Brought To You By The Big Fresno Fair • September 2009 Come join us and discover “How the West was Fun” at the 2009 Big Fresno Fair! As always, Fairgoers will be treated to a wide variety of attractions that are sure to offer something for everyone. Be sure to visit the exciting new attractions as well as all your returning favorites! Experience the “Best in the West” at the Table Mountain Rancheria Park during the 2009 Fair. Lasso up the fun at these family-friendly attractions where there’s plenty of entertainment for both the young and the young at heart to enjoy! New in 2009, you’ll also have the chance to learn about the vital water system here in the Central Valley with our new FREE attraction, The Water Tree, solar powered by PG&E. Every water pump, light and TV screen within The Water Tree will be powered by energy that PG&E has harnessed through solar panels right at the Fair. It’s a great chance to learn how important sun and water are in the Central Valley! For younger children, Kids’ Town is the place to be for fun interactive activities, crafts and entertainment. Back this year is the Fair favorite All-Alaskan Racing Pigs. You won’t want to miss these mini-racing pigs battle for first place in this intense competition. New in 2009, Kids’ Town will welcome world championship Mutton Bustin’. This extreme sport challenges children six and under to ride a sheep for six seconds. This is sure to be one show that the whole family can enjoy as they experience all of the entertainment and thrills of the “toughest sport on wool.” The Fair mainstays are of course back in full force in 2009. The Livestock Pavilion carries on the tradition of giving Fairgoers the opportunity to check out everything from farm animals to cow milking demonstrations at the new Cow Palace and much more, it’s a must see for all ages! For those thrill seekers, The Big Fresno Fair Carnival is the number one stop in the Central Valley. Last but not least, there’s the ever-delicious Fair food! From healthy snacks to comfort food, there’s always something delicious to eat. Whether it’s the sweet and savory funnel cakes or Chicken Charlie’s Deep Fried Zucchinis, you’re guaranteed to find a treat that will hit the spot! Enjoy New Features and Returning Favorites! Returning this year is Fair-favorite Crystal Ag Ventureland. This popular attraction features everything you need to know about the Valley’s agricultural heritage and is fun for the whole family! The Ag Ventures Kids’ Area offers plenty of hands-on educational activities such as the simulated goat and cow milking stations and pony saddling area. New in 2009, you can watch the magic of agriculture come to life at the new Ag Magic Show, which will teach attendees about the American farmer while entertaining with funny and engaging tricks as well. There are definitely Ag Ventures for everyone at this special area! Board of Directors Larry Serpa, President Tim Bakman, Vice President Joseph De Los Santos, Secretary/Treasurer Elizabeth Hudson, Director Debbie Jacobsen, Director Vernon Jones, Director Ardie Der Manouel, Director Wangyee Vang, Director William White, Director The Big Fresno Fair John C. Alkire, CEO Stacy Rianda, Deputy Manager II Lauri King, Deputy Manager I Inside The Issue Paul Paul Theater Entertainment 2 Wild America 3 Big Savings at the Fair 3 A Message from Your CEO 4 Employee Spotlight 4 Give Local 5 THANK YOU To Our Donors 5 1 Social Networking Become a fan on Facebook Check out The Big Fresno Fair’s Facebook page for exclusive information and details on everything you want to know! Interact with other Fair Fans in anticipation of the exciting festivities to come! In 2009, The Big Fresno Fair launched a new website, plus created Facebook and Twitter accounts – all with the mission to keep our Fair patrons informed, as well as provide exclusive discount opportunities, chances for you to share your Fair experiences, plus so much more! Join The Big Fresno Fair Fan Club Want to make the most of The Big Fresno Fair? Become a member of The Big Fair Fan Club! Receive coupons for admission and carnival rides, plus so much more! It’s never too late to save, so sign up to be a BFF today! Follow us on Twitter Receive updates about all of the attractions and events The Big Fresno Fair has to offer! Watch for special promotions exclusively for fans and followers. The Big Fresno Fair is constantly coming up with new deals and offers to help you make the most of this year’s festivities! Check the website, Facebook or Twitter to