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A new company for the rides, a fresh coat of paint and a ''Wild and Western'' theme are meant to perk up attendance, which has lagged in recent years.
By JOY DAVIS-PLATT, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 17, 2003
BROOKSVILLE -- Deb Pedone likens the Hernando County Fair's recent history to a holiday table ornately set for a formal meal.
"Unfortunately, the food had rotted, the plates were cracked and the silverware was dirty," said Pedone, this year's president of the Hernando County Fair Association.
To many, Pedone's approach to fixing the fair's problems has been dramatic -- nearly a complete overhaul of the way things have been done for 51 years. But her efforts have gotten big results, she says, and people will see the difference beginning this evening: opening night for the 2003 Hernando County Fair and Youth Livestock Show.
"All we could do was yank off the tablecloth, throw everything away and start over," Pedone said.
After seeing steadily declining fair attendance for several years that threatened the fair's financial health, members of the fair board hope changes in personnel and direction will bring back the crowds, which dropped below 10,000 last year, and entice people who have not attended previously.
Changes include outlining strict criteria for vendors who want to be a part of the fair, a new company to provide a top-notch midway, and lots of new activities. The dates for this year's fair are also later than they have been in recent years. April dates should bring better weather, and they do not conflict with other events around the area.
"We've had a big changing of the guard," Pedone said. "And it's the little things we've taken the time to work with that have made all the difference."
A walk around the fairgrounds on the south side of Brooksville reveals the new look of the family and youth buildings, both with fresh coats of paint. Volunteers have cleared the grounds in anticipation of big crowds during the next 11 days.
"This place is looking good from stem to stern," said Pedone, who traded use of the fairground's facilities for volunteer hours from groups such as Toys For Tots and the Brooksville Woman's Club. "This is a community fair. We couldn't do this without our volunteers."
This year's fair, whose theme is "the All New Hernando County Fair Goes Wild and Western," should benefit from the attention taken by the fair board to bring in a higher caliber of participants for the event.
"The independent midway has always been here, but it's never been given the emphasis we're giving it," said Pedone, who laid out exacting standards for appearance of the booths and quality of the products.
Some of this year's fair fare will include Chinese and Greek food, soft-serve ice cream, apple dumplings, chocolate fudge, kettle corn and pizza.
There also will be attractions such as Australian Airbrush Tattoos, games and a giant horse, pig and alligator.
"We needed excitement," said Pedone, who is an advertising sales representative for the Hernando Times. "We needed a real reason besides the livestock for people to come here. People want to see a show. They want things that are interesting and new and different. Where have you ever seen a 3,000-pound horse?"
An avid equestrian herself, Pedone said she is particularly proud of the rodeo ring, which she said has some of the best ground in the state.
"It's not too deep, and it's not too hard," she said.
More than 400 professional cowboys are expected to participate in rodeo events during the first weekend of the fair, said Bo Campbell of the PRC Rodeo, with headquarters in Alabama.
"We'll have all the major rodeo events," Campbell said. "They're coming from Texas, Wyoming, pretty much everywhere."
During the second weekend, the ring will host motocross and all-terrain vehicle racing. During both of the big weekend shows, beer and wine will be sold on the grounds.
"That's something really different for us," Pedone said.
For many, the main draw of a county fair is the rides and games on the midway, and the fair board has contracted with a new carnival company, Deggeller Midway, based in Palm City, to provide nearly 30 rides, including seven "giant" thrill rides.
"All their personnel are uniformed and wear name tags," Pedone said. "It's all the little things that are going to make a difference."
Four officers on the board of directors have led the remake of this year's Hernando County Fair and Youth Livestock Show. They are:
Deb Pedone, president.
Joe Bernardini, vice president.
Tammy Fincher, secretary.
Nancy Moores, treasurer.