The 58th Annual Baldwin County Fair will be the first fair
held in the spacious new 38,000 square foot Baldwin County
Coliseum! There is ample air-conditioned exhibit space for the
Creative Living and commercial displays, locked and safely presented
under a camera surveillance system. The food and entertainment
areas provide seating comfort for the entire family.
The permanent amenities designed for your use include
covered entrances, registration booths, power and internet connections,
restrooms, and water fountains in the dual lobbies on the
front and back of the building.
The 79,000 square foot arena is the largest open-air arena
in the southeast. It will host the Professional Cowboys Association
Rodeos, The Antique Tractor Show and livestock exhibits.
The Fair has three new features this year. One will be the
PAY ONE PRICE DAY on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 all over
36” will pay $10.00 admission and unlimited rides on the midway.
The second is the addition of the STAR FAMILY CIRCUS, performing
daily. Who doesn’t love a circus? The third will be a Heritage
Display Room, highlighting the way of life in years past.
Baldwin County citizens have many individual skills and
creative talents, and the County Fair is a good place to showcase
your handiwork. Please take advantage of the opportunity to enter
one of the many competitions in the Fair. It will be both educational
and entertaining and contributes to our agricultural heritage.
Thanks to all of the dedicated volunteers who make the Fair
so successful each year!
See you again this year!
Sincerely,
Ron Sparks
Alabama’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries
Farmers ~ Providing Food and Fiber with Persistence
The drought of 2007 will affect agriculture for years to come. Despite harsh circumstances, farmers continue to work hard every day to provide enough food and fiber not only for our citizens here in the United States but even for those abroad. As the number of family farms in Alabama continues to decrease every year, productivity continues to increase. We now have only around 43,000 active farms in the state, yet our farms produced more than $5.29 billion in farm and forestry receipts last year. Livestock and poultry accounted for 81% of the cash receipts. Farming is still Alabama’s #1 industry with poultry, cattle and calves, and greenhouse, sod and nursery products serving as our top three farm commodities.
We are fortunate here in the United States that we spend less of our dollar on food than so many other countries in the world. Our farmers are very efficient and excellent stewards of the land. As we enter the harvest season, won’t you join me in thanking our farmers for their tireless efforts?
Every fall, as we celebrate our bountiful harvest, Alabama’s fairs and livestock exhibitions are our state’s best entertainment for the entire family. Our fairs are fun, educational and they highlight the important role of agriculture in Alabama.
Sincerely,
Ron Sparks
Alabama’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries
