93
Let’s hear the story of Nebraska, its communities, its number one industry Agriculture, and the people who make it happen. Sponsored by Nebraska's Law Firm® - Rembolt Ludtke.
93
Nebraska State Fair--Jaime Parr & Beth Smith
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In this episode we talk carnivals, concerts and corndogs with Jaime Parr, Executive Director of the Nebraska State Fair, and Beth Smith, a longtime member of the Nebraska State Fair Board of Directors. We discuss the past, present and future of the Nebraska State Fair, an annual celebration that pre-dates Nebraska's statehood and has now been held every year since 1868.
Welcome to 93, the podcast where we talk about Nebraska, its communities, its number one industry agriculture, and the people who make it happen. I'm Mark Folson, your host for today's episode brought to you by Nebraska's law firm, Rumble Lefty. Summer, which means it's fair season. Fairs mean 4-H and FFA exhibitors, carnival rides, concerts, and let's not forget corndogs. Today we're going to talk about the granddaddy of all Nebraska fairs, the Nebraska State Fair. Joining us today is Jamie Parr, Executive Director of the Nebraska State Fair, and Beth Smith, a Lincoln native and longtime member of the Nebraska State Fair Board. Jamie, Beth, thanks for joining us.
SPEAKER_00:Thanks, Mark. Thank you, Mark. Glad to be here.
SPEAKER_02:Hey, Jamie, let's start with you. Give folks a little background on yourself.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, great. Yeah, thank you. Um, I was uh first exposed to the Nebraska State Fair in 1998. I got a job, a seasonal job, helping people get entered to share their vegetables, flowers, photography, those types of competitive exhibits at the 1998 Nebraska State Fair.
SPEAKER_02:Was the fair in Lincoln then?
SPEAKER_00:It was in Lincoln then, yeah. Yes. So I got to work in Lincoln for quite a few years. What a great experience. And then to transition to Grand Island was kind of crazy, but very cool also.
SPEAKER_02:When did you become executive director?
SPEAKER_00:Uh, just a couple years ago. Um, I've had the I'll be doing my third fair as executive director this year. So it's very exciting. Um, kind of worked my way up through the ranks and uh know uh just a little bit about most all topics. So um it's exciting for me, and I still continue to learn every day.
SPEAKER_02:Beth, tell folks about yourself.
SPEAKER_01:Uh I'm a I'm a Lincoln native. I grew up going to the Nebraska State Fair. Um, always loved it. Then, fast forward a few years, Governor Ricketts invited me to be the Lincoln representative on the Nebraska State Fair board.
SPEAKER_02:And you've done that how many years?
SPEAKER_01:I am on year number nine.
SPEAKER_02:And you've served in various leadership roles on the board, correct?
SPEAKER_01:I have. I was I was chair for a couple years. I've been uh chair of different committees. Uh actually, it's been a great experience.
SPEAKER_02:So, how long has the Nebraska State Fair been going? Uh Jamie, we'll start with you.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, 1868. Before the Nebraska was a state, uh, there was a territorial fair in 1868. Market started off in Nebraska City, was in Brownville for a couple of years, then went to Lincoln to Omaha, back to Lincoln to Omaha, then Lincoln to Grand Island.
SPEAKER_02:And when did the move to Grand Island occur?
SPEAKER_00:The first fair was hosted in Grand Island in 2010. So that longest stretch in Lincoln was 1901 through 2009. And then in 2010, we hosted the first Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island.
SPEAKER_02:I'm still amazed that there are folks, and a lot of them are in Lincoln, have still not made it out to Grand Island for the fair. Can you, let's assume they haven't been there. Can you paint a picture visually of what the fair looks like? Uh, both of you. Uh Beth, how about you? The what's you've been to Lincoln, you've been to Grand Island, uh describe the differences and what it looks like today.
SPEAKER_01:You know, it has a different feel, but it's a very friendly, welcoming feel. The people of Grand Island embrace the fair. We have over 800 local volunteers who really make the fair work in Grand Island. Um, we're on the Fawner Park campus, um, but we have beautiful facilities, probably the the best livestock facilities in the country. So it's really a special place that they created out there.
