The Vienna Chamber of Commerce (VCOC) is asking for the community’s support to save the Maries County Fair.

At Thursday’s VCOC meeting at The Market, the one remaining fair board member sought help to keep the fair tradition alive.

Chamber members don’t want to see the 75-year tradition of the Maries County Fair dissolve. Chamber member Joe Barnhart said, “If we can do the fair it will depend on the number of volunteers. We need more people to make this happen.”

The next planning meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 8, at the Vienna City Park Youth Building. Anyone, including non-chamber members, are welcome and encouraged to attend.

During the April 1 meeting, former Maries County Fair Board member Brenda Johnson was present to answer questions as was long-time Belle Fair Board member Rhonda Rodgers. 

Some of the details that need to be addressed for the fair include insurance — which is expensive — a liquor license and a sound system. 

Rodgers said one year the Belle Fair did not make any money and they had to do a fundraiser before the next fair. They also did not overspend on entertainment and really watched their expenses and made money. 

Rodgers said volunteers are very important to the Belle Fair. The fair board runs its own lunch stand and it makes money. In Vienna they sublet the lunch stand. Those present at the meeting asked how the Belle Fair gets volunteers. Rodgers said there is a lunch stand committee, and a phone committee that calls people asking them to volunteer. With as many as 15 people needed in the lunch stand for a three-hour shift on a busy night, many volunteers are needed.

 Johnson said the lunch stand area at the Vienna City Park is bad. Rodgers said they had the same problem in Belle and got a loan to build a new lunch stand and it has since been paid off. The Belle Fair has one central location for selling food. They sell fish sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken strips and pork burgers. She said it doesn’t matter what they have on the menu — people will buy it and eat it. She suggests keeping the menu simple. 

The Belle Fair has also implemented all-inclusive admission. People pay admission at the gate and can ride the carnival rides as much as they want. The entertainment is included as well. Chamber President Lisa Garro said if parents have to pay admission for their children, then buy an armband, it is expensive. But if they bought a season pass for $30 to $35 and it included all fair days and all the rides and entertainment, it may be better. Rodgers said the carnival is a big cost. In 2019 the lunch stand profit nearly paid for the carnival. Season passes and gate receipts are important, too. 

They talked about tractor and truck pulls. Rodgers said the big sanctioned pulls are expensive, running $5,000 to $13,000 up front, which they don’t make that back. Johnson said the demolition derby brings in people and does not require a down payment. She said the demolition derby was moved to Saturday because of the metal debris it leaves on the track. 

For entertainment, Rodgers said they try to have something on the stage each night. Barnhart said he’d rather not have the entertainment competing with what is going on at the track. 

Rodgers talked about the toddler contest they do before the fair. Individual cans with a photo of the toddler are placed around town and people vote for their favorite toddler with money, at one cent per vote. Parents and grandparents put in money so their little toddler has a better chance to win. This made $4,000 in 2019.

Johnson said she thinks tickets are the way to go with food sales so there aren’t so many people handling the money.

Carrie Kleffner liked the idea of buying a season pass that included the rides. She said instead of families coming to the fair one night, they would come every night. 

The FFA and 4-H groups are taking over the barn and livestock show and auction.

They talked about events such as the greased pig contest and mutton bust. Garro said they can only do so many events. 

The group needs money to move forward with the fair plans. The VCOC has a movie night set for Friday, April 30, at the city park. Last time they asked for donations but could set an admission price this time. 

Johnson suggested a trap shoot as a pre-fundraiser. It is easy to do. They could have it at the Vienna Gun Club and set up a food stand. There is a full kitchen at the gun club. They discussed May 22 but need to check with the gun club first. She said they can charge participants $20 each to shoot two rounds of 25. 

Garro said there are major things they need to work out. The group will discuss these issues at the April 8 meeting. If the people of the community want to keep the Maries County Fair, they will need to “pitch in.” The chamber is taking this on but will need money and volunteers to do it.

Kelly Barnhart said persons wanting to help can contact her.