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Cindy Lange-Kubick: Time will tell on State Fair

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Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 - 12:32:13 am CDT

I imagine we shall grow ever fonder of our Nebraska State Fair, now that it’s going.

Now that someone else not only wants it, but wooed it and (has nearly) won it.

Much like the slacker boyfriend we picked apart for his many faults and then mooned over when he dumped us for the flirty cheerleader down the street.

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The story so far: Nebraska State Fair

Get background and the latest developments on moving the Nebraska State Fair from State Fair Park in Lincoln. (Laura Meerkatz / JournalStar.com)...

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In the long run — perhaps — it is for the best.

Or — perhaps — the boyfriend will go on to invent Google, or the iPod, or invest in Berkshire Hathaway in its infancy, and we will be forever sorry we let him get away.

It’s too soon to say.

But it’s not too soon to be sorry that we didn’t take better care of our fair when we had it here.

Or wonder if 2015 Vision didn’t secretly shed a tear or two into their pillows when the first of their publicized pillars — move the State Fair to 84th and Havelock streets — first wobbled and then fell.

Or to imagine that the Nebraska State Fair board raised a toast to thwarting the big boys’ plan to move the fair to the Boots and Blue Jeans side of town instead of leave it where it’s been for the last hundred years.

Or to see if we might get one of those Grand Island Chamber of Commerce-types over to Lincoln to help us figure out what we’ve got going for us, instead of what we need millions of dollars to fix.

Just Tuesday, here at Ninth and P streets, I celebrated the possibility of never again writing another food-on-a-stick, pigs-racing-on-a-track, dogs-jumping-through-a-hoop, corn-popping-in-a-kettle, Tilt-a-Whirls-spinning-in-the-air, Midway-maligning State Fair feature story.

But, today, a five-minute drive for a funnel cake and a gander at a 250-pound sow sculpted entirely from butter on a sultry August afternoon, with the sound of the Table Rock band playing “Barbara Ann” in the background, sounds like the perfect end-of-summer salute.

I’m already feeling sort of nostalgic for the Electrolux salesman. And the $18 Orange Clean Super degreaser. And the 25-cent foot massages.

I’m wondering where I’ll go now for a new yardstick, a cheap laugh and a $25 stuffed Smurf doll.

I’m thinking about a nice camel ride. And a blue ribbon on a fat cucumber. And a pineapple whip, caramel apple, cinnamon roll, peach on a stick, salt water taffy, sugared almonds in a cone lunch.

I’m thinking about the time I led a 1,375-pound Maine-Anjou all spiffed up with cow mousse and cow highlighter and painted hooves around a ring for fun.

I’m thinking the bathrooms in Exhibition Hall weren’t really all that nasty.

Meanwhile, the bold among us celebrate possibilities.

An Innovation Park (will there be rides?) where the Ag Building is now, and the sound of money rolling in as businesses (instead of chicks) incubate next to the university.

We can move onto debating money matters and conspiracy theories and what to do with old buildings and what will happen to the Kiwanis Kountry Kitchen and the giant catfish pond and the wildflowers and the open air auditorium.

We can decide whether this is progress or politics.

We can tangle over whether Lincoln failed the fair or whether the fair failed Lincoln.

And we won’t agree.

But there will be plenty of time for swan songs — and cheese on a stick — later.  The fair isn’t set to fold up and leave town until 2010.

By then we will all have a chance to get used to the idea.

And then we can wait another 20 years to find out if the flirty cheerleader down I-80 — who saw potential in our bad boyfriend — made a great catch. Or found herself a slacker.

I figure the deal is about done, and we are Nebraska, so there’s really only one thing left to say.

You go, Grand Island.

Reach Cindy Lange-Kubick at 473-7218 or clangekubick@journalstar.com.


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Doc wrote on April 3, 2008 6:21 am:
" Cindy, look on the bright side, it's a chance to have two state fairs like Oklahoma does. The Nebr. State Fair in Grand Island and the E-Neb State Fair formerly known as the Lancaster County Fair. We know they have the land nearby. We have the 2015 group that wants progress. They have some of the buildings. They just don't have the structure and name yet. In Oklahoma, the big fair is in OKC, but the Tulsa State Fair is great. If the new E-Neb State stays ahead of school starting and away from and the Labor Day festivities in Omaha, it'll be a hit. We can still slice and dice with the best of them. It's time to stop thinking of this move as lemons and make lemonade. That even sounds like a State Fair doesn't it. "

 Hjalmer wrote on April 3, 2008 6:48 am:
" I used to go to the State Fair, but haven't gone in years. When they took away all the big farm machinery, they didn't replace the loss with something interesting to me or others. Since Cindy is using metaphor, the Fair became like an old girl friend/ wife that had fallen on hard times. She was depressed. The kids grew up and moved away. We needed to build a new relationship now that the kids are gone, but she wouldn't change. She just wanted her world to stay the same. She didn't take care of herself and got old before her time, fat, and wrinkled. She let herself go since she thought we'd be married forever. Now we've divorced and she's got her sights set on loser that has made all kinds of promises. I think they were meant for each other. "

 Goodbye wrote on April 3, 2008 7:44 am:
" This will be the end of the state fair. You cannot move the fair 1 to 2 hours away from the most populated communities in the state and expected it to thrive or grow. The average attender from Omaha may drive 45 minutes to Lincoln but they won't drive the 2 hours to Grand Island. And the 250,000 Lincolnites who may have ran out to the fair for the afternoon won't drive over an hour to get some funnel cake.

