Washblog || Saving the King County Fair

Saving the King County Fair

By chadlupkes
Thu Oct 16, 2008 at 07:26:02 AM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Alternative and Community Media

[Front paged: NM]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008272692_countyfair16m.html

Reading this article, I am saddened by the lack of imagination and vision in the County Executive's office. I understand that we are in the middle of a financial crunch, but we are also in the middle of a cultural transformation period the likes of which civilization has not seen since the end of the Roman Empire. No, I'm not kidding. The "localization movement" is just getting started. Our energy infrastructure needs to change from centralized to distributed. The job market is changing to "Green Jobs". The next decade will see the greatest transformation of our economy that we have seen since the first Industrial Revolution. King County needs to step up to the plate, not use a hatchet on the budget.

I can think of a number of things that could keep the King County Fair going.

Giving the food vendor spots over to local restaurants instead of national junk-food chains is a start. http://www.tasteofseattle.com/

Open up the market stalls to the Washington State Farmers Market Association. http://www.wafarmersmarkets.com/

In additional to 4H, Future Farmers of America and other agriculture based youth organizations, open up one of the buildings for a giant Jr. High and High School level science fair. http://www.seattlescience.com/

Invite local and national renewable energy manufacturers and service providers to give talks and lectures, instead of vendors like "Jay the Juiceman", talking about how people can increase the energy efficiency of their homes, how they can increase recycling at work, how they can volunteer to help keep up our parks and wild spaces. http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/081016/aqth025.html?.v=75

Make part of the fair a giant job-hunters market, where people looking for work can meet small and medium sized businesses looking for good people. http://www.employment-expo.com/

The King County Agricultural Fair has been going since 1863. Maybe it's time for an evolution. King County has one third of the population of the entire state of Washington. If attendance for the King County Fair has been dropping, it's most likely because we are still thinking of a Rural fair in an Urban/Suburban county. Changing our thinking, and asking ourselves what a Fair would be like if we thought outside of that box, is the first step to re-engaging people in 2008/2009.

I hope that we can find a way to keep the Fair part of our tradition here in King County. Large community events like this are important, and need our support.

< Open Letter to Progressive Voters in Washington State | Joe The Liar >

Saving the King County Fair | 4 comments (4 topical)

Oh NO

Great Ideas! To use in a letter to both electeds, some of the people who fit the categories mentioned, and some advocates.

Besides King County Council, Richard Conlin is working regionally on Food Sustainability, maybe Tom Douglas would lead the charge to get the local restaurants involved, Seattle Tilth might advocate, and what about all the small farmers who either come to our Farmer's Market or provide subscription services?

by ktkeller on Thu Oct 16, 2008 at 09:23:09 AM PST

* 1 none 0 *

I want to see by chadlupkes, 10/16/2008 10:34:30 AM PST (none / 0)

testify on-line

There is a link on the KC Council budget page where anyone can submit testimony on the budget
http://www.kingcounty.gov/council/Budget.aspx

Just because Sims proposes eliminating funding for the Fair, that doesn't mean it will happen. The budget process is long and intense and the Council will add/remove items before the budget is adopted.

by Cherisse on Sun Oct 19, 2008 at 09:29:30 AM PST

* 3 none 0 *

looking at the numbers...

...it appears king county spends $13.50 for every guest who attends...with no income coming back in return (king county's concession sales income on a group of 10,000 is almost certainly small change...).

that number doesn't work...so what are some other unexplored options that, as is suggesated above, would add "working days" to the property?

one possibility might be to make a deal with the western washington (puyallup) fair's management, another to move some of king county's "meeting business" in-house, and work with the city of enumclaw to turn part of this site into a "king county conference center" that could also be rented to outside users.

by fake consultant on Mon Oct 20, 2008 at 12:04:36 PM PST

* 4 none 0 *

Saving the King County Fair | 4 comments (4 topical)

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