Toma Named Blue Ribbon Chair

May 19 2004

WFA Hall of Famer Ciro Toma, of the Amador County Fair, has been named the Chair of the Blue Ribbon Foundation (BRF). The BRF is the charitable arm of the Western Fairs Association, dedicated to providing funds for industry-related education and outreach. Joining Ciro on the BRF Board are Western Fairs Directors Randy Hatfield (Del Norte County Fair), Mike Treacy (Kern County Fair), and Don Hillman (Washington County Fair & Rodeo). The WFA Board also directed the BRF to set funding goals for the 2004-05 fiscal year with a focus on fair social and economic impact programs. “We want to use the funds we have available to support fair associations or groups that are trying to educate the public about the importance of fairs,” noted Director Randy Hatfield. “We expect to have a grant proposal submittal schedule out in May.” The BRF raises funds through the WFA Convention Auction and other activities. Western Fairs Association (WFA), a non-profit trade association serving the fair industry in the Western United States and Canada since 1922, promotes the prosperity of fairs through educational activities, communication and marketing tools, training programs, and legislative advocacy. For more information about WFA, log on to www.westernfairs.org, or contact Sarah at (916) 927-3100.

WFA To Restart Management Training Program

May 19 2004

The WFA Board of Directors has given their initial approval to restart the Management Training Program it offered in the 80s and early 90s. Funded primarily with support from the State of California, the program recruited fair management candidates and placed them at fairs for one year to build their skills. The program was discontinued in the early 90s as a result of state budget cuts. The proposed budget for California fair funding in 2005 includes funding to restart the program The WFA Board did not have a quorum at their April 16 meeting; however, the full Board is expected to accept the action proposed in Puyallup. WFA President Stuart Titus, a graduate of the program, has seated a Management Training Program Committee, chaired by Chowchilla-Madera District Fair CEO Jim Shasky. “I’ve asked the Committee to meet in June and develop a business plan that WFA can incorporate into its 2004-05 Budget,” noted President Titus. “We hope to have the program restarted and underway by the 2005 WFA Convention in Reno.” Western Fairs Association (WFA), a non-profit trade association serving the fair industry in the Western United States and Canada since 1922, promotes the prosperity of fairs through educational activities, communication and marketing tools, training programs, and legislative advocacy. Want to share your thoughts or ideas for this program? To view a complete roster for the Management Training Committee, as well as other committees, or for general information about WFA, please visit www.westernfairs.org, or contact Sarah at (916) 927-3100.

Mother Lode Strikes Gold

April 6 2004

California’s Mother Lode Area of fairs struck gold in San Diego as two of their favorite sons were inducted into the WFA Hall of Fame. Nevada County Fair CEO Ed Scofield and Amador County Fair Director Ciro Toma were both welcomed as the newest members of the association’s Hall of Fame at the Awards Banquet on January 8. One of the main events at every WFA Convention, the Hall of Fame Induction capped a night of awards, including the Barham and Merrill Awards. California State Fair CEO Norb Bartosik presided over the inductions which celebrated the two recipients’ combined fifty years of service. Scofield began his fair career in 1983 when he became the CEO at Nevada County, a post he continues to hold. Toma was appointed to the Amador Board by Governor Jerry Brown in 1978 and has been reappointed by Governors Deukmejian, Wilson and Davis. Scofield served as the President of Western Fairs in 1996, followed by Toma who served as President in 2001. The WFA Hall of Fame award is given annually to individuals who demonstrate outstanding commitment and leadership within the community of fairs. The Mother Lode Area, which consists of nine fairs in the foothills of Northern California, now boasts three active members with Hall of Fame status, as Amador CEO Ralph Clark was inducted last year. Western Fairs accepts Hall of Fame nominations throughout the year. Nomination forms can be found in the WFA Date List as well as on our website. For more information regarding WFA’s Hall of Fame, please contact Marketing Assistant Sarah Ruzanov at (916) 927-3100 or by email at sarahr@fairsnet.org, or visit the WFA website at www.westernfairs.org.