SPEAKER_02:Jamie, how would you describe it?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, um, I would say softening. Uh the through those first couple of years, it felt like kind of a concrete paradise, but we are in the process of softening that up pretty good. We added in 2017, we added a number of trees and shrubs in our family fun zone park. So uh getting starting to build up our natural shade. Um, we have increased seeding every year as well. Um, it's a very clean campus. And uh, like Beth said about those uh facilities, the livestock facilities and the two exposition buildings and the Nebraska building. Oh my gosh, what what uh great treasures they are to have uh for use for each year at the state fair.
SPEAKER_01:People best describe it as being clean and safe. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, the Nebraska building. If if Nebraska, that's one place Nebraskans really need to stop into. Can you guys describe what is in that building?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, there is uh there's a state-of-the-art interactive museum called Raising Nebraska. And uh that's that's a pretty special attraction. It's open year-round, uh, but they have special special presentations and partners come in for live exhibits and displays during state fair. But that exhibit is um known nationally as well. We have lots of people from other fairs who come to visit and check out that interactive museum. We're also working on the state fairs history. Um, the in the foyer section, um, each year we've been uh converting uh one of our cubbies into an appreciation of Nebraska State Fair history. And I just love seeing that come together so nicely.
SPEAKER_02:Aren't there some giant overalls in the in the usually you have in the foyer? Aren't they like ginormous?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, the Lee, the Lee brand of overalls are the world's largest overalls. And we do have people stop in throughout the year and want to take their picture with those giant overalls. It's pretty special.
SPEAKER_02:Beth, do you have your picture by the overalls?
SPEAKER_01:I do. Jamie and I welcomed a podcaster last year. Do you remember that, Jamie? He he goes all over the country and he came to see the overalls. Wow.
SPEAKER_00:Wasn't that cool? They were just coming through. I love it when I run into them.
SPEAKER_02:So today's Nebraska State Fair, is there still like a milking parlor and a dairy or ice cream store?
SPEAKER_00:Such a special attraction. Those two are right next to each other at the front side of our cattle barn. So yeah, very um neat to watch the milking process happen while you're enjoying a frozen ice cream cone. It's a good combo.
SPEAKER_02:How about a birthing pavilion? Do they still do you still have that?
SPEAKER_01:One of my one of my favorites, since I'm the city kid, I love going in there. I saw calf born last year. It's it's amazing to me, and I'm so proud that the fair still supports that exhibit.
SPEAKER_02:So, other than cattle, what other species do they have in there in the birthing pavilion?
SPEAKER_00:They do have pigs and goats. And a couple years ago, we added ducks. And um, I think this year geese are coming into the motion. And if I didn't say goats, there are also goats. So lots of babies happening in the birthing pavilion throughout the full 11-day state fair.
SPEAKER_02:I seem to recall, was there a time when that was on TV or at least live cast by some tell some network?
SPEAKER_00:We still we still stream it live, yeah, for sure. So if it's if there's um activity starting and you gotta go home, you can tune in once you get home from statefair.org and continue to watch the the birth take place.
SPEAKER_02:Are there still carnival rides in a midway?
SPEAKER_00:Gotta be. Yeah. Wade Shows uh continues to be our provider. They they have been since I think 2012 here in Grand Island. But they do a great clean and like Beth said, clean and safe operation. Uh it looks nice. They bring fun rides each year and uh great games, and very pleased with the midway that Wade Shows presents to us each year.
SPEAKER_01:You can see that huge fair as well lit up at night, and it just draws you into the fair.
SPEAKER_02:Something that's unique to Grand Island compared to when it was in Lincoln is there's a tram or a skylift or a chairlift that goes over a good part of the fair. Beth, have you been on that?
SPEAKER_01:I love that. And on one of our busy weekends, that thing is packed full of people and it's the best view of the fair. So if you haven't been to the fair, take that ride. It's a it's a wonderful view.
SPEAKER_02:Jamie, how did that come about?
SPEAKER_00:Hey, that was pretty cool actually. Uh, again, through Wade Shows, our current Midway provider, but they brought the SkyTram in before they brought the rest of the ride. So uh when we were transitioning, uh, the SkyTram was the first thing that Wade Shows brought. So um, you know, the poles are up year-round. Uh, they come and start to install the cables and the gondolas, the little carts that you ride in in early August and make sure it's smooth sailing uh by the time we open the fair at the end of August. So it's a neat, it's a neat attraction. It'll take you from our main intersection by the Pinnacle Bank Expo, um, across all those new uh livestock buildings and um all the way to ACP Aurora Co-op Pavilion on the south side of campus. It's a great ride, and I think you should do it once during the day and then again at night, because the fair does look quite different uh day to night.
