50 PEOPLE CLEAN UP AFTER FAIR

SEMO District Fair Board President Bob Nitsch seemed content to rest for a few minutes Sunday night after a long day of cleanup at the fairgrounds.

Sunday's cleanup followed eight days and nights of involvement in the fair for Nitsch and the many volunteers who helped organize the annual event.

"Everybody's tired," Nitsch said as he talked about the many people who helped in some small way to make the fair a success.

"Just think how many people touched this fair in one way or another," he said. "The number of volunteers is really large and they all deserve a thank you."

Nitsch was "almost certain" the fair was profitable. The final numbers will be available at November's fair board's general membership meeting.

"Those people who paid their $2 this year were able to see more free things than ever before," he said. "We wanted to give people good value for their money."

The lumberjack show and Sparkles the "magic goose" -- both free attractions at the fair -- were well attended each time, Nitsch said.

There also seemed to be a good mix of dollars spent for carnival amusements, including the 26 rides, and that spent on food. The six events of special nightly entertainment also added to the fair attendance.

Saturday's attendance of around 23,000 pushed the fair total to nearly 97,000. Pete Poe, fair board member, said it was the best attendance since the fair's format was changed about 15 years ago.

"This is a true family fair with several generations pitching in to make it work," Poe said.

"The fair provides a homecoming of sorts for the many people who have been coming here for years," he said. "The fair is a great place to be."

Poe said he worked mostly outside Sunday, doing whatever was necessary. He pulled fence posts, rolled up fencing, took down the pond that was used by the lumberjacks and drove a tractor.

Nitsch said there were about 50 volunteers who started the cleanup at 8 a.m. Sunday. By 6 p.m. most everything, including the inside of the Arena building, was back in its original place.

The fair's more than 40 tents were taken down and were expected to be headed by truck to Joplin this morning.

Manure hauling from the animal barns will start today, Nitsch said. The final cleanup duties will also be finished.

This is the second year for Nitsch as fair board president. He has been a board member for 13 years.

"I put things in the hands of the committees and let them decide how they wanted to do things," Nitsch said. "A lot of good people have helped in the last two years."