2004 Hometown Favorites Winner Announced!

March 22 2004

WFA’s First Annual Hometown Favorites Contest proved a great success! The new contest gives fairs the opportunity to refer talented acts that they have seen perform. If these acts choose to accept the referral, they are eligible to apply for Showcasing at WFA’s Annual Convention & Trade Show. Of the acts that are offered a slot to perform at the Convention, one Hometown Favorites Winner is chosen. The Hometown Favorites Contest was created as a way to give fairs more of a voice as to what entertainment they feel should be Showcased at WFA’s Annual Convention & Trade Show, as well as to give less-known hometown acts their “fifteen minutes in the spotlight.” Out of the 23 acts referred to the Western Fairs Association in 2003, five went on to Showcase at the 2004 WFA Convention & Trade Show in January. The winning act, The Pyronauts, was referred by Gold Country Fair’s General Manager Bill Dale, who will receive two complimentary 2005 WFA Convention Registrations and two 2005 Convention T-shirts. Said Gold Country Fair G.M. Bill Dale, “The Pyronauts found us about four years ago. Once we heard their demo tape, we knew that they would be great fair time entertainment. Since that original contact, they have played at both fairs in Placer County as well as several community festivals in our area. People of all ages really enjoy their music. We are extremely proud to have nominated The Pyronauts for WFA's Hometown Favorites competition.” The winning act, The Pyronauts, is an instrumental surf band based out of Auburn, California. Band members include Guitarist Paul Beatie, Guitarist Bob Butler, Bass Guitarist Brett Cole, and Drummer Pan Smith. The original Pyronauts members began the band in high school, and have been playing ever since. They have performed at a variety of venues, including the California State Fair, Gold Country Fair, El Dorado County Fair, and other festivals, clubs, restaurants, and parties. Their fourth and latest album, Meet The Pyronauts, was just released. Guitarist Paul Beatie says of the band, “When we perform our main goal is to have fun, and if we are having fun the audience tends to have fun. No matter where we play our number one goal is for everyone to have a good time. That is our philosophy for music, and we think that coincides with the idea behind fairs – having a good time!” Visit The Pyronauts website at www.thepyronauts.com The Western Fairs Association, a non-profit trade association serving the fair industry in the Western United States and Canada, is now accepting Hometown Favorites referrals for their 2005 Convention & Trade Show. Please get these in as soon as possible to give the acts time to prepare! For acts that are referred and choose to participate, the $50 application fee will be waived. A referral does not, however, guarantee an act a Showcase slot. To book The Pyronauts, please call (530) 878-4675 or e-mail pyronauts@hotmail.com. To request a high-resolution digital photograph of The Pyronauts, please contact Marketing Assistant Sarah Ruzanov by phone at (916) 927-3100. For a Hometown Favorites Referral Form, or to view these and other Showcase acts from the 2004 WFA Convention & Trade Show, please visit WFA’s website at www.westernfairs.org.

WFA Announces 2005 Convention Dates

March 10 2004

Sacramento, CA – Western Fairs Association is excited to announce that it will host its 82nd Annual Convention & Trade Show in Reno, Nevada next January 16-19. The “Spirit of the West”-themed event will “round ‘em up” for four days of Programs, Trade Show, Showcasing, and much more at the Hilton Reno Resort & Casino. Says WFA Event Manager Lindsay Shama, “The 2005 Convention will boast a larger Trade Show floor. Compared to last year’s 130 booths, the Reno Hiltons’ expo hall allows us to maximize the Trade Show floor with nearly 175 booths. The extra space permits us to book more products and services that can be showcased to industry buyers. As before, the Trade Show will take place over two days, with eight hours of non-conflicting time designated solely to that event.” With a return to Reno will also come a return of the ever-popular, Service Member-hosted Bowling Tournament. Additionally, Service Members will host a Wine & Cheese Reception for the fifth year in a row. Finally, WFA’s Industry Awards Dinner will again be held on the closing night of Convention. Western Fairs Association, a non-profit trade association serving the fair industry in the Western United States and Canada since 1922, promotes the prosperity of fairs through educational activities, communication and marketing tools, training programs, and legislative advocacy. Please check WFA’s website regularly for updates on the 2005 Convention & Trade Show, at www.westernfairs.org. You can also contact Marketing Assistant Sarah Ruzanov at (916) 927-3100 with additional questions.

