A lot of children don't understand where their food comes from. A child once told me he had never touched an animal until he came to our fair. At the fair, children from the Future Farmers of America, 4-H and Grange compete in livestock and agricultural exhibitions. We have a complete livestock department and auction with everything from turkeys to steers. We have home arts displays, with jellies, jams, quilts, crafts and baking.
Coons says the fair primarily targets families.
She seemed somewhat bewildered when told of the fear that the fair could attract gang-bangers to Santa Clarita. The absolute worst incident we ever had was when five or six animal rights activists protested outside our rodeo. If the city and chamber play their cards right, the new location could be Santa Clarita. Coons envisions a joint powers authority to finance a park-like fairgrounds that would be available for the community to use during the majority of the year when the fair isn't running. And that's something Bob Kellar is really looking forward to.