SPEAKER_02:So, Jamie, those those brand new buildings out there, they get used not only at the during the time of the Nebraska State Fair as well as Exarbon, but aren't there shows there throughout the year?
SPEAKER_00:There are, yeah. We just wrapped up a shorthorn cattle show. I think there were about 850 short horn cattle uh that moved out recently, and we're uh we're getting ready for some dairy goats. Uh over 33, our capacity was 3,000, and we're over 3,300 dairy goats that are coming in on Saturday. So we had to call in for some extra pins and equipment from Lincoln. Thank goodness we were able to get those on rent or on loan. Uh so we we increase our capacity by borrowing some extra equipment. We try to keep those barns filled with livestock shows just as often as possible.
SPEAKER_02:So I know the Nebraska State Fair is a family-friendly event, but in recent years, just because that's just the way the culture is, I think we had a uh was there a change relative to uh as far as the ability to uh grab an adult beverage and walk across the entire campus as opposed to having to sit in the in one of the outdoor beer gardens?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, you know, we did apply for open campus, and um, you know, we are very careful to follow all of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission rules and regulations. They have helped us a ton to have found success in our open campus policy. Um, they help us with our training of all of our servers and checking those IDs. There's some tricky things about IDs that they help us look for each year. But what it does for the guest is really allows families to enjoy the fair as a group together, continue to walk around. It also encourages people to eat a little bit more food while they're while they're walking around with a cold beverage. So I think it's been a win-win for us. We certainly um believe, and our guests tell us that for the most part, uh people are very pleased with that opportunity. And it's not something that's distracting other guests. We're not having problems. So really um, it really has been a great success for us. Uh, this will be the fourth year, I think, for the walk-around campus.
SPEAKER_01:I would actually say I feel like we've had um, you know, fewer incidents, people are drinking more responsibly, like Jamie said, they'll get one drink and go walk with their family. So it's worked out really well.
SPEAKER_02:So, in your capacity as a board member, did you hear from folks when that vote came up? And uh did you feel that most people were supportive of that?
SPEAKER_01:We did, uh Jamie. I think we had to go before the Grand Island City Council with this. And people were supportive, and it it worked from the very first year.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, because other fairs I've been to, that's actually open campus as well. So Nebraska was just sort of getting in line with what other state fairs do.
SPEAKER_00:That's so true. And we did have data that we were able to share with the liquor commission about that. There were some hesitancies from them, but I think it just like that said, after our first year, and once we showed them our our policies and our practices, and we've kind of fine-tuned that the last couple of years, we've had um almost no problems at all. Um, it's been a very successful program for us.
SPEAKER_02:How does attendance at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island compare to where it was in Lincoln? Has there been a big difference?
SPEAKER_00:We're right now um creeping up. We are 314,000 people in 2024, 311,000 in 23. So certainly since COVID, and we did have a fair in COVID, um, it was about a 50% fare, I would say, but we have been growing back up since then. Our our most attended fair in Grand Island was in 2017, and I believe that was about 387,000. So we're still working back up to that peak that we enjoyed in 2017 in Grand Island.
SPEAKER_01:I would also say our numbers are pretty accurate now. Jamie's got a great system in place. Tam Allen told me the story of when his dad would always go down, he wrote the column for the World Herald. He'd walk out with the fair manager and just look at the trash cans and they would say, Should we say this this many people came today? So Jamie's got a real count now.
SPEAKER_02:But the people again, we sometimes have revisionist history. Uh, if you're with the exception of the last year, it was in Lincoln. I mean, Lincoln numbers were declining towards the end, which obviously moving it to Grand Island uh you know breathes some new life into the state fair. So I think it's great. It's doing very, very well in Grand Island. I'm I'm always amazed when people from Lincoln say I'm not going to drive the 90 miles or so to go out there. It's such an easy drive.
SPEAKER_01:It's an hour and 20 minutes. Yeah, it is a very easy drive and it's so worth it. And I really hope people from Lincoln and Omaha will just give it a try. And once they go out there once, I know they're gonna come back.