New WFA Board of Directors for 2004

March 8 2004

With a new year comes a new Board of Directors for the Western Fairs Association. This year, Humboldt County Fair’s CEO Stuart Titus has moved into the position of Board President, replacing 2003 Board President and San Bernardino County Fair CEO Selma Harris. The Western Fairs Association, a non-profit trade association serving the fair industry in the Western United States and Canada since 1922, promotes the prosperity of fairs through educational activities, training programs, and legislative advocacy. The Board held their first meeting of the year on January 4, prior to the opening of WFA’s 2004 Convention & Trade Show in San Diego, California. Several more Board Meetings will be held throughout the year, including the upcoming meeting on April 16, during the Feature Fair Tour at the Puyallup Spring Fair. Western Fair’s Board of Directors seats 23 individuals elected by the membership to serve 2- and 3-year terms. Candidates for the President position begin on the Board as Treasurer, and work their way up through the positions of 2nd Vice President and then 1st Vice President before ultimately graduating to Board President. The remaining 17 Board Members consist of Regional Directors, Area Directors, Service Member Directors, Directors-At-Large, and a Director for the California Authority of Racing Fairs. New Board President Stuart Titus says, “I consider it an honor to serve as President of Western Fairs Association this year. The challenges which await us will be perhaps more substantial than ever before, but so will the opportunities to succeed. Teamwork and a strong sense of commitment will be essential to our success in 2004.” Click Here to See WFA’s 2004 Board of Directors Roster For more information regarding WFA’s Board of Directors or for Board Meeting dates, please check the Western Fairs Association’s website at www.westernfairs.org, or contact Marketing Assistant Sarah Ruzanov at (916) 927-3100 or by e-mail at sarahr@fairsnet.org.

Boeger, LaMotta Receive Barham Award

February 17 2004

SAN DIEGO, CA - Two long-time fair business owners, Ron Boeger and Tommy LaMotta, were presented with Barham Awards at the WFA Annual Convention & Trade Show’s Industry Awards Dinner this January 8. Tommy LaMotta, of Diversified Amusements, and Ron Boeger, of Happy Day Pony Ride, received the awards for their groundbreaking contributions within the fair industry. The Convention, which was hosted by Western Fairs Association, drew over 1,400 fair industry members, from throughout the Western United States and Canada. Western Fairs Association has been serving fair industry members throughout the Western United States and Canada since 1922. Ron Boeger initially got into the pony ride business in 1960 with his siblings, as the result of a 4-H project to raise and sell Shetland ponies. Within 7 years their business, 3 Bar B Pony Rides, was booked at 32 fairs. After dabbling a bit in other animal-related fair businesses, Ron eventually returned to his true calling and began his own pony ride business, Happy Day Pony Ride. Though the Boegers had always run a top-notch business, Ron put into practice even higher standards for Happy Day Pony Ride. He instituted a free rein trail system for the ponies, making it the only business in the industry to use such a system. He built new decorative brass equipment and trim with a little barn ticket box that had to be expanded later. The ponies were hand raised and kept in top condition so children weighing 150 pounds could ride them. Also, a Polaroid photograph system was in place from the beginning of Happy Day Pony Ride. In 1997 this was upgraded to digital equipment. Says Ron’s daughter Ryann, owner of Ryann’s Happy Day Pony Ride, “Ron has taken such pride in paying attention to detail, maximizing every opportunity to make his pony ride the best it can be.” Boeger has now been in business for 45 years. For 41 of those years he has been a member of Western Fairs Association, which promotes the prosperity of fairs through educational activities, training programs, and legislative advocacy. During those 41 years, he served two years as a WFA Board Member, as well as eight years as the General Representative and six years as a Commercial Division Chair for the Service Members Board. He also participated in the development of WFA’s Animal Welfare Manual, which set professional standards for the care for fair animals, including pony rides, at all fairs in the USA and Canada. Tommy LaMotta, an equally deserving candidate for the 2004 Barham Award, began his life in the games business at Coney Island in 1954 as a young man behind the counter. Despite being diagnosed at the age of 11 with Distonia, a neurological disease that inhibits muscle control, he worked hard, and eventually became Concessions Manager for The Rod Link Show, where he stayed for the next 13 years. During this time his creativity and ingenuity were well received. At the Oklahoma State Fair one year, having run out of live fish for prizes in his fish joint, he stocked it with inflatable crayons. He charged, at that time, the unheard of price of two dollars, promising a “prize every time, no matter what.” The public really went for it, and it became a standard with him to have some games that have a winner every time. Now it’s a standard on every carnival everywhere. Eventually he moved to Ray Cammack Shows to be their Concessions Manager. Here he innovated the color-coordinated canvas for all concessions, including those booked in. He also initiated the uniforms for RCS. He then moved to Carnival Time Shows, where he instituted his now-famous X lot, which arranged the carnival and games area so that no matter what area people entered from they were instantly surrounded, and this confused the customer’s sense of direction enough to cause them to stay longer and buy even more! Today, LaMotta owns Diversified Amusements. “These two businesses and their owners represent the very strengths that my father demonstrated with the creation of Barham’s Hot Dog On A Stick & Fair Company, noted Gary Barham, son of the Award’s namesake Dave Barham, and owner of Barham’s Hot Dog On A Stick & Fair Company. “Our family is pleased to see them receive this recognition.” For more information regarding WFA’s Barham Award, please contact Marketing Assistant Sarah Ruzanov at (916) 927-3100 or by email at sarahr@fairsnet.org, or visit the WFA website at www.westernfairs.org.

