A year of Improvement at the Ventura County Fairgrounds
Santa Paula News
Published: January 06, 2012
The Ventura County Fairgrounds looks back at 2011 as a year of progress and improvement.
Under the leadership of a 9-member board of directors, led by president Jan Berk and Vice President Leslie Cornejo, events and improvements were designed and implemented to benefit and enhance the Ventura County Fairgrounds for our community.
The annual Ventura County Fair has been a tradition in the county since 1875. The Fair theme for 2011 was “The Bounty of the County”. The Fair showcased local talent and the fruits of labor proudly entered for competition and exhibited by more than 5,000 Ventura County residents. 14-year-old Amanda Zavala from Thousand Oaks was chosen as the artist for the official Fair Poster. Visitors to the 2011 Fair witnessed the birth of a calf, learned about Ventura County Agriculture, and enjoyed free concerts by Pat Benatar, Clay Walker, Ezequiel Pena, Three Days Grace, The Four Tops, The Beach Boys, REO Speedwagon, Lifehouse, and Trace Adkins
The fair infused Ventura County with thousands of people including ride operators, food vendors, entertainers, animal owners and fun seekers who stayed for more than 12 days, all the while spending money on hotel rooms, local restaurants, tires, gas, animal feed, clothing, medical needs, food and more. The local taxes generated by the fair exceeded $1 million. Hundreds of Ventura County residents were offered employment for the summer. Ventura County benefits every year from the multi million dollar spending that comes in August.
Surfer’s Point is the pride of the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The legendary beach and bike path were restored and restructured to protect against from the wrath of the seasonal ocean storms. Together with environmental and government organizations the eroded bike path was moved farther inland from the coast and rebuilt with an attractive design that includes seating and a rock garden. It was designed to serve the community safely and beautifully for years to come.
The Fairgrounds Main Entry Plaza project, presented by the Ventura County Fair Foundation is a fundraising effort, which began in early 2011. The project serves to beautify the Fairgrounds while inviting the community to be a part of the Fairgrounds forever. Continuing into 2012, paving bricks are beautifully personalized with the names of friends, neighbors and loved ones, and laid out in a decorative fashion at the Main Entry to the Fair. For generations people will read the names and remember. The Ventura County Fair Foundation is a volunteer organization dedicated to raising funds to maintain and beautify the Fair grounds.
Construction of a new 38,000 square foot Livestock facility began this year. Named after a native son, the Judge William P. Clark Livestock Center will house approximately 500 animals at Fair time. It will also serve as an animal evacuation center during times of natural disasters. The beautiful new facility will be completed for the 2012 Ventura County Fair, August 1 - 12 and will showcase the livestock raised by youth in Ventura County’s 4H, FFA and Grange programs.
Looking ahead to 2012, the Ventura County Fairgrounds Board of Directors, under the guidance of newly elected Board President Leslie Cornejo and Vice President Armando Lopez foresee a year of forward momentum for the Fairgrounds, without losing sight of the Ventura County Fairgrounds mission: to promote, support, educate, celebrate and preserve the diverse culture and traditions of Ventura County.
All of the staff, superintendents and thousands of volunteers of the Ventura County Fairgrounds thank you for supporting your Fairgrounds. We wish you Happy Holidays and invite you to join us for the joys that 2012 will bring.
For more information about the Ventura County Fairgrounds please visit www.venturacountyfair.org.
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