SPEAKER_02:And parking, uh, how would you describe parking in Grand Island compared to when it was in Lincoln?
SPEAKER_00:It's free. Let's say that. And uh, you know, it's it's it there's quite a bit of parking on campus, but we do um offer free shuttle services also. Um, you can park and ride um to the campus on an air-conditioned um charter bus that the fair uh commissions uh from Sam's Club and from Central Community College. So we have two offsite spots where people can park and ride in. It's easy, easy to get right to the fair then that way.
SPEAKER_02:So let's segue into this coming, the coming fair for 2025. What are the dates for the Nebraska State Fair?
SPEAKER_00:August 22nd through September 1st.
SPEAKER_02:So the September 1st is that Labor Day?
SPEAKER_00:It is. Yeah, we're 11-day event and Labor Day is our last day.
SPEAKER_02:Beth mentioned they eat 100 or so volunteers in the Grand Island area that come and assist. But in addition to those volunteers, you have a bunch of folks who work there during the fair. Do you have an approximation of how many people are employed by or to help assist the fair each year?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, um, specifically the state fairs payroll. So everybody who's working at a gate or doing cleaning operations. Um so that doesn't include those who might come work at the concession stands or the commercial booths, but those who are paid by the fair, we're right a we're real close to 500 on our payroll for each year's um event season.
SPEAKER_02:So, Beth, let's start with you. Walk us through the what goes into planning the Nebraska State Fair each year from vision to execution. We'll talk about certainly at the board level, what does the board do each year to get ready for this thing?
SPEAKER_01:Boy, the minute one fair is over, we start planning for the next. And I would say one of the first things is getting the concerts lined up and then to work with the marketing company to think about the theme for the year. Um, those things get started in the fall. So it is a year-round process to put the fair on.
SPEAKER_02:People like to complain about uh, you know, which bands the state fair has or any fair has. That process has changed in sort of the last decade or so, just by the virtue of the music industry changing and everything else. Can you just describe uh the process and all the hurdles you have to go through to even to find acts that uh will be in the area or that can be at the Nebraska State Fair?
SPEAKER_00:You know, Mark, you are right. So many stars have to align to find the find a great balance there. Um, first off, the artist needs to be on tour. So we start to look at a list of who's available and then uh really start to look at their routing. Where are they playing? Do we want to start a route for them? Do we want to be included somewhere in the middle? Do we want to end it? So um there's a lot of conversations with other fairs as well. And I think you'll see Nebraska start to do that even more in the future. Um, but okay, so there's they have to be on tour, there's the route, uh, they have to be affordable, they're very expensive. National artists. Um, it's hard to justify some of the increases that we've seen the last couple of years, particularly in the country genre. Um, and and we do want to serve all of our guests. So this year's lineup really has a diverse, um diverse mini genres to it. We have comedy, we have Christian, uh, there's classic rock, there's um hard rock, there's 90s and 2000s pop, there's a Latino act, and certainly a country act. But we we try to have a little something for everyone at the Nebraska State Fair. And uh I think we have a real diverse lineup this year and uh also excited to start to talk about what next year might bring. We do have a new booking agent that we're working with. So that's kind of exciting to get a fresh look at uh what our goals would be. And the State Fair Board certainly will help us uh to define what that looks like in 2026 moving forward. We're just getting started in some of those conversations now.
SPEAKER_01:The concert that sells out every year, senior concert. Oh, really? Older Americans? Older Nebraskans. I think I can't. Older Nebraskans. Um, that is the one where people are in their lawn chairs waiting for the ticket box office to open.
SPEAKER_02:Seriously.
SPEAKER_01:Yes. And it's inside, it's in air conditioning, it's a uh the Heartland Event Center, and it is always a huge hit.
SPEAKER_02:Is the size of the Heartland Event Center uh also sort of a hurdle? To overcome with some of these acts?
SPEAKER_00:It really, it really can be. Um, it can be certainly too small, uh, about 5700 is the maximum in there. And usually there's really only seats for about 5,000. Um, and uh also uh too big for some of the other acts. So it is uh uh little bit smaller than medium-sized facility, I would say. Um the city and the current operator venue works are putting quite a bit of investment into improvements of that venue. So I'm excited to unveil some of those to state fair guests here in 2025, August of this year.
