Rainy conditions on Saturday, Sept. 13, of the 152nd Vernon County Fair put a real damper on the fair’s festivities — and its finances.

Total gate receipts for Sept. 13 showed the fair lost more than $10,000 in ticket sales for the same day, Saturday, from the previous year — $24,794 in 2007 to just $14,484 for 2008.

The fair’s financial state and other business was discussed during the annual meeting of the Vernon County Agricultural Society. The meeting was called to order by President Roger Hooker in the basement of the Erlandson Building, Saturday afternoon.

Before the actual business of the fair was discussed, Wyman Cade spoke for a few minutes. Cade, as well as Garry Brudos, is stepping down from the fair’s board of directors. Both Cade and Brudos — who did not attend the meeting — received special recognition awards from the board for their many years of service.

Cade is also ending his tenure as the resident electrician for the fairgrounds.

Secretary Ken Deaver said that Cade knows more than anybody about the electricity on the grounds.

"He knows where it is, and where it isn’t," Deaver said.

Following the approval of the 2007 annual meeting minutes and the audit, treasurer Bill Marohl presented the financial report of the 152nd Vernon County Fair.

Marohl said the Saturday of Vernon County’s fair is typically its biggest day, but that turned out not to be the case.

Both the harness racing on Saturday and Sunday and the draft horse show on Saturday were cancelled and many free stage events had to be moved indoors. Grandstand receipts also dipped from $7,169 in 2007 to $5,771 for 2008.

Mr. Ed’s midway show brought in just $18,747 in 2008, compared to $30,145.

The total income deposit for all four days was $91,360.73 down from $99,758.68 in 2007 — a difference of $8,397.95.

Attendance at this year’s fair was also down. While season passes went up — 1,211 for adults and 270 children from 1,055 and 183, respectively in 2007 - total attendance from Wednesday night through Sunday was just 19,984. In 2007, there were 22,314 fair-goers. Saturday attendance dipped from 4,344 adults in 2007 to 2,514 in 2008 and from 1,365 children in 2007 to just 864 in 2008.

Open exhibitors jumped to 378 from 360 and there were 100 more exhibitors in the 12 and under category in 2008. Only exhibitors 13 and over went down, from 392 in 2007 to 245 in 2008.

In his report, Marohl explained how the fair could save money. One is the ribbons, which have increased in price. Marohl said other fairs have switched to paper ribbons, and Vernon County may follow suit to save costs.

Marohl said if they do change to paper ribbons, then the present ribbons could be made available for youth and 4-H exhibitors, if they wanted them. The cost for ribbons, trophies and supplies in 2008 was $5,506.74. It was $4,710.70 the year before.

Marohl said the 687 chairs purchased for the harness racing this year eliminates one more expense for next year.

During the discussion of disbursements, Marohl said the fair could also save by just advertising two weeks before the fair, instead of three. Marohl said he discovered in the by-laws that only two weeks were required. The fair spent $10,157.30 on advertising in 2008.

Total disbursements were a slight increase from a year ago, $340,949.84 in 2008, from $338,971.03 in 2007.

The detailed financial report took up a bulk of the almost three-hour meeting, but Marohl said it was important information for those attending to know.

Kellyn Maurer’s design "A Stitch In Time to Remember…" was the winning entry for the cover of the 2009 fair premium book.

Total premiums paid out for 2008 were $17,826.25.

Vice president David Hornby gave an update on the new commercial building at the meeting.

Hornby said progress is being made and that some of the materials have arrived to begin building.

Hornby said the board decided to take local bids on the bathroom addition, which will be started in the spring.

"Our goal is to have them finished in two years," Hornby said.

The color for the upper portion of the commercial building will be ash gray, and the bottom four feet a darker charcoal grey.

Hornby said the roof will be of galvanized steel.

It would have cost an extra $9,000 for a white roof, Hornby said.

Hornby said the cost of the main building is $217,000 with $20,000 to $40,000 for the sprinkler system alone. The building will also be insulated with a concrete floor.

In new business, Kari Johnson, the 2008 Fairest of the Fair, spoke at the meeting. Johnson’s reign does not end until the Fairest of the Fair banquet in the summer of 2009, but she did thank her parade drivers Kevin Larson and Brudos, as well as her first attendant Kelly Moran — who was unable to attend — for teaching Johnson the parade wave.

Johnson heads to the state convention for the Fairest of the Fair in Wisconsin Dells this January.

Johnson said her Fairest of the Fair experience "has been very enjoyable for me."

An election for four seats on the board of directors was held. Marohl and Armand Bringe were re-elected. Two new board members, John McClelland Jr. and Donna Leum, were elected for three-year terms.

Hornby announced that next year’s meat animal sale may be held an hour earlier at 6 p.m., instead of 7 p.m. A final decision will be made at the next meeting in January.

Hornby said most averages from the sale were up, except diary ribbons.

Ray Krause reported that the Vernon County Idol contest put together by Leah Sheldon, the 2007 Fairest of the Fair, was well-received and will return next year.

Tim Rehbein, Chad Williams of C&C Landscaping and Viroqua High School ag teacher Lloyd Hardy were named Friends of the Fair.

The meeting was adjourned for assorted snacks and Christmas cookies.