Capital investments spurring growth of Nebraska State Fair

For the second-straight year, the Nebraska State Fair has entered its fair with $1 million in capital expenses to work with, which is a far cry from what fair organizers could claim just a few years ago.

"I think of when I first came on this board a number of years ago – we just wanted to make sure we could pay all the staff and get to the next fair,” State Fair Board Member Dawn Caldwell said. “Now, here we are – able to invest a million dollars a year into improvements and betterment for the competitors, for the guests, for the staff and for everybody involved.”

The money has been put to good use over the past two years, helping the fair purchase anything from water bottle stations and misting fans to new large video monitors and a new sound system for the fairgrounds. While the fair staff and board have the ultimate say in what happens on the grounds, the decision-making process also leaned on public input.

“We use a lot of feedback from our guests and from people who visit the fair with suggestions on improvement as well as our staff and team – things that they would like to see differently or taken to the next level,” Nebraska State Fair Executive Director Jaime Parr said. 

While capital expenses are ultimately derived from the annual budget of the Nebraska State Fair, it’s important to know you can still give back to the fair via donations to the 1868 Foundation.

“We’re really glad to be partners with the 1868 Foundation and to work on various different projects,” Caldwell added. “Having individuals contribute through the foundation is really important because we do have such a good partnership with them.”

With the theme, All Roads Lead to Fun, the 2024 Nebraska State Fair is August 23-September 2 at Fonner Park in Grand Island. The fair has drawn more than 4 million visitors to its home in Grand Island since 2010. More information about agricultural events and competitions, carnival entertainment, and other musical performances is available at statefair.org.

Video report on NSF capital expenses