Attendance at this years Union County Fair was up despite an increase in entrance fees, according to Fair Manager Nan Bigej. More than 18,000 attended the 2013 fair. (Chris Baxter/The Observer)

Union County Fair manager says fair was a success, hopes to expand carnival in future

Attendance was up for the 2013 Union County Fair and organizers are calling it another successful year.

The number of fairgoers climbed to 18,172 in 2013, up from 15,846 last year despite prices that went up $1 this year.

“I think it went great overall,” said Nan Bigej, Union County Fair manager. “We had a great turnout, we think, for most of our entertainment.”

Hometown entertainer Nicole Lewis drew a big crowd Friday, Bigej said. The auction was also a success, though no numbers are available yet.

Bigej said the fair is appreciative of everyone who came out to support the four-day-long event.

“The weather cooperated mostly, except for Thursday,” Bigej said. “I thought maybe it would be dead the rest of the day but (people) came back.”

Terry Magill, who runs a lemonade stand with his wife, Julie, said activity slowed a little with the rain but that crowds always bounced back at night.

“They come out for dinner, and the music, I think, draws them,” Magill said.

He and his wife, who operate Magill Concessions out of Boise, have been coming to the Union County Fair since 1997. They say it gets better every year.

“I think they’re catering to what people like,” Magill said.

Magill said there was a variety of food available, good music and rodeo activities that drew crowds they could hear from inside the Magill’s yellow lemon stand near the fair’s entrance.

“It’s a good event,” Magill said.

With 10 cases of pre-squeezed lemons, they weren’t worried about running out.

“I know better than to do that,” Magill said.

High above the trees at the fair’s Ferris wheel Saturday afternoon was La Grande resident James Eby riding with his 3-year-old son, Koen.

Eby and his wife, Codi, were at the fair for the day with their three children.

“We just wanted to bring the kids out,” he said.

They enjoyed carnival rides and meeting some animals earlier in the day.

“We’d like it if there was a little more to do like there used to be,” said Eby, who grew up in Enterprise and has been coming to the fair for the past 20 years or so.

He said there used to be almost double the number of rides and many more games.

“It’s gotten a little worse each year,” Eby said.

Bigej said expanding the carnival is something they would like to do.

“Right now, we are looking into options because we definitely have the room,” she said.

Bigej said changes may take awhile as carnivals usually require a three-year contract.

The future of the fair will also include more RV spots, continued work on horse stalls and more improvements to the 4-H building. Fourteen new RV hookups were added this year, something Bigej said they’d like to continue to generate some income outside of the fair.

Another focus for the fair is to keep the community involved, Bigej said. This year, the exhibit hall featured a farmers market and Community Merchants had a booth as well.

Despite his feelings about the fair, Eby said his family was having a good time and had plenty to do.

“It’s more to see the smiles on their faces than anything else,” he said.

Contact Kelly Ducote at 541-786-4230 or kducote@lagrandeobserver.com. Follow Kelly on Twitter @lgoDucote.