Fun at the fair

When people think of the fair, they think corn dogs, fried everything, the ride that would make a person throw up all of those goodies and of course the concerts and side shows. 

Few however recognize the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes, and the people who make the fair run smoothly. 

Regina Sprague the fair manager in Santa Rosa County said as of right now, the fair has close to 75 percent of its volunteer enrollment goal.

“We take what we can get,” Sprague said. “Right now we have several hundred volunteers.”

Many of those volunteers are repeat helpers who come back year after year, but Sprague said the fair is always looking for fresh faces.

“New people and new faces always bring in fresh ideas for the fair, and we need that,” Sprague said.

Several would assume volunteering isn’t as fun as it sounds. Sprague tends to disagree.  Those who apply to volunteer at the SRCF have a volunteer coordinator that contacts them after their background check returns, and asks them what they like to do. 

The coordinator then takes their interests and matches them with a job that would most likely fit their taste.

“We try to put people into jobs that we think they would like,” Sprague said.

The fair manager said that even if the volunteer coordinators are unable to match a person up with the perfect job, the volunteer usually ends up enjoying the job they get.

“A lot of times when we aren’t able to match them up with a job, but in the end they find out that the job we give them turns out to be a lot of fun,” she said.

Volunteers can help clean up, set up, or take down exhibits or equipment at the fair. For the muscles in the group, setting up stands, and bleachers for certain events such as the rodeo are top-notch picks.

There are also volunteers that can help greet people when they enter the fair or can assist visitors who may have specific questions about the fair or certain attractions while they are there.

Volunteers are asked to sign up as soon as possible, preferably a week before the fair to allow for the background check to process.

“We need people to sign up as soon as possible,” Sprague said. “We have one scheduled volunteer meeting right before the fair, and it is recommended, not voluntary.”

At the meeting, coordinators will discuss duties and what is expected of the workers.  Volunteers don’t have a set schedule, but Sprague said they should work a set amount of hours.

“We really request 20 hours a week, but that doesn’t mean all at once,” she said.

Sprague said this year, the fair has a lot in store for the county including a number of new attractions, which should keep volunteers busy.

“This year we are having monster truck rides for the first time in Santa Rosa County,” she said.

And to tame it down just a notch, an Easter egg hunt will be held at the fairgrounds on Easter Sunday where children will have the opportunity to find some treats left by the Easter bunny.

“We will have over 4,000 eggs hidden during the event on Sunday,” Sprague said. “This will get families together, and they’ll have the opportunity to spend time together at the fair.”

Sprague said the weather outlook for the festivities looks to be good right now, and expects everything to go as planned thanks to those who make it happen.

“I’ve already said all of my prayers to the rain gods this year.  Right now, the weather looks like it is going to be great,” she said. “These volunteers help bring enjoyment to families at the fair.”