DIVISION OF FAIRS 

 Stephen F. Quinn, Director 



The fairs, as a whole, enjoyed a rather good season and with the 

 lack of rain through the summer most fairs enjoyed increases in attendance. 

 The large increase in the total is due to the rejuvenation of the Brockton, 

 Middleboro and Weymouth fairs. Their added attendance was up over 300,000. 

 With good weather and an increase in prize monies, exhibits were able to 

 show a large increase over last season j the total also broke records which 

 were set the previous year. 



With gas prices stabilizing there was no problem getting about j however 

 due to the cost, a trend seems to be setting in where people are partaking in 

 more nearby functions for their entertainment. 



All looks well for the immediate future for the Agricultural Fairs. 



2,929,656 people paid admissions in 1980 to one of the various agricult- 

 ural fairs conducted within the state. This figure is up 512,255 from last 

 year. $264,581 were expended for prizes by the state and $121,634 were added 

 by the fairs for the promotion of agriculture. 89,217 exhibits were displayed, 

 38,186 of which were youth; these figures are up 20,012 and 5,728 respectively 

 from 1979. 



The Massachusetts Building exhibits at the Eastern States Exposition in 

 West Springfield again enjoyed a tremendous reception from the 1,090,000 people 

 who visited the "Big E." This year's theme adopted the new logo of the State 

 Department of Commerce and Development, "Make it in Massachusetts." New exhibits 

 from the Extension Service, Massachusetts Horticultural Society and the Depart- 

 ment of Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Service, along with the 

 expanded exhibits of the Massachusetts Flower Growers, Hampden County Bee 

 Keepers and the Commerce Department gave a much needed change to our building. 



The Division again employed the use of 12 part-time fair inspectors to 

 help aid the Division in its monitoring of the agricultural prizes and the use 

 of the rehabilitation funds. 



REHABILITATION PROGRAM 



The Rehabilitation Committee met in the West Springfield office of the 

 Department. It first adopted the revised guidelines for allotting monies to 

 fairs, then preceded to approve $104,135 from requests of $445,460 to 41 fairs. 



The Division this year also participated in re-establishing the "Wool 

 Blanket Program". Meetings last winter with interested wool growers were held 

 to reactivate this unique marketing opportunity. The Division was instrumental 

 in organizing and incorporating the "Massachusetts Wool Board" as a non-profit 

 corporation for the promotion of wool and lamb products within the Commonwealth. 



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