A feel-good vibe
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Kurt Johnson
Twelve years after lawmakers made a bold decision to move the Nebraska State Fair out of Lincoln, the event has become an anchor piece of the late summer calendar from its grand, Grand Island venue.
This year’s fair was another winner, with a number of new features and many of the tried and true attractions that have kept this show going for more than 150 years. Attendance was up slightly this year, climbing some 8 percent to 287,367, though the totals have yet to get back to pre-COVID levels of more than 340,000.
There were a few bumps in this year’s road, which is to be expected when you turn the grounds into a small city in itself for 11 straight days. The outdoor entertainment venue needs some tweaking, which is no doubt already under review for 2023.
On a more positive note, however, State Fair board members have boosted the audience in a big way by tapping into technology. Livestock shows were livestreamed from two show arenas throughout the fair, making it easy for parents, grandparents and anyone interested to log in and watch to their heart’s content. Living just 20 miles down the road just adds to that sense of connection, as you can’t go more than 10 or 15 minutes without bumping into someone you know.
For those who made the trip to Grand Island, the vibe throughout the Fonner Park grounds can best be described as genuine Nebraska. Folks were friendly, eager to greet people they didn’t even know, and in general sharing a sense of kinship linked to their Nebraska roots. That may sound corny, but it’s true, and here in Nebraska, especially at this gig, corny feels pretty cool.
As reported in the last two ANR editions, Hamilton County residents took full advantage of the fair’s close proximity. Students from all the area schools accepted the invite to explore the grounds as a giant classroom, teaching littles some valuable hands-on lessons about the place they call home. There were also many, many participants in 4-H, FFA and open class competitions, helping boost their confidence in numerous ways. The results of local competitors are listed in this week’s edition.
The facilities in Grand Island are impressive, still feeling very fresh and new, and so too is the feeling of ownership. The host community and Central Nebraska as a whole have stepped up and accepted this worthwhile challenge, giving the Nebraska State Fair a good home and a very bright future.
Kurt Johnson
