Rain showered the New York State Fairgrounds early this morning, getting a jump on the year-long task of renewal, nurturing the worn-down lawns of Chevy Court and the Iroquois Village, rinsing dirt off the streets and getting those green roofs glistening. Sorry kids, but today you take a less thrilling ride, on one of those lumbering yellow jobs that aren’t nearly as much fun as the ones Wade Shows gave you yesterday.
If it’ll make you feel better, the Hound also got back to work this morning, firing off an email to our state’s governor. Here’s why:
As we look back at this fabulous, record-setting Fair, we marvel at its success. Most directors with whom we’ve spoken over the years have told us that they don’t measure success by attendance numbers, but rather by how the Fair does at pleasing those who do attend and by how well the Fair does at putting on a great show with as few problems as possible. There’s no perfect Fair—How can a 12-day event that occupies 375 acres and draws over 900,000 people be perfect?
This year, about the only big complaint you could have is that there were traffic jams and long lines of cars on days 10 and 12. It’s hard to avoid such issues when more than 120,000 people, driving over 23,000 cars enter the parking lots on one day. Let’s keep trying to come up with ideas on how to improve here, but some limitations are unavoidable.
Otherwise, we’ve heard of no major issues. How do you suppose the Fair ran so smoothly in a year when there were significant changes in so many areas. There can only be one answer, although it comes in two parts. It’s excellent leadership directing a talented, hardworking staff. Acting Director Troy Waffner (at left in the photo below) did an superb job and he’d be the first to share credit with staff at the Fair and at the Department of Agriculture and Markets, headed by Commissioner Richard Ball (right).
We can give them all a round of applause, but that’s hardly enough. What we should give Troy is the job of permanent director. We can’t do that, but the governor can.
The decision on the appointed position of State Fair Director comes from the governor, currently Andrew Cuomo, pending November elections. So that’s why this morning your State Fair Hound editor emailed Gov. Cuomo. We asked him to appoint Troy Waffner New York State Fair Director.
He proved himself more than capable this year after earning that opportunity with his work as assistant director. We urge our readers to also go to the Governor’s website and send a message urging him to appoint Troy Waffner.
In the meantime, congratulations Troy, Commissioner Ball and staff. Great job.
And thanks to all, particularly State Fair Public Information Officer Dave Bullard, for the courtesy and professionalism in working with the media, particularly State Fair Hound.
Please check back for daily updates as we discuss and analyze the Fair just past and look ahead to the future of the fair, a future we hope includes Troy Waffner as director.
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