By JESSE DAVIS
Despite the recession and a brief period of inclement weather, the Elkhart County 4-H Fair has been bustling throughout its week-long stay.
Rather than not come at all, many fairgoers have either tightened their pursestrings while at the event or attend fewer days than in the past.
Sharon Brandenberger of Middlebury talked about her situation as she walked through the fairgrounds with her children Thursday evening.
“This is our one time we’re coming,” she said.
Brandenberger said the family normally visits the fair more often.
“Not lots. Maybe twice or so. But this year I told them we’re going once,” Brandenberger said.
For some, visiting several days is a cutback from previous years.
“This is only the third time that we’ve been out to the fair this year,” Lorie Geaugh said.
Geaugh, a Goshen resident, attends largely because her children are 4-H members, one for four years and the other for six years. She said their drop in attendance had little to do with the economy.
“It’s mainly from the rain. Our kids are in 4-H so we get our tickets for free, otherwise we just wouldn’t be able to come out very much at all,” she said.
Next to the grandstand, where many fairgoers were watching the tractor and truck pull, Jayme Matthews of New Paris said his attendance had also not been affected by the recession.
“I’m here about as much as I’ve come in the past,” Matthews said.
When he attends, there’s only one thing on his mind.
“I try to get here for the tractor pull, but that’s about it. I haven’t been here for a couple years. It’s probably been four or five years ago,” he said.
Warsaw resident Dave Huffman was even more direct. He said he has been attending the fair for between 12 and 15 years, every time for the same reason, the tractor pull.
Not all are so lucky to avoid any financial effects.
“I’m supposed to have been here every day, but I’ve only been here twice,” Bob Astling said.
The Middlebury resident has had children in the 4-H program for five years.
“My daughter has birds, but we haven’t come out as much as usual. We come and feed and leave,” he said.
One Elkhart family that attends every year said they have become more watchful of their spending during the event.
“We’re at the fair, we’re just trying not to spend as much money. There’s a lot of looking,” Rod Bender said.
He has been visiting the fair for approximately 40 years, and said they have been careful about small items.
“We haven’t done any of the rides and we’re not eating as much,” Bender said.
At least one fairgoer said he expects the economy has had a much broader effect.
“I mean, it affects everybody,” Mike Miller, Goshen, said. “It affects pocket money and it affects spending.”
Miller also has children in 4-H, with 11 consecutive years of participation between 10 years for his son and eight for his daughter. Outside of supporting his children, he enjoys coming to the tractor pull as well.
“I’ve been coming for a long time, a long time,” he said.
That doesn’t seem likely to change for anyone anytime soon.