find out ways to SAVE BIG at the Fair! Print Daily Schedules Online Visit www.FresnoFair.com to view updated schedules of what’s going on when! Find out the dates and times of exhibitions, shows, races, concerts and more! Capture and Share your Fair moments Be sure to photograph your fun adventures at The Big Fresno Fair! You can upload your photos to the Media Gallery on The Big Fresno Fair’s website and share your fun memories! Remember, you have to sign up to be a Big Fair Fan to use their great new feature. Nat & Alex Wolff $15/$10 Barenaked Ladies & Caitlin Crosby • $25/$20 The Beach Boys • $20/$15 Chris Isaak • $25/$20 Visit www.FresnoFair.com For Updates Los Tigres Del Norte • $30/$25 MC Hammer & Tone Loc • $15/$10 Michael W. Smith & Worth Dying For • $20/$15 Los Lobos • $20/$15 Stone Temple Pilots • $45/$39 Dwight Yoakam • $25/$20 Puddle of Mudd • $20/$15 From The Naked Brothers Band • These tickets can be purchased online at www.FresnoFair.com, by phone at (559) 650-FAIR or at the Fresno Fairgrounds Box Office located at 1121 S. Chance Ave., Fresno, CA 93702. Box Office hours are 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. Service charges apply. Ticket pricing is based on closeness to the stage. Festival de Mariachi All concerts start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. All concerts have limited free seating available, but reserved seating is available for prices listed above. 2 EYE-Q Seniors’ Day Presented By Humana Wednesday, October 7th Admission to the Fair on this day is FREE for seniors 62 & better! Venture to the wild side at the Fair’s newest exhibit and see animals indigenous to North and South America – plus learn what it is like to be a Boy Scout, both today and in the past. In collaboration with the Sequoia Council Boy Scouts of America, Brad’s World Reptiles, and the Pop Laval Foundation, The Big Fresno Fair brings this unique exhibit to the 2009 Fair. Adults and children alike are sure to have an experience to remember as they learn about the outdoors and see through photographs how it was to be a Boy Scout over the last 100 years, plus some incredible photos of local nature at its best as seen through the camera lens of Pop Laval. Don’t miss your chance to see all the excitement, adventure and discovery of Wild America only at the 2009 Big Fresno Fair! Table Mountain Rancheria Park • Gold Gulch Gold Panners at the McCaffrey Miner’s Town • Native American Display • New Recycle Cycle • Dr. Solar’s Medicine Show • First 5 Daily Activities Stella Artois Blues & Brews • 3 Guys Playing the Blues - local • Blues Avenue - local • Crooner, Rene Emilio - local • Lucky Lopez Band - local • Shane Dwight Band • Singer, Laine Risto • Terry Hanck • Texas Heat • The Reels Pavilion Stage • October 7, 8, 12 & 14 – Next Big Thing Talent Competition • October 11 – Knock Out Night • October 18 – Lucha Libre Wrestling and the Mini Luchadores Save Mart Wine Garden • Almost Live - local • Amazing Harmonatras • Jane Parsons & the Big Band Sound • Groove Monkey - local • Steve Lord, Guitarist/Singer Budweiser Cantina • Los Amigos - local • Los Unidos - local • Rhythm Aces - local Horse Racing Ground Floor Enjoy horse racing on the ground floor for free! Want a reserved or box seat on the second floor? Tickets start at just $4. Smoke-Free Kids’ Day Thursday, October 8th Admission to the Fair on this day is FREE for kids 12 & under with a paid adult admission. Children 5 and under are always free. Special Interest Day Monday, October 12th Admission is FREE to persons with disabilities. One chaperone is admitted for free with each person that requires assistance. Bud Light Adult Discount Day Monday, October 12th With the purchase of any 12-pack or larger in the Bud Family from local participating retailers, adults 21 and older can receive a coupon for $4 off adult admission on Monday, October 12th only. Save Mart & Food Maxx $2 Tuesday Tuesday, October 13th Bring a receipt from any Save Mart Supermarkets or Food Maxx location to get $2 admission. Or join The Big Fair Fan Club at www.FresnoFair.com and receive a printable coupon via email for the same great deal! One coupon or receipt required for each ticket purchased. Offer good only on Tuesday, October 13th. Save Mart & Food Maxx $3 Wednesday Wednesday, October 14th Bring a receipt from any Save Mart Supermarkets or Food Maxx location to get $3 admission and $5 off an Unlimited Carnival Ride Wristband. Or join The Big Fair Fan Club at www.FresnoFair.com and receive a printable coupon via email for the same great deal! One coupon or receipt required for each ticket purchased. Offer good only on Wednesday, October 14th. Drought Relief Food Drive Thursday, October 15th Bring 3 or more canned food items per person between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 15th and receive FREE admission into the Fair. Food will be donated to the Community Food Bank and Salvation Army, who have partnered for relief support to assist areas affected by the water shortage on the Westside of Fresno County. 