SPEAKER_02:Is there a theme for the 2025 fair?
SPEAKER_00:Oh, it is showcase your fair face. So we want to see everybody's face at the fair, those smiles, uh, the kind of scared looks when you're on the ride. We want to see that look of concentration and competition in the show ring. Um, all of those faces uh make up who we are as as Nebraskans. And we want to showcase your fair face at this year's fair.
SPEAKER_02:Is there a way folks can submit pictures of their fair face on your website?
SPEAKER_00:There is. There is. I just proofed our gatebook yesterday. That's gone to print this morning, if you can believe that. And uh yes, we have a QR code and uh hashtag. So we do want people to send us their submissions uh as far as let us see your fair face.
SPEAKER_02:What is the state fairs web address?
SPEAKER_00:Yep, uh www.statefair.org.
SPEAKER_02:I'm still amazed that you were able to get that, right? Uh, because you know, it's obviously fit, I assume, close to 50 or some 40 some state fairs, and Nebraska has statefair.org.
SPEAKER_00:Isn't that crazy? Joseph McDermott gets the credit for that. He was always our IT guy. And when we were in Lincoln, uh that that was pretty cool and still remains pretty cool. Um people across the nation ask us, how in the heck did you get that? And uh it's so neat that we have it. So, yep, statefair.org is our website address.
SPEAKER_02:What are some new things for the 2025 fair that uh people uh should look out for?
SPEAKER_00:We have a new um animal attraction. Uh well, sea lions are coming to the state fair this year. That's uh something quite different and unique. Uh we have a new dock dog show. Um there's um some new horse equine shows that people want to look out for. The high school rodeo happens here each year. New to the motorsports track is figure eight racing. We haven't done that yet in Grand Island. We used to do that a little bit in Lincoln, but excited to unveil that here in Grand Island this year.
SPEAKER_02:I always try to end my fair with the uh the high school rodeo, which is just a blast to watch. And if anyone from NET is listening, I think they need to television, televise that statewide because it's such a wonderful event and it happens each year at the Nebraska State Fair.
SPEAKER_00:Such a cool event. You know, they honored us um just recently as their 2024 rodeo of the year uh venue. So uh we were very humbled by that honor from the high school rodeo association.
SPEAKER_02:So for people who come out for the food, are there any new uh foods or vendors or fun things people can eat?
SPEAKER_00:So much fun food is happening this year. Keaton uh is our concessions guy, and he's booking uh a great list of food items for our new and unique food contest that takes place on opening day, August 22nd. And we will soon release a whole spiel, uh a whole list of those food items, uh including some photos. But he's got some really interesting stuff happening there, and uh, we're excited to release that really soon.
SPEAKER_02:Any interesting corn dogs?
SPEAKER_00:Yes, there's a gluten-free corn dog. Oh, I'm not sure.
SPEAKER_02:I'm not I you know, I'm I I'm not gluten uh intolerant, but I'm I'm not I don't think I'm going for that.
SPEAKER_01:Um my celiac daughters are gonna love that.
SPEAKER_02:I have one as well, so uh we may have to get her out there to try that. Uh yeah, any corn dog is okay with me, so I maybe I will try it. So, Jamie, looking down the road, uh actually to both of you, uh years down the road, are there some opportunities for the Nebraska State Fair, either in physical camp campus or developments or technology or attractions? Are there some things you're kind of excited about that may be happening a few years down the road?
SPEAKER_00:Super excited about current construction. We're working through um some ARPA funds to correct some stormwater drainage and that uh, you know, opening up the ground to install sewer pipes and filtration systems underground really is an opportunity for us to kind of upgrade some of the lighting throughout the parking lots. Um, the fair has invested significantly in our PA system over the last couple of years. But when that ground is open, I got to step back to what I meant to share. There's a lot of softening happening in front of those new barns. So where we have had pink rocks out in front, they were very versatile and usable, but it's time for a change. You're gonna see quite a bit of new um turf grass installed as well as some new flower beds. Um, permanent seeding is scheduled to be delivered just a couple of days before the fair opens. So I hope we have a chance to install the permanent seating. Uh, but for sure, there's gonna be a softer feel to the turf grass and the flower beds out in front of those new buildings, as well as some new shade. Um, and then of course the drainage system is just impressive. We got to see how well that worked a couple weeks ago when Grand Island got about seven inches of rain in a day. And it was so impressive uh what the what the storm water looked like, which was not a lot to see above ground. Very different from what we normally see on campus.