WFA Rides The Waves of Change

February 17 2004

SAN DIEGO, CA - Amidst a new California governor, new government appointees, and budget cuts that threatened to keep members of the fair industry from traveling for business, WFA’s 81st Annual Convention & Trade Show, appropriately themed “Changing Tides,” set sail on January 5, 2004 in San Diego, California. The Convention, which was hosted by Western Fairs Association, drew over 1,250 fair industry members, from throughout the Western United States and Canada. Western Fairs Association has been serving fair industry members throughout the Western United States and Canada since 1922. Its primary objective is to promote the prosperity of fairs through educational activities, training programs, and legislative advocacy. Convention highlights included an appearance by California’s new Secretary of Agriculture, A.G. Kawamura; a closing night performance by chart-topping singer Rita Coolidge; a day of programming at the Del Mar Fairgrounds; and free coffee and cinnamon rolls every morning - compliments of Country Fair Cinammon Roll, in celebration of 25 years in the fair industry. The event also featured a 2-day trade show with 140 industry businesses (both indoor and outdoor exhibitors), more than 70 different educational sessions, 4 nights of showcasing, 2 networking luncheons, a golf tournament, the Blue Ribbon Foundation Auction, and an Industry Awards Dinner. Convention sponsors, who helped make such events possible, included: Alameda County Fair, Barham’s Hot Dog On A Stick & Fair Co., Brass Ring Amusements’ Midway of Fun, Butler Amusements, California Fair Services Authority, California State Fair, Helm & Sons Amusements, Kern County Fair, Orange County Fair, Ray Cammack Shows, San Diego County Fair, San Mateo County Fair. The two-day Trade Show was complete with delicious snacks, interactive games, entertainers, and animals. Of the 140 exhibitors, over 35% were new. Trade Show Manager Lindsay Shama says of this year’s success, "We try hard to keep the Trade Show floor fresh with a variety of products and services that include new exhibitors, so the buyers have a different experience each year.” The nightly showcasing acts included a mix of country, western, rock and tribute bands. Liz Waxstein, who handles WFA’s Member Services, was also involved in setting up the new Hometown Favorites referral contest this year. The contest was developed to give fairs the opportunity to send in referrals of their best acts. Waxstein said of the Hometown Favorites contest, “We were very impressed with the level of talent that was referred to us. Five of our showcase acts this year were chosen from this contest. We would like to continue to improve this program, and to draw upon the fairs’ involvement and knowledge to bring in strong acts.” Several annual awards were handed out at the closing Awards Dinner on Thursday night. Two Barham Awards were presented this year, to Tommy LaMotta of Diversified Amusements and Ron & Lucy Boeger of Happy Day Pony Ride. The Barham Award honors businesses that have made groundbreaking contributions within the fair industry. Eight fairs received special first-place awards in Feature Contest Programs, which recognized outstanding fairs in the categories of Best New Contest or Special Event, Best New Generational or Cultural Outreach, Best Sponsor Tie-in, and Best Agricultural Promotion Program. Winning fairs included Alameda County Fair, Alaska State Fair, Calgary Exhibition & Stampede, California State Fair, Los Angeles County Fair, Marin County Fair, Merced County Fair, and San Diego County Fair. Redwood Acres Fair won the coveted Merrill Award – given to the fair that most clearly demonstrates leadership vision and excellence – for their “Exceptional Rodeo.” Finally, long-time industry members Ed Scofield, Nevada County Fair CEO, and Ciro Toma, Amador County Fair Director, were inducted into the Western Fairs’ Hall of Fame. For more information regarding WFA’s 81st Annual Convention & Trade Show, please contact Marketing Assistant Sarah Ruzanov at (916) 927-3100 or by email at sarahr@fairsnet.org, or visit the WFA website at www.westernfairs.org.