What would happen to the state fair in Iowa if they moved it from the largest city in the state to a smaller community in southwest Iowa? It would decline and no longer be the great fair that it is today. Moving the fair is just a dumb idea. "

 it's their fault wrote on April 3, 2008 8:23 am:
" The state fair's problems and the position they are in are entirely their fault. The state fair had become nothing more than a glamorized home show. They LONG AGO forgot what was important, the livestock and agricultural aspects and sold out for what ever reason to other aspects and lost themselves in the process. I showed horses at the fair in the early 60's and 70's. It was the highlight of the year for kids to qualify and go to the fair. The beginning of the end was when they failed to upgrade facilities way back then and lost out to Grand Island. The state fair administration had a "my way or the highway" attitude about running the fair and did not listen to the people that were the customers. By the time it was so bad they didn't have any choice, it was to late. My hope and I think it will happen, is that the group in GI will return the fair to what it used to be, with the cattle, hogs, horses etc that ARE the fair. Who wants to go walk through a barn with 4 holstien cows, or watch a pleasure class with 2 horses in it? That's the way it's been for years. I long for the days of old where the classes were so big they had to be split, and the stands were packed.....I have shown horses at the fair a few times in the last 10 years, only because of a personal plea from the person in charge that they needed entries, but the conditions are literally dangerous as are the facilities. I refuse to expose a 15K horse to a stall with nails sticking out of it and to situations dangerous to fair goers and exhibitors alike. "

 Doug wrote on April 3, 2008 8:24 am:
" Way to go Grand Island. Lincoln has been wanting to get rid of this obnoxious eyesore for years. They are acting like they want to keep it so you fight harder. It brings the most pleasant people to town. It is loud and it smells great. The traffic is a huge pain especially when it coincides with a sporting event. Good riddance to the Fair. I guarantee it will fail out west. Western Nebraskans wanted an excuse to come to Lincoln for shopping and other reasons. Other than the fair, what will attract Omahans and Lincolnites to GI? "

 BB wrote on April 3, 2008 8:25 am:
" Doc,
NE. already has 2 state fairs. The Chase County Fair in Imperial, in southwest NE. has long been known as western NE. state fair. With entertainment and other fair activities that rival the easter state fair. Just ask anyone who lives west of G.I. (Yes there is more of the state west of G.I. believe it or not!) "

 laura wrote on April 3, 2008 8:59 am:
" I think the state fair in Grand Island might be a good thing. People will make plans to spend the day-and they can also go to Fonner Park, Stuhr Museum, etc. Look at all the people who go to "Comstock Rock". It might be a nice day away. "

 I wrote on April 3, 2008 9:22 am:
" It's the beginning of the end for the State Fair, I fear. "

 In agreement with Goodbye wrote on April 3, 2008 9:36 am:
" They have said everything I have been thinking since this whole thing started except one thing, WHY IS IT THAT THE TAXPAYERS OF NEBRASKA DO NOT HAVE A VOTE IN WHERE THE STATE FAIR SHOULD BE HELD. Put it on the ballet. They want money from us to move it we should be able to have a say in it. It will die if it goes to Grand Island. They should listen to us. "

 Tammie wrote on April 3, 2008 9:53 am:
" Did anyone everyone take attendance at the fair and find out where the majority of the people travel from to attend? Is it the small towns around Lincoln & Omaha or do we really get travelers from out-state Nebraska?? I grew up in Nebraska City and never attended the State Fair until I moved to Lincoln and met my husband. Now we take our son (13) at least 2-3 times per year. If the Fair moves to Grand Island, I doubt if we will go once.

What gets me is that I didn't see the State Fair Board putting up their plans to keep the fair in Lincoln or to try to make it better. They just seemed like, "well, tell me when the bickering is done and where am I moving!"

Of course my husband with his conspiracy theory, thinks that UNL started their bid for the fair grounds when the Bob Devaney Sports Center was built on the fair grounds in 1976.

