Canfield Fair succeeds again; make 2015 edition better yet

Andrews’ Sausage, Bam Bam’s Back yard BBQ and Richard’s Stuffed Hungar- ian peppers stand out as succulent taste treats and as big winners at the 2014 Canfield Fair, which wrapped up its 168th successful run earlier this week.

Those concessions won the top rankings in the first Best of Fair competition, sponsored by Fred Martin Ford, at Ohio’s largest and arguably best county fair.

But clearly they were only a few of the winners visible at this year’s Mahoning County extraordinary agricultural exhibition. Many of the 291,538 patrons who passed through the gates, ooh’ed and ahh’ed at baby farm animals, enjoyed star-studded concerts, raved about exquisite art and yummy baked goods, and twisted and shouted on myriad amusement rides also consider themselves big winners as well.

As another Canfield Fair gets etched into the history books, all associated with maintaining its proud blue-ribbon legacy deserve a hearty pat on the back. They earned it.

To be sure, overseeing 353 acres of rides, concessions, animal barns, displays, grandstand seating, arenas, parking lots and more is no mean feat. Once again in 2014, the board of directors of the fair, led by President Craig Myers, orchestrated the wondrous magic that put smiles on so many faces as summer ebbed once again into fall.

But board members and fair administrators could not do it alone. Hundreds of volunteers labor throughout the year to ensure the expo goes off without a glitch. They, too, should take a bow.

The only sizeable disappointment at this year’s fair came Sunday, when Mother Nature vexed what typically is the Canfield Fair’s biggest attendance day (sometimes reaching 100,000). Because of the cool, overcast and rainy weather, attendance dropped 29 percent from Sunday 2013 figures.

In the end, however, overall attendance fell a paltry 3 percent. Considering that fair board members increased the general admission fee to $8 this year, Myers is absolutely correct in labeling the 2014 fair an undeniable success.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2015

But even as fair directors and others clear out administrative tasks and pay the bills — the electric bill alone exceeds $100,000 — thoughts already turn to the 2015 Canfield Fair, which will run Sept. 2 to Labor Day, Sept. 8.

Fair officials hinted that changes are in the works for next year’s exposition but revealed no details. “We’re still in the planning stages,” George Roman III, another fair director, said.

In that planning, fair leaders would be wise to give consideration to some suggestions overheard at this year’s event. Some may not be feasible, but these and others are worthy of exploration nonetheless. Among them:

Avoid socking fairgoers with another jump in admission prices.

Consider offering bundled admission prices with ride passes — as the Trumbull fair and others do — for patron convenience and possible cost-savings.

Give thought to permitting free entry to the fairgrounds for those attending evening concerts, many of whom come only for the show and do not take in the full scope of fair fare.

Though we’d never want the fair to abandon such food faves as french fries, fried Oreos, hot sausage sandwiches, and chocolate covered bananas, a focus on healthful food options could have potential to pull in a whole new audience of fair connoisseurs.

Those with any tips should visit the Canfield Fair’s Facebook page and complete a survey on suggestions for next year’s fair. You can win free tickets by doing so. Fair directors should then take stock of the advice toward making the 169th edition something to crow even louder and longer about.