Partnership Program For 2015
Our Mission Statement The mission of The Linn County Fair Association is to provide opportunities for 4-H and FFA members, and the youth of Linn County to showcase their accomplishments and talents in a safe, family atmosphere while providing activities, entertainment and learning opportunities to the diverse citizens of Linn County and guests.
Linn County Fair Goal Our goal as the Linn County Fair is to provide cost effective entertainment & educational activities for the guests of the Linn County Fair. This includes free gate and parking for all attendees.
Linn County Fair Attendance June 25th – 30th, 2014: Estimated 41,000 June 26th – July 1st, 2013: Estimated 3,000* June 27th – July 2nd, 2012: Estimated 38,000 We have grown by 480% July 6th – 11th, 2011: Estimated 35,000 in 8 years* July 7th – 12th, 2010: Estimated 25,000 July 8th – 13th, 2009: Estimated 21,000 July 11th – 17th, 2008: Estimated 16,000 July 6th – 12th, 2007: Estimated 12,500
*The attendance for the 2013 fair was affected by the cancellation of all the grandstand and grounds entertainment due to projected flooding of the fair grounds. The 4-H and FFA livestock shows were moved to the Delaware County Fairgrounds. The 2013 attendance is not included in attendance growth percentage listed above. Fair Volunteers The Linn County Fair would not happen without the countless hours put in from our dedicated and hard-working volunteers. Our Association membership this year reached 43 members. Association members help year round with the planning and organizing the fair.
We also have hundreds of volunteers that help during fair week with exhibits, shows, and educational projects. The 2014 fair reached approximately 9,094 volunteer hours recorded for the year.
Reaching All Communities of Linn County By offering a free gate and free parking to our visitors, we continue to reach all residents in Linn County as well as the surrounding areas. We also provide a diverse range of educational events and entertainment options to rural and urban residents of the county.
Our 4-H members come from rural Linn County and small towns, as well as from the Marion and Cedar Rapids metropolitan area.
Freedom Festival Affiliate In 2015 The Linn County Fair will be an affiliate of the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival again. In cooperation with the Freedom Festival Committee we will be able to provide educational and entertainment venues for this festival and give our partners more exposure in the community.
In 2014 the Freedom Festival marketing included additional marketing reach of:
45,000 brochures were distributed throughout the greater Cedar Rapids area, which included all major grandstand events and partners. They were also distributed at all Hy- Vee and Hy-Vee Drugstores in Cedar Rapids & Marion. Hy-Vee will be the 2015 presenting sponsor and will be including the Freedom Festival logo on all grocery bags for the month on June. Website statistics – the website included a hyperlink to your website providing an easy transition for users Freedom Festival website views from May-July -May: 20,102 views -June: 161,539 views -July: 64,202 views Out of these numbers, an average of 67% are new users, an encouraging sign that freedomfestival.com is gaining momentum and will only continue to grow for the 2015 festival. KGAN was our media sponsor for the 2014 festival and we ran over 500 commercials throughout June and July. We are also rotated 6 digital billboards throughout the city for 4-weeks before and during the festival to promote events. The Freedom Festival will be partnering with the Linn County Fair again for 2015 during the festival to promote fairground events.
Attendance Records 2014 was a big year for the Linn County Fair as fairgoers were ready to get “Back in the Saddle Again” after being flodded out in 2013. Here are a few highlights:
- 5,000 people during the peak of Youth Day (Thursday, June 26th)
- Thursday overall was a record breaking day with a total day attendance of about 11,000 people, the most on record for a Thursday of the fair. The crowd was twice the size we had in 2012 when Youth Day was dampered by excessive heat.
- The John Michael Montgomery concert held on Friday the 27th brought in the largest concert crowd ever. Over 2,000 came out to enjoy a great night at the fair while listening to local band ‘Reckless Abandon’and John Michael Montgomery. The concert crowd contributed to the largest Friday fair attendance on record of about 7,200 people.
How the Linn County Fair has Grown Through the Years
Long-Standing Traditions Past Events Livestock Shows Donkey Races (New Event 2014) Harness Races Pro Wrestling (New Event 2014) Youth Day Rodeo (2014) Community Day Motor Cross (2006-2007) Antique Tractors Demolition Derby (2006-2007) Garden Tractor Pull (2009) Colgate Country Show Down (2006) In 2013 the Linn County Fair Bill Riley Talent Show (2007-2008) Celebrated our 125th Anniversary Draft Horse Pull (2007-2012) Parade (2007-2010) Stunt Show (2008, 2011) Wine Garden (2010-2011)
Annual Events Concert Events Tractor Pull (2005-2015) John Michael Montgomery, 2014 Carnival (2006-2015) Alien Ant Farm, 2014 Country Concerts (2007-2015) David Nail, 2012 Chuck Wagon Races (2009-2011, 2015) Pop Evil, 2012 Outdoor Vendors (2006-2015) Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, 2012 Indoor Vendors (2008-2015) John Anderson, 2011 Free Entertainment Tent (2006-2015) Glen Templeton, 2011 Beer Tent (2007-2015) Saliva, 2011 Recycled Garden Art (2007-2015) Bellamy Brothers, 2010 Free Grounds Entertainment (2012-2015) Firehouse, 2010 Johnny Cash Tribute Band, 2009 Candlebox, 2009
**This is only just a portion of how the fair is providing entertainment
Many exciting events are in the planning stages for the 2015 fair to be held June 24h – June 29th!!
Partnership packets include one or more of the following items:
Choice of : o Grandstand Booklets: All grandstand booklets include tickets to the grandstand events excluding concerts. o or Fairbucks: Fairbucks allow partners to customize their ticket package (must be at qualifying level). Carnival Coupons: Each coupon can be turned in during the fair for one wrist band or a sheet of 20 ride tickets. Web Page Advertising: Includes logo and link on The Linn County Fair web page and named as one of the partners. Print Advertising: Includes your business name as a partner in all the paper advertising where applicable. Possible 2015 paper advertising includes: Penny Saver, Marion Times, Mt Vernon/Lisbon Sun Times, and Linn News Letter. Grandstand Sign: Included their business name and logo on one of the fair’s grandstand signs that are 30” x 40”. Vinyl Sign: Included their business name and logo on a 3’x2’ vinyl sign that will be displayed in the event area they are the partner of. Freedom Festival: Included in the Freedom Festival marketing where the Linn Conty Fair is promoting the event and space is available. (I.E. large brochures, website, etc.) Radio Advertising: The partners are named as one of The Linn County Fair partners in the radio ads. Possible radio stations included: KHAK, KRNA, KDAT, KRQN, WMT AM, KZIA, and more. TV Advertising: The major partners’ logos are included in the Linn County Fair’s TV ad for their event.
Other marketing used by The Linn County Fair Our website www.thelinncountyfair.com has all fair-time events and details. Ms. Buzz's blog, Ms. Buzz talks about the different events at the fair and gives ideas for open classes. She also posts pictures and results after the fair on her blog. Facebook- the fair has an account and posts the different events for the fair, results and any news concerning. MySpace- the fair has an account and promotes the local acts that will be performing at the fair for that year on the site. It also includes updates on the fair and other events. Twitter- this site is automatically updated when a status update is added to Facebook.