We are off to a great start in 2022!
Stay tuned for monthly updates as to all the happenings at the fairgrounds!
We have filed the Declaration of Intent with the State of Illinois for holding a Premium Fair July 26-30th and then issued press releases to the media announcing our dates.
I was invited to participate in the Female Entrepreneurs and Engaging Leader’s Magazine produced by NJS Studios. I used the platform to talk about the fair and the great things to look forward to in 2022. It was an honor to be included in the magazine with such wonderful woman in the Freeport area!
We have been finalizing details of the Commercial Vendor portion of the fair and created new ways to connect with the community. We are offering 34 vendor booth spaces on the perimeter of the building and 24 booth spaces in the center. The center spaces will showcase different organizations and businesses of Stephenson County. Tuesday will be government organizations, Wednesday will be non-profits, Thursday will be service organizations and clubs, Friday & Saturday will be service businesses. We are excited to be able to offer one day only spaces so that we can include more of our community in the fair.
I have been talking with RAMP to explore how we can make the fairgrounds more accessible to everyone in our community and have several projects in the works in those efforts, including a new ramp for the office, fair bathroom remodel, and better parking options and signage.
The website was another big project over the holidays with a total of 66 pages created to organize a massive amount of information! My goal was to make data easily accessible and create online forms that are customized to the needs of the user as well as communicate to the visitors as to what you can experience at the fair.
The programming in the Entertainment & Rest/Community tent is really coming along with a Beer & Wine tasting/competition of local businesses, Freeport Library kid’s crafts, 4-H fashion show, S & R’s Dance team demonstration, Freeport Art Museum’s Paint & Pour, Folk dancer demonstrations, Flower arrangement demonstration, Big O’s on the Hollow Bag’s Tournament, and of course MUSIC! Watch for a full line up of programming published in March!
After a hiatus, we have now worked out the details with the new management of the electronic sign outside the south entrance of the fairgrounds! We have a very responsive team to help get your ad up on the sign quickly and efficiently! Ad prices are $50/month or $100/mo for the month of July. This is a great place to not only advertise your business, but also to wish that special person a happy birthday or congratulations. Contact the office to get your sign up!
Several members of the board and I attended the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fair conference in January and had productive and informative time as we networked with other fairs and listened to sessions on how to create the best experience for everyone at Stephenson County Fair. We came away with many practical ideas, so be watching for announcements of new things coming!
One of my goals is to create space and scheduling for local organizations to be a part of the fair! I’m thrilled to say that we are going to be working with the Career Tech, Highland College, Freeport Library, Scouts, the Freeport Art Museum, and the list continues to grow quickly! I have been in contact with several local organizations about holding tournaments during the fair, so these will be a fun fun and interactive additions to the entertainment! Be watching for Facebook “events” within our fair event where you can plan to participate with your favorite organizations at the fair!
We have opened up vendor applications online and already have more than a dozen sign up in the first couple of weeks! Indoor spaces are limited, so sign up today!
Have you ever thought about having your next event at the Stephenson County Fairgrounds? We had several receptions and parties held at the grounds in 2021. I have created a brochure for fairgrounds rental to be placed around town. If you’d like to have a few copies for your organization or business, please let me know and I will personally deliver them!
Everyone knows it takes 100s of people to produce the fair and every single one of their contributions are important! We respect their time and decided to create sign up genius forms so that they can easily find a 3 hour slot that works within their schedule and their skill set. Be watching for those links in April as we begin to look for volunteers.
We are thrilled to announce new sponsors this year! US Bank, Tri-Star Metal, Freeport Ford, Comcast, and Pearl Valley Farms are just a few that have stepped up to support the Stephenson County Fair!
That’s it for January! Submit your contact into to receive updates when the February post is published.