In only five months, the moos, oinks, baaaahs, clucks, carnival
music and thousands of people will return to Bolado Park for the
81st Annual San Benito County Fair.
In only five months, the moos, oinks, baaaahs, clucks, carnival music and thousands of people will return to Bolado Park for the 81st Annual San Benito County Fair. After sorting through 177 different entries, the fair board chose this year’s theme “Fun in the Sun” during an April 14 meeting.
“We’ll send out a mailing with the theme included so our vendors and participants will know how to decorate,” Kelley Ferreira, chief executive officer and fairgrounds manager said.
“Baaack to the Basics,” “To the Fairest of them All!” and “Cowboy’s Theme Park” were all passed up for the winner, which was entered by San Benito High School student Maygan Rackley
She and the rest of the Future Farmers of America,(FFA) students at SBHS had to come up with five theme ideas as part of a class project.
“I was just sitting there trying to come up with ideas and the attendance guy came in and mentioned it so I wrote it down,” she said. “Then at the state FFA conference in Fresno last week my teacher told me the idea won and I was shocked because I really didn’t put much thought into it.”
Rackley and the rest of her classmates will have the entire summer to come up with “Fun in the Sun” ideas for their booth. The FFA class will begin making decorations when school resumes in August.
Last year’s theme, “Celebrating Our Freedom,” spurred many fairgoers to cover their booths, pens and themselves in red, white and blue, and Kelley thinks this year’s theme may have everyone rolling out their beach blankets.
“I think people will probably go with a beach theme since it’s fun under the sun,” he said.
Last year, 22,328 people flocked to the county fair, and Kelley hopes they’ll return and bring a friend.
“Our community has always been so supportive of the event,” he said. “I can’t predict what the numbers will be, but I hope we see a great turnout.”
The 81st Annual San Benito County Fair will be held Sept. 30, through Oct. 3. Anyone wishing to get involved can call the fairgrounds office at (831) 628-3421.
