The Jamestown Sun
Although the weather has been pleasant, fair attendance so far isn't as high as it was last year.
But that is no cause for worry, said Treasurer Mike Williams. Attendance should be about the same as last year by the end of the week, he said.
About 9,500 people attended the fair Wednesday, he said. Most come for the evening entertainment between 7 and 11 p.m. The Johnny Holm Band played Thursday and was expected to draw one of the largest crowds, Williams said.
Entries into the fair have been down as well.
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Although three more exhibitors showed their items this year than last -- 255 entered this year -- the number of items they showed were down, said Ann Kern, a supervisor in the Home and Hobby Division for the fair. Last year, exhibitors showed 1,283 exhibits, this year they showed 1,162.
"Crops were way down and we don't know why," she said.
Canned goods were down too, she said.
But Kern isn't worried either. People may just be devoting time elsewhere, she said.
This year there were about 200 4-H participants, said Eunice Sahr, extension agent for Stutsman County.
That number is down about 40 participants from last year but the number of children involved with 4-H has increased in Stutsman County. Sahr said part of the reason could be that 4-H members weren't required to enter anything into the fair this year. 4-H entered about 1,900 static and livestock exhibits, which is also down from last year.
Entries vary from year to year, she said.
