. If you want to require people to state their names, then don’t offer an anonymouse portal for comments.
-Be a journalist, not a news maker. Too often your comments at public events are more to make a point, not to clarify or obtain information. The story shouldn’t be about you, or even have you in it.
Take these comments as you will. They are offered only to allow you to do better.
Matt Marquardt
August 3, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Appreciated. Thank you.
hootenanny management
August 3, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Clarification…we have never talked with the fair board ever before tonight…ask them.Matt m has never sold me an ad…..my only requests ever was for a building and stage to lease…your comments lack any correct info…
the view
August 3, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Hootenanny is just in it for their own pockets. They can’t help nothing.
Ripley's Believe Or Not
August 3, 2012 at 1:17 pm
We shouldn’t have allowed WalMart to come in either at the west end. Naysayers. Good thing some want to take chances, Columbus did.
jeeves
August 6, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Really–Miley Cyrus; Selena Gomez; Carrie Underwood or Taylor Swift(all groups Mr. Hootenanny has suggested) are kicking off the “hootenanny incorported concert series” at the fair grounds….this is so exiting I can hardly wait. This is either UNBELIEVABLE or NOT believeable!
gina
August 3, 2012 at 12:38 pm
woowow.Hoot
step up
August 3, 2012 at 12:51 pm
This meeting was all about Hootenanny and their offer to help. TAKE THE OFFER. Whatever they might need.