🚀 go-pugleaf

I called the Dixon Chamber of Commerce.  The woman I spoke with said I 
was the first person to complain about the festival.  But, she was quite 
interested in my analysis and was very pleasant and concerned.

Money was a problem.  The townspeople didn't want to pay admission and 
for parking.  When the fair started in '87, it was downtown and there 
were crafts.  They didn't have a volunteer for organizing the mutton 
busting but have someone lined up for next year.  Next year, they'll 
route traffic on Pedrick Road not 113 so we'll have to drive by the high 
school football field where the sheep dog trials, sheep shearing and 
mutton busting will take place.  The Chamber purposely didn't advertise 
the fair as it had last year.  She wouldn't say exactly but didn't 
disagree when I suggested that there was a factional split about the 
fair.  There were a few people spinning wool, carding wool, etc. but they 
were in the park with the kiddie games and no body knew they were there.

I suggested the following:

1)  The Chamber make available discount tix and parking for the locals;
2)  They permit a professional craft show to come in as well;
3)  They seek out the many local artists, artisans, and serious crafters;
4)  They bring in more chefs to demonstrate the use of lamb grown in 
Dixon - Superior Lamb Co. markets some of the finest lamb in the United 
States - it rates with Jamison Lamb;
5)  They offer as many cooking demos as they did last year (she agreed 
that they really fell down there);
6)  Mutton busting!!!  It must come back; 
7)  Bring back the steam engine farm equipment;
8)  Have a historical display;
9)  Feature more 4-H activities;
10)  Permit the Hawaiian shaved ice vendor, the french fried onion ring 
vendor (yum), an ice cream vendor (or did they have one) to come back.

Apparently the steam engine people got in a huff because they were put 
last in the Dixon May Fair parade because they showed up on the day of 
the event under another name than the one under which they registered.  
The woman at the Chamber said she had a bunch of feathers to sooth.

I think she agreed with me that three blocks lined with booth after booth 
of the same crafts was a bit much.

Who knows, maybe it'll be better next year.  We can only hope.
-- 
Yours,
Susan
_____________________________________________________________________________
Susan Hattie Steinsapir       hattie@netcom.com        Sacramento, California