It will be a several years until we really know whether or not this is the correct move. Change is hard, especially when something has been done the same way for 100 years! But it is time for a new model and who knows, we might just like the new one better! "

 Tom wrote on April 3, 2008 11:03 am:
" For anyone to think that the Lancaster Co fair will become the New Eastern Neb State fair is in for a rude awakening. Sure it may grow in a small amount they will pick up some of the vendors that won't be able to make the move to GI but be realistic. To blame the State Fair Board for not being able to get along with others is a onesided thought also. I have never had any trouble working with them or their managers, going on 15 years. The lancaster co Ag Soc is a totally different story. Talk about hoops and fine print. Sure the event center has been busy and picked up a bunch of events, it should it is still new and has pretty good facilties for smaller venues. However didn't Lancaster county just dump more money into the event center, and where are the real numbers on it being so profitable !

Cindy this was a great story, and I totally agree with you. I say congrats GI on a great job of selling yourself and beleiving in the state fairs future. You will make it succede because you beleive.


If you want to look at someone making promises and offering pipedreams take a look right here in town at UNL and 2015 vision group. No real numbers, no real commitments to build, nothing real anywhere in sight but a heck of a lot of talk and promises. 2015 vision group better change their name already to 2025 if they want to see this project through, but I bet they all jump ship long before that, or wait they won't because the tax dollars will bail it out. Hang onto your pants Lincoln it is going to be a bumpy ride. "

 jen wrote on April 3, 2008 11:25 am:
" I'm sure the Table Rock band will still be playing in Grand Island, too.

And seriously, who from Omaha goes to the fair? "

 me wrote on April 3, 2008 11:28 am:
"
Think of it this way - People from Scottsbluff used to have to drive 6 hours, now they would only have to drive three. Because we know folks from Omaha are all over the fair. Pssht. Really. "

 mitchy_v wrote on April 3, 2008 12:09 pm:
" Kansas has proven that a fair outside the population base can and does work. I won't start listing facts because those against the move already have their minds made up and will ignore them anyway. I like to look at it more like the wife (state fair) has been ignored for years, her husband (lincoln) is leaving her for a younger woman (tech park). She, with the support of her friends and family (rest of the state) will move on to a better life. "

 Rob wrote on April 3, 2008 1:58 pm:
" Putting the State Fair in GI makes it more convenient for the folks in western Nebraska. At the same time, the Lancaster County Fair has an opportunity to grow and offer an option for those people that don't want to drive out to GI. The Sate Fair won't be as big, and the county fair will be a little bigger. The county fair can be expanded with time if the interest is there. This could be a win-win-win (counting the research center) situation. "

 Let the People Vote wrote on April 3, 2008 4:41 pm:
" I agree that a decision this important should be put to the vote of the people. Why should the big boys of Lincoln force their will on the State Fair? The location of the Fair should be decided by the whole State. Let us vote on it. "

 Fair fan wrote on April 3, 2008 9:50 pm:
" Lancaster county fair has always been a joke. The biggest event is the kiddie pedal tractor pull. A bunch of baby rides sitting on crushed rock on the slanted side of the ditch. Whee. I'm so glad Cindy won't be forced to go to the fair anymore, since she hated it so much. I however, loved to go, took several days of vacation so I could go at my leisure, see the horse shows, watch the judging of the food. The true supporters of the fair are sad to see it go. Lancaster fair will never replace the state fair, and I won't go to GI. "

 Hey Laura wrote on April 3, 2008 10:02 pm:
" Grand Island hasn't anything we haven't already seen. We've all already visited Stuhr museum. And I guess since the fair will be built on Fonner Park grounds, you won't have any additional place to visit there. I guess I've never visited etc., what do they have there? You did read the Comstock Festival went bankrupt. If it was such a success, why couldn't they pay the bills. Read todays paper about it. GI hosting the fair will be the same, bankrupt in a few years. "

 mitchy_v wrote on April 4, 2008 8:47 am:
" I have already visited the capitol building and the museum, what else do lincoln have? "

 Amy wrote on April 4, 2008 11:16 am:
" I agree with Rob. Maybe this will be a good opportunity for the Lancaster County Fair to grow, because it's definitely not worth a visit unless you're under 10 years old!

And I also agree that Nebraska citizens should've been the ones to decide. After all, we are the ones who will determine the success of the fair no matter where it is. "

 William wrote on April 4, 2008 12:37 pm:
" Guess this will save the the cost of state fair entrance fees and food x2 for my family each year. You go, Grand Island, I don't go, Grand Island. "

 while in gi... wrote on April 4, 2008 1:24 pm:
" you could always run down to the river and see the fish kill... if GI's waste water treatment facility can't handle an influx of waste water from Swift (which didn't magically appear one night, unknown to GI), how in the heck are they gonna manage all that waste water from the billions of people visiting for the state fair?

in 5 years the "new fair" smell will wear off. in 10 years it will be combined with Husker Harvest Days. in 15 years it will be defunct, begging for money from the legislature to stay afloat.

"

 Dan Reisdorff wrote on April 5, 2008 1:56 am:
" Are there any "keep it at State Fair Park" supporters out there? Give me a call. I'm in the phone book.

Dan Reisdorff "

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