Sanders County Fair clears profit

The Sanders County Fair Commission chairman announced the final figures of what this year’s fair raised — $438,003.88, with a profit of $159,450.63 — at last week’s monthly board meeting at the fairgrounds pavilion.

“We spent a lot more money this year and doubled our profits,” said Board Chairman Randy Woods last Wednesday. Fair Manager Melissa Cady made a print out for the five board members that compared the expenditures and profits of 2022 and 2021. The fair made a profit of $108,674.18 last year with expenses totaling $203,269.52. This year’s expenses came to $278,553.25.

“You gotta spend money to make money, so there you go,” said board member Kim McMahon, who continues to work on compiling a survey on the fair’s Facebook page. McMahon designed the survey to get feedback from fair patrons in an effort to find out where the board can improve the annual festival. In her survey, Paradise Amusements received the most negative comments. McMahon said the board will be talking with the carnival owner before a new contract is done for next year’s fair. The carnival fetched $14,900 for the fair this year, $6,308 less than 2021, when they had nearly twice as many rides and games.

Food and drink vendors gave the fair the biggest profits with a total of $53,382.33, $9,347.29 more than last year. With the commercial vendors added, the total was $68,706.63 this year. Parking and camping brought in a profit of $51,101.25, nearly double over last year. 

The three nights rodeo totals were $181,666 with an expense of $148,310.47 and a profit of $33,355.53. Last year, the two nights of rodeo and one night of bull riding amounted to a profits amounted to only $17,914.80. The profit for the  “Carnage on the Clark Fork” demolition derby wasn’t as high as last year, but it was still one of the best moneymakers of the fair. The demo derby last year profited $58,056.88 and this year $50,405.36. 

Cady told the board she found a new company to handle ticketing for fair events. The former company, South Carolina-based 168TICKETS, LLC, served the Sanders County Fair for two years, but it went out of business, according to Cady, who said that Stride Events will save the fair money with a 4.9% and $1.25 a ticket, but no annual or third party fees. “The numerous advantages are so many for us from selling merchandise online, selling tickets whenever we determine during the year,” said Cady, manager since May 2019. Cady added that Rodeo Ticket will do a lot of the “back end work,” saving her and Hailey Coe, the administrative assistant, significant time.

“The fact they will incorporate all of our sponsors on their page with direct links so sponsors will have several ways for perspective customers to find them besides our website,” she said. The manager noted that customers will be able to purchase tickets by scanning a QR code from their phone and can purchase merchandise.

“Many rodeos across the nation use them and we will be listed on their main page with a link directly to our page for tickets or information. They will also offer a live view for our reserved seating so you can see exactly what your seat view will be without coming to the fairgrounds,” said Cady. The board will make a decision on contracting with Stride Events next month.

One suggestion for next year came from Juli Thurston, who heads 4-H clubs in the county. She’d like to have a “Parade of Champions” with the grand champion and reserve champion livestock winners showing their ribbons and animals during a break in the rodeo. However, due to time limits for the rodeo, the parade would have to be prior to rodeo time, said Woods. Thurston also said they are looking into raising funds to replace their aging bleachers.