Humboldt County Fair, Ferndale, California

The Humboldt County Fair, a nonprofit organization, operates and conducts the fairgrounds and annual fair on behalf of the county. Despite the fair organization's official status as part of the California network of fairs, it does not receive money from the State's general fund. (The fair is funded through revenues it generates locally and $124,000 it receives annually from a licensing fee on wagers placed on horse racing. Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing in California was allowed through a constitutional amendment in 1933, with a portion of the revenues designated to support the network of California fairs.)

Fairs entertain and educate, but they also have immense economic, educational, social and cultural impacts. Economic impacts range from spending by attendees and businesses to nonprofit fundraising to job creation and tax revenues. From people's paychecks to community services, the return on investment from fairs is widespread.

Economic -- At the Assayer's Office, 2002

Fairtime and year-round fairgrounds events resulted in a total economic impact on the county of more than $6.9 milliion.
Direct spending at the fairgrounds totaled more than $2.6 million.
The impact on annual personal income from attendance, fair organization and fair-related business totaled more than $2.3 million.
Direct employment and fair organization multiplier impacts equaled 93 full-time equivalent jobs.
For each worker the fair organization and related business employs, an estimated 7.03 additional jobs are created in the county. For each dollar that ecomonic participants pay their employees, an estimated $2.10 in total personal income is produced in the local economy.
City and county goverments collected approx. $75,166 in taxes from year-round activities at the fairgrounds.
Each dollar spent by the fair organization and year-round event participants generates an estimated 31 cents of additional spending in the county, for a total impact of $1.31 per dollar spent.

Agriculture, The Gold Nugget

During 2002 the fair judged 5,391 exhibits, including 960 agricultural exhibits. This resulted in $29,555 paid in prize money to fair participants.

Don Giacomini at livestock scale

67 percent of fairgoers felt that they knew more about agriculture after going to the fair.
The fair is a critical part of the local junior livestock program, which educates young people about the breeding, raising and grooming of farm animals. The junior livestock auction at the fair grossed $198,521 with 238 animals purchased by 184 buyers.

Fair-Related Businesses -- Services to a Golden Industry

Concessionaires created $620,338 in local spending, $301,119 in local personal income, eight local jobs and $4,958 in local taxes. Attendee direct spending on food and beverages totaled $878,120, which generated $10,977 in local taxes.

The grandstand concessionaire's happy crew

Combined economic impact of spending by commercial exhibitors plus attendee spending on commercial merchandise at fairs and year-round events totaled $177,827.
Commercial exhibitors generated $58,527 in local spending, $18,239 in personal income, one local job and $631 in local taxes. Attendee spending on commercial exhibitor merchandise totaled $119,300, which generated $1,491 in local taxes.
The Carnival generated $29,027 in local spending, one local job, $8125 in local personal income and $365 in local taxes.
Entertainment at the fair created $7,137 in local spending and $5,762 in local personal income.

Attendees -- A Golden Treasure

The average visitor lives within 100 miles and attends the fair 2.5 times per year.
Fairtime attendance was 70,000 in 2002. Year-round events attracted another 120,000 people for total annual attendance of 190,000 at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds, which represents 149 percent of the county's population!
Year-round events demonstrate how well-planned and creative programming can generate community involvement and local revenues. Attendee spending at year-round events totaled $1.2 million.

Community Groups -- Mining for Gold

Nonprofit groups raised $31,247 at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds for community programs and services. Include the $198,521 raised at the junior livestock auction, and a totla of $229,768 was raised for community benefits.

Ours is among 23 of California's fairgrounds that host a satellite wagering facility at which wagers may be placed on horse racing. A percentage of the total amount wagered is paid to local governments for services provided to the facility. Under this program the Humboldt County Fair contributed $877 to the City of Ferndale in 2002.

Social and Cultural Impacts -- Giving Back

The fair provides a focal point for community members to celebrate their heritage, compete in a variety of events, hold family reunions, display and view artwork, learn about other cultures, premier new inventions and showcase the best of California.
97 percent of attendees agreed that the fair provided worthwhile community benefits

A Golden Legacy

Californians love their fairs and fairground events, but fairs represent much more than dollars and cents. They offer a link between urban and rural California. They serve as tools for educating Californians about the importance of agriculture and introducing young people to both traditional and innovative aspects of life on the farm.

Fair Assn. board members pitch in at the livestock barn

Fairs reach far beyond their agrarian roots to encourage industries and individuals to strive for excellence through competitions. Winning the blue ribbon at a fair competition is a great incentive to showcase the best of California.

Through their social and cultural impacts, fairs embody the community spirit and highlight the diversity of the Golden State.