SPEAKER_02:Beth, how about the board level? Are there some things uh that uh maybe you you've started uh on the board level that maybe won't come to fruition until you're off the board?
SPEAKER_01:You know, we did a master plan about four years ago to really try and look ahead and think what we wanted to add to the campus. I must say a number of the things Jamie mentioned, we do a survey every year and we've listened to fairgoers. Two of their main points is they want shade and they want seating. Um, I think that landscaping and the lights will also add a lot to the campus. Um, and we'll see what happens in the future. We're we're ready to continue to keep moving ahead and improving things. And I hope that'll happen in the next few years.
SPEAKER_02:Jamie, Beth, what are your favorite fair foods? You get one. Beth, we'll start with you.
SPEAKER_01:I'm gonna go with the beef pit. What do you get at the beef pit when you're a prime prime rib sandwich multiple times during the fair?
SPEAKER_02:The line of that place is, I mean, it goes quickly, but the line is always so long because it's it's definitely a must-stop at the state fair.
SPEAKER_01:You know, maybe it's the best perk of being a board member. There's a back window. I may, I might not, I shouldn't have admitted that, but that is a good perk.
SPEAKER_02:Jamie.
SPEAKER_00:I love it. Good job, Beth. Um, you know, it's hard to pick a favorite, isn't it? But okay, let me call it the stuffed cucumber. That is probably my favorite food at Nebraska State Fair. It's a giant cucumber. Uh, they take out the seeds, so they core it out, and then you can choose to fill it with like tuna salad, chicken salad, ranch dressing. So um, it's a cool, uh, healthier option. Uh, but I love all fair food, and corn dogs are a tight second, and I only eat a corn dog with mustard. So that's the way I do it.
SPEAKER_02:Correct. That the that anyone who eats corn dogs and understands corn dogs and is a corn dog connoisseur, understands you only put mustard on those things. Ketchup does not belong on a corn dog.
SPEAKER_01:Mark, are you describing yourself?
SPEAKER_02:I kind of am, you know. Uh it yeah, I've there's been some years I've tried to have as many corn dogs during the course of the fair as the year. So this year it'd be 25. I don't think I'm gonna get, I'm probably going to go for 12 to 13 to at least get halfway. So we'll see if I actually uh achieve that goal.
SPEAKER_00:Very impressive.
SPEAKER_02:Are there any behind the scenes tasks or jobs at the state fair to get it ready to make it operational that folks may be surprised we have to you have to do to make it uh come off? Either a position or a job or some just off the wall task that uh people may be surprised about?
SPEAKER_00:I would offer that, like overall, we basically we, you know, being tenants on the campus versus having ownership or use of the campus 365. Um, we basically bring out all of our toys, produce the state fair, and then put everything away. So it's an extra uh, you know, challenge, I guess, to figure opportunity to figure out how to um install street signs and wayfinding signage, um, shade structures. Everything just has that extra component. It has to be mobile. Um, so that's interesting. We did add a lot of festoon lights down Cowboy Way last year. So well received. And we're gonna keep that up and continue to grow the decorative lighting. It's a great enhancement for um helping to encourage guests to stay a little bit later into the night.
SPEAKER_01:Beth. I would say when I see the ag team turning over those livestock buildings, I can't tell you how hard they work. They're they're working almost 20-hour days. It's a huge task, and and everything comes always ends up working. Um, so I really appreciate what they have to do.
SPEAKER_02:So it's a lot of work. It's uh as far as the 4-H and FFA exhibitors on livestock this year, are those on different weekends or the same weekend?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, 4-H will be first weekend, so August 22nd through the 24th. And then FFA gets that Labor Day weekend. So 4-H, first weekend, open class is primarily the livestock that happens during the week. And then second weekend of fair is FFA.
SPEAKER_02:So the the turning over those buildings, that's what Beth was describing. Between you got 4-H, you've got open class, you got FFA, and those same buildings are just bringing in new livestock, livestock are leaving. It just it's continuous.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, it is. It is. Do you have chicken?
