Mariposa County Fair
June 8, 2015 - SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblyman Frank Bigelow, R-O’Neals, presented ACR 74 on the Assembly Floor, which designated June as California Fairground Appreciation Month. In Bigelow’s floor presentation, he highlighted the numerous benefits fairgrounds provide for California.
“Members, we commonly associate our fairgrounds with summer fun, exhilarating rides and delicious fried foods. However, these fairgrounds mean so much more to our communities than fried Twinkies and Ferris wheels. Fairgrounds provide crucial open space for emergency response situations. Our fairgrounds are a vital staging area for firefighters and emergency responders during our wildfire seasons. They are also used as an emergency evacuation center for our communities during a natural disaster,” Assemblyman Bigelow stated.
Bigelow also highlighted the rich agricultural tradition associated with California fairgrounds. “Our Fairgrounds are used as a place for agricultural education programs, which prepare our youth to become the next generation of farmers and ranchers. The opportunities fairgrounds provide to display agricultural products and livestock bring to the forefront the importance and reality of farming and ranching for all Californians,” Bigelow said.
The Assemblyman’s presentation went on to highlight the economic benefit of California’s fairgrounds and Bigelow also urged every legislator in attendance to visit their local fairgrounds in the coming weeks and months.
“Members, I urge each of you to attend your local fairs this season, and enjoy all that fairgrounds have to offer. According to the most recent figures, state fairgrounds generated $856 million to California’s economy and employed over 25,000 full-time employees. As for the California State Fair, last year more than 750,000 people attended and over 75,000 corn dogs were sold. Our fairgrounds benefit our local economies and create a ripple effect of economic activity and tourism dollars for the entire state,” Bigelow said.
Joining Bigelow on the floor for the presentation was Western Fairs Association President Troy Bowers from the Amador County Fair, Rick Pickering, CEO of the California State Fair and Becky Bartling, Deputy General Manager of the Del Mar Fair in San Diego. The passage of Bigelow’s resolution by a 73 to 0 vote was followed by a reception hosted by the Western Fairs Association and Bigelow’s office where legislators were able to enjoy fair food with Fair Board Members from around the state.
Lifelong rancher and former Madera District Fair Board Member Frank Bigelow proudly represents the 5th Assembly District, which encompasses Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Placer, and Tuolumne counties and includes Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park.
