Lottery funds help State Fair to rebound

From local quilters to national music acts and everything in between, the Nebraska State Fair has something for everyone.

However, making the state fair attractive to a large number of people comes with a price that actually had fair attendance on the decline a few years ago.

“Some of the buildings and grounds got a little run down. We weren't able to bring the entertainment people wanted to see, and attendance at the Nebraska State Fair suffered,” said Joseph McDermott, the fair's executive director.

He said the main cause of the lack of funding at the time was due to declining horse racing revenues that previously supported a fair that does not receive much state funding.

“The Nebraska State Fair has been historically supported by horse racing,” McDermott said. “We have 32 to 37 days of live horse racing and simulcasting year around. Going back decades, horse racing has always supported the fair and the grounds.”

In 2004, Nebraska voters decided to help and divert about $2 million in lottery funds per year to the fair.

That monetary injection has helped spruce up the fairgrounds in Lincoln. It also has helped the fair's entertainment director to be able to book better entertainment and have the entertainment included in the admission price.

“The fair is about showcasing Nebraska,” said Julie Burton, entertainment director for the state fair. “We hope to expand on showcasing Nebraska entertainment.”

Not only is she able to book bigger name acts like Joan Jett and The Blackhearts and The Charlie Daniels Band, now fairgoers are able to see those type of national acts and more than 100 local and regional acts as part of their $6 fair admission.

Then, comes the exhibitors and 4-H'ers who are the backbone of the fair.

Karen Ruwe of Arlington will have four of her hand-made quilts on display at the fair.

Guidelines require that all articles submitted for inclusion in the fair must have been made within the last three years. Ruwe's quilts were completed within the past year.

“I spend for sure an hour a day in my quilt room,” Ruwe said. “It's great therapy and it's really become a real passion.”