SPEAKER_02:Do you have chickens at the fair?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, uh for 4-8. Yeah, for all three actually have chickens. Rabbits just um for FFA, I believe. But yeah, so there's some different species on on the weekends, but yep, they all they all trade over.
SPEAKER_02:Is there one of those species that you've seen significant growth in as far as the number of exhibitors or number of animals?
SPEAKER_00:Those uh lambs have really been growing like crazy. Lambs and goats also. Uh, I think the smaller animals, uh, that more people might have ability to grow, um, uh, seem to be growing the fastest currently.
SPEAKER_02:I think we have a lot of rabbits. A lot of rabbits. You could Beth, you could have all those in Lincoln at your house and just, you know, bring them out and show them in the middle of the week.
SPEAKER_01:Clay would love that.
SPEAKER_02:Yes. If you, yeah, I'm gonna give you two. If there are two events or two places at the Nebraska State Fair that you gotta stop at or be at every each and every year that you're there, what are those two events? And Jamie, we'll start with you.
SPEAKER_00:Okay.
SPEAKER_02:Or spots, it can be like a place. What what were your two must-go-tos?
SPEAKER_00:Um, let's see. An outdoor concert is my favorite. Uh, we have a great venue out there. So um TD Landing is the name of our outdoor concert venue. That would be number one. And then um number two is just the barns, walking through the all of the barns and seeing the livestock. Um, it's just so cool. And especially with the youth shows, the 4H and the FFA, they really do want to talk to you while they're there. They want to teach you about what they're doing and why they do it. We have Moo You Barn Tours. So professional um livestock-oriented tour guides uh will take you through the barns and really help you understand what's going on there. Those would be my two.
SPEAKER_01:Beth. I would say final day of 4 H or FFA livestock shows. You see on those kids' faces how much it means to them and their families are up in the stands.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, so describe that for someone who hasn't been, because I I agree with you. That's one of my two. But what how what's that look like? What how the setting, what happens and what's what's what's occurring?
SPEAKER_01:Right. So these kids, this is like the state championship for say cattle showing. So they've made it through their county fairs, they've been taking care of this animal all year long, and they get to the state fair, then they get to the next step where they're in the final drive of the state fair, and then the judge, we hire these national judges from all over the country. They look at the showmanship, they look at the animals, and then they go around and they shake the kid's hand or slap the hind. And that means the kid has won. The kids cried, the family cries. It's just a wonderful scene.
SPEAKER_02:They're playing Husker music. I mean, it's a big deal. And they got the video board going.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, it's a huge deal.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, that's one of mine, and the other one would be the Nebraska High School Rodeo Finals there, uh, usually on the last day or that last week. And that's just uh those are two special things I certainly make sure I'm get to see each and every year. So, Jamie and Beth, there's a question we ask all of our guests, and you just get one word. What is your one word that describes this state where you currently live uh and where the Nebraska State Fair operates? What's your one word for the state of Nebraska? Beth, we'll start with you.
SPEAKER_01:I think authentic. Nebraskans come from all over the state to the state fair, and they are humble, they're hardworking, they're nice, they're kind, they're respectful. They just are who they are. And especially I feel like when you go out west. So authentic.
SPEAKER_02:Jamie?
SPEAKER_00:That's a good one, Beth. Uh, I have an A-word also, and it's agriculture. And uh, you know, it just is a part of everything we do as a society. Um, it's it's agriculture is in our clothing, it's in our food, um, it's in our environmental efforts, our water quality, uh, certainly livestock, all of our competitive exhibits. Um, I really feel like uh I hate to talk about COVID too much, but 2020 really was a time where we focused on the heart and soul of what we do as the Nebraska State Fair. And those were the things we were able to still do. We were able to have livestock in the barns, we were able to have a few competitive exhibits, and that really is uh the core of the fair to me. So agriculture would be my word.
SPEAKER_02:Jamie, Beth, thanks for joining us. If you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing on Apple, Spotify, or wherever it is you get your favorite podcasts. Give us a good rating, too, and please keep on listening as we release additional episodes on Nebraska. It's great communities, Nebraska's number one industry agriculture, and the people who make it happen.
SPEAKER_03:Thanks. This has been Nighty Three, the podcast. Sponsored by Nebraska's law firm, Rembolt Ludkey.