3 John C. Alkire, CEO, The Big Fresno Fair Welcome friends, family and patrons to the 2009 Big Fresno Fair! This year the “Big Times Are Back” October 7th – 18th …and we hope you’ll be here as well! The Big Fresno Fair family is excited about all that this year’s Fair has to offer. From BIG facility improvements to BIG new attractions and exhibits, BIG horse racing excitement to BIG-name entertainment…all available at a family-friendly price! We are also especially proud to be the first-ever California fair selected for the Western Fairs Association (WFA) Feature Fair. On October 15th and 16th, we will welcome representatives from fairs throughout the Western United States, Canada and Mexico to tour our grounds, view the improvements, learn about our Fair Education, Horse Racing and Clean & Green programs, plus so much more! We are always focused on providing plenty of money-saving opportunities but this year it is even more important with our current economic situation. From pre-Fair discounts such as the Unlimited Carnival Ride Wristband to special Fair-time discounts like Save Mart and Food Maxx’s $2 Tuesday and $3 Wednesday, plus the Drought Relief Food Drive/Free admission entrance on October 15th – there are more ways to save BIG at the Fair. The Food Drive not only provides patrons with FREE admission if they bring 3 or more cans that day during specific hours, but it also provides an opportunity to promote the concept of neighbor-helpingneighbor. As an agricultural-based Fair, we are proud to be part of this challenge to raise food for these families in need and ask you to step up and donate while enjoying all that our Fair has to offer. Visit www.FresnoFair.com to see all of our money-saving opportunities! The Big Fresno Fair is not only a deep-rooted tradition in our community, but it is also an economic stimulus. A 2002 report commissioned by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Division of Fairs and Expositions, shows that The Big Fresno Fair contributes more than $68.6 million in economic impact to Fresno County annually. Also, city and county governments collected an estimated total of $823,424 New features at this year’s Fair include The Water Tree, in tax revenues from year-round activities held at the solar powered by PG&E, located in Table Mountain Fairgrounds. The Fair is also the largest annual employer, Rancheria Park; the new exhibit Wild America; and the popular Mutton Bustin’ in Kids’ Town. These new attractions hiring roughly 1,000 employees annually. This does not include the local employees hired by our carnival provider, will be joined by old favorites such as live horse racing, Shamrock Shows or food vendors. carnival rides and Fair food! Also, don’t forget about the Jr. Livestock Auctions on Saturday, October 10th and October 17th. I encourage each and every one of you to come out and So please join The Big Fresno Fair tradition and let us put a smile on your face as you spend quality time with family support these 4-H and FFA students…they are our agriculand friends enjoying the Central Valley’s largest event! tural future and community leaders of tomorrow. Jerry and Violet Wells know the hard work and dedication it takes to put on the Central Valley’s largest event. Currently serving as Co-Superintendents of the Gem & Mineral Building and with 29 years of experience, Jerry and Violet have become embedded into the very fabric of The Big Fresno Fair. Employee Their Fair experience started when they became part of the Gem and Mineral Society at the Fair in 1979. Since then, they have continued to give their time in various capacities, whether it was serving as a clerk, volunteer or co-superintendents. The Gem & Mineral building has flourished under the supervision of Jerry and Violet. The building currently raises $4,500 for academic scholarships for students in the Central Valley. The Wells’ recognize that education is one of the most important qualities The Big Fresno Fair has to offer. Spotlight