Agriculture is key for this area and a big source of income for many. Nobody knows agriculture better than the people at the Butte County Fair.
Each year, the fair will feature a different commodity that is prominent in the county and the first commodity to be chosen, is olives.
The theme for the 2009 fair, “Olive Butte County Loves The Fair,” is a play on words, Olive (All Of). Olives were chosen to be featured this year, because they are one of the most up and coming products in Butte County. Butte County boasts the highest amount of olive trees in the State, according to Interim CEO/Fair Manager Tammy McElroy.
McElroy believes in the fair so much, she stepped down from the board to serve as Interim CEO/Fair Manager, until a full time CEO/Manager is hired.
McElroy previously worked as the Livestock Secretary for four years at the fair and grew up here, being very involved in 4-H and showed at many local fairs.
Her knowledge of the town proves to be an asset as she already knows many of the people in the area, and what will be popular for people to see and do.
Another well known local person to step up to the plate this year is Lowell King, who recently retired from the grocery business.
King has been hired to sell sponsorships, but it isn’t surprising that he has offered to help in many different capacities, such as lining up Butte County olive product companies and wineries for tasting to be held in the back of Expo Hall each day.
“This will give the adults time to relax while their kids are at the carnival and taste the locally produced products. Products showcased will be strictly locally grown.
“Lowell is a great asset to the team, a real salesperson. He has the gift-to-gab and he is helping us to get the feeling of a community fair coming back,” McElroy explained.
She continued, “We are not just a fair. It’s a community fair and we want everybody to feel like it is their fair.”
Also in the front office are Bernie Jacquot, Temporary Desk Assistant and Natalie Reis, office assistant. Claudia Hughes serves as the bookkeeper for the fair.
The Board of Directors are: President Doug Flesher, Vice-President Tom Donati, Treasurer, Connie Menas and Brian Cook, Dick Cassady, LeighAnn Jones, Kurt Ahlswede and Ralph Wilkerson.
Activities and events are being added daily, but for a preview of some of the new things coming, read below.
On Wednesday, local Chambers of Commerce are being invited to participate all together in the ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. A mixer will be held at Expo Hall in the Olive and Wine Tasting section, following the ribbon cutting to mark the opening of the fair.
That night, the Miss Butte County, Miss Teen and Missette contests will be held to give the winners more time to reign throughout the fair.
Thursday is traditionally Senior Day and McElroy is looking into possible free transportation that day especially for out-of-town visitors.
Something new for the kiddies that day, will be the two-for-one price for all rides in the carnival.
On the Midway of Fun, the carnival area, something new this year is free rides on the ferris wheel and carousel for anyone with a AARP card.
Awards will be given at the Dining Pavilion for the seniors traveling the longest distance and for the oldest, just to name a couple.
For the first hour, beginning at 4 p.m., seniors can get into the Olive, Olive Oil and Wine Tasting section free with a AARP Card.
Many will recognize the name Stu Stewart who performed at this fair, his first, 25 years ago. His appearance is being sponsored by the Nugget Casino. This will be a free show at 8 p.m. at the Courtyard Stage.
That night, in the Grandstand will be the local cowboys team roping.
On Friday, Kids will be admitted free from noon to 8 p.m. and something different this year will be schools invited to bus their students, since most of the schools will be in session by then. Free tours will be given to the students of the barns, buildings and exhibits.
That night, it will be Tough Trucks and Quad Racing tearing up the dirt at the Grandstand, where local race fanatics are invited to enter. The show begins at 7 p.m.
Saturday is of course, the Junior Livestock Auction beginning at 10 a.m. and lasting all day.
Diamond W Productions X-treem Bull Riding will return to the Grandstands that night with plenty of action and entertainment.
The world famous Clydesdales, of Anheuser Busch fame, will be at the entrance of the fair all five days where stalls will be set up and everyone entering the main gate area on Hazel Street will get to see the great care that is given to these amazing animals.
This famous group of horses has not been to the Gridley fair for 25 years.
The ever-popular Destruction Derby will be Sunday at 7 p.m. at the grandstands.
Sunday is also Hispanic Day and many fun, different events are being planned all day by RVR Enterprises, who brought the Mother‘s Day celebration to Gridley at the fairgrounds the past two years.
The new poster, to be unveiled soon, features a pretty green background with olives arranged in a heart of olive leaves, branches and olive characters. It is a classy poster, designed once again by Tara Baumann of Vallejo.
Of course the fairgrounds is used regularly for more than just the five day fair. This weekend the Nor Cal Cluster Dog Show will be here through Sunday, with over 1,000 dogs and owners visiting.
As soon as that yearly event is over, it will be time to give more attention the grounds and this is where James Golden and Jose Mendez are very experienced in this realm.
The Gridley Pool is open Mondays through Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. and the fair employees have been busy with maintenance, repairs and painting.
Much thought has been given to provide more things to see and enjoy during the five-day event. Of course Cowboy Ken will be back with his train and his great tour of the grounds, along with PJ The Clown and Kid’s Town and Circus Imagination for the kids.
Be sure to mark August 26-30, 2009 for five days of continuous fun at the Butte County Fair.
