Georgia National Fair breaks revenue record

PERRY -- This year’s Georgia National Fair broke a revenue record, bringing in more than $5.6 million.

The 2014 fair, which ran Oct. 2-12, was also the second highest attended fair with 456,023 visitors. The current attendance record of 465,053 visitors was set in 2010.

The new revenue figure, which bests last year’s record of $5.3 million, was revealed at Wednesday’s monthly board meeting of the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority in Perry. Total fair attendance was announced in October, but daily numbers were kept secret until the meeting.

The new figures show record attendance was made on three days -- Oct. 7, 8 and 9 -- during the fair’s 11-day run. Attendance Oct. 7 was 20,733, Oct. 8 was 12,790 and Oct. 9 was 17,950.

Midway revenue records were broken for five days Oct. 4, Oct. 7-10 and Oct. 12.

Prior to the meeting, Perry Mayor Jimmy Faircloth presented the authority with a proclamation for its record year.

“The staff did a superior job getting ready for the fair,” said Randy Moore, executive director of the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter.

Moore credited the increase in attendance to good weather, along with added free outdoor concerts.

Meanwhile, there were some empty seats at the paid concerts.

About 5,700 tickets -- or 71 percent of Reaves Arena -- were sold for the Lady Antebellum concert on Oct. 4. Jennifer Nettles sold 3,041 tickets, or 38 percent of available seats.

Looking forward to the future, 10 new livestock events are booked for 2015, said Jim Floyd, agriculture and youth director at the fairgrounds.

In addition, four new dog shows, a robotics competition and an RV rally will take place in 2015, adding to the number of events the fairgrounds hosts.

Also at the meeting, the board approved a $25,000 funding request from 4-H and FFA for the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show as well as a $20,000 allotment for a future scholarship program at the fairgrounds.

This story was originally published November 12, 2014 at 6:08 PM with the headline "Georgia National Fair breaks revenue record ."