Working at the Fair has been an enriching experience for the couple. Their favorite part is getting to see children’s reactions to the fascinating collection of stone’s in the gem and mineral building. It doesn’t hurt either that they are able to experience everything side by side. Jerry and Violet Wells, With The Big Fresno Fair just around the corner, Jerry and Violet have been busy with everything from bagging stones to organizing volunteers for what is sure to be another successful year. Don’t forget to stop by the Gem and Mineral Building to support a good cause or even just to say hi to these valued members of the Fair family. Co-Superintendents Gem & Mineral Building 4 Gates Open: Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. Saturday & Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Gates Close: Sunday through Thursday at 11:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday at Midnight Exhibit Buildings Hours: Sunday through Thursday, Gates Open until 10:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday, Gates Open until 10:30 p.m. Carnival Hours: The Big Fresno Fair has teamed up with The Salvation Army and Community Food Bank to assist our community in this time of need. The drought currently facing Fresno County has resulted in roughly 60,000 lost jobs and is leaving many families in need of food. The Salvation Army and Community Food Bank have seen food requests double in the last year and anticipate the need quadrupling within the next year! Help feed our neighbors by donating food today! Also, more volunteers are needed for the mass food distributions taking place on the Westside. If you are interested, please call (559) 237-3101. Whether you donate or volunteer…the time to take action is now! Bring 3 or more canned food items per person between the hours of 11:30 a.m. & 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 15th and receive FREE admission into the Fair. Food will be donated to The Salvation Army and Community Food Bank for relief support to assist areas on the Westside affected by the water shortage. Friends of the Fair Donors Special Project Donors Valley Wide Beverage Monday through Thursday, 3:00 p.m. until Close Friday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. until Close Kiddie Carnival Hours: Monday through Thursday, Noon to Close Friday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to Close Live Horse Racing Post Times: Monday, Wednesday – Friday….…..1:15 p.m. Saturday & Sunday………………….12:45 p.m. (First Floor Free with Paid Admission to the Fairgrounds) Dark Days (No Racing): Tuesday, Oct. 13th & Wednesday, Oct. 14th Admission: Adults: Children 6-12: Children 5 and under: Seniors 62 and better: Military: $8.00 $5.00 FREE $7.00 $5.00 *With valid Military ID Visa/MasterCard accepted at all admission gates Parking: Premier Chance Avenue Lot: Butler Avenue & Infield Lots: Preferred General Maple/Butler Lot $12.00 $8.00 $5.00 $5.00 Champions Club Donors Friend of the Fair Bimm Enterprises T & N Concessions George & Jan Tamura Best of Show Brian & Darci Tatarian Pipe Trades District Council No. 36 Other C & C Concessions Abercrombie Farms Baker, Manock & Jensen Grand Champion Chandler Farms Big Fresno Flea Market Diego Enterprise & Swap Meet Alyce Fourchy Bill & Karol Hargrove Fresno County Farm Bureau John De Groot & Son Dairy Fruit Caboose Fortune Associates – Foote Photo Company Larry & Jane Fortune Happy Day Pony Rides Law Office of Kathleen Ray & Debbie Jacobsen Bakergumprecht – Davies Ryan & Ashley Jacobsen Pacheco Dairy, Inc. Paul & Anna Schneider Seamless Shower Walls, Inc. The Lauritzen Co. Jim & Karen Waughtal Champion Buyers Wells Fargo Bank Foster Farms Kingsburg Land Bank The Champions Club Johann Dairy Kevin & Kelly Morris Mary Prizznick Diamond Donor BNB Farms Fresno Lincoln Mercury Volvo San Joaquin Glass Company Platinum Donor Baker, Manock & Jensen Monte Person D.D.S. Pacheco Dairy Speeda Sound Gold Donor John Cordiero Ford Ranches Foote Photo Company Fresno Kings County Cattlewomen Harris Ranch Jayne Robinson Sierra High School Ag Boosters Silver Donor Ray & Debbie Jacobsen Pfaff Swine Farm Raven Ranches Supervisor Phil Larson, District 1 Member Avakian Insurance Services, Inc Brad & Shirley Kirk CA Farmer Eric Ford Hedrick’s Chevrolet Kiwanis Club of Selma Ralph & Mary Jane Loya Reedley High School Ag Dept. Marty & Trisha Peoples SDM Realty Gary & Sue Samelson Paul & Anna Schneider Seamless Shower Walls Shadow Ridge Ranch Sunshine Farms Mark Thompson Todd M. Arndt, DDS 5