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Pulling Up/Not Pushing Down
The Story of the Albion Area Fair
by Dr Lynn Corder
Yes, the Albion Area Fair has been very successful. Everyone is pulling up and not pushing down to make this fair one of the most successful fairs you will ever find. As a young person, I attended fairs each year. Several years ago I decided to attend the fair I knew in my childhood. The fair was not what it used to be. The barns were not full and the fair had lost some of its luster. It made me think, “Why is the Albion Area Fair so successful?” The fair is successful because people work together. In this article, I will not mention specific names because the fair’s success is not due to individuals but rather to everyone working together.
I’ve talked with many people and asked them why the fair was successful. As a beginning point, many mentioned past individuals who built the foundation for a great fair. People who gave up their time, materials and equipment to build the fair. Without their vision the fair would not be a reality today! They were dedicated and the fair was a big part of their life. They started an agricultural fair and the people are dedicated to keeping it an agriculture fair to this day. The fair was successful because of all the donations. Through the years volunteers gave up their vacation and spare time to keep the affair as a main event in their lives.
Just think, two individuals who are still on the this fair board used their farms as collateral so the fair could secure a loan that was badly needed. What a sacrifice! Another person said, the fair was successful because it had a great beginning and widespread community support. Some fairs got in to trouble because they pay for everything to be done. Our volunteers do these jobs.
The Albion Area Fair is different because the hundreds of volunteers and are dedicated to giving themselves so that the community can have a great fair.
I asked a number of individuals, “What makes you proud when you think of the Albion Area Fair?” One comment often mentioned was that the volunteers had worked so hard without recognition because they were proud of the fair and wanted people to enjoy coming. It makes the fair work. Many come from out of town and the fair becomes like a family reunion.
Another person was proud because the fair had better barns than you could find in many fairs. The barns are usually full even when the weather does not cooperate. We are proud of the people because they come to the fair even in terrible weather conditions. Someone mentioned that they were proud because it is such an important part of the community. One person said, “ I’m proud to be part of this community and this fair.” I’m proud because the state sees this as an outstanding fair. I’m proud because we continue to promote agriculture.
I then asked him, “Why do so many people take personal responsibility and see that their department is the best it can be?” A number of people said the department superintendents take the initiative and do not need to be prodded to make their exhibits outstanding. The fair board does not step in but gives the department the freedom to run their exhibits.
The fair runs smoothly because departments do a great job. When someone steps down as department superintendent usually somebody is ready to take over. The fair is great because the department has such great pride in the fair.
The Albion Area Fair is a great success for a lot of reasons, I will summarize some of the reasons stated by many individuals;
1. People come to the fair even in the rain.
2. The community is proud of the fair.
3. The fair is well organized.
4. Great fair - I would never miss going to the fair.
5. The fair always has so many exhibits and so many animals. Some people take their vacations during fair week. The fair also has many entries and the horse and tractor pulls attract a huge crowd.
6. The people are so loyal to the fair.
7. The Albion Fair is blessed with so many people who care.
8. There are so many individuals who are proud of the fair.
9. The fair is wonderful because of the young people being involved through the school and other community organizations.
10. The Albion Area Fair is the “BEST!”
Stop! And think, why are so many organizations not as successful as they could be.
The Albion Area Fair is unique because people pull together to make a great fair. Why? They are not divided, the fair people work together!
One person said, I have many flare-ups but in the end we pull together. We worked together and work through our problems to benefit the fair. We have good people who have common sense and listen to each other. Another person said we discuss disagreements in the meeting and we work it out so we can be together. This is what makes it work. We don’t always agree but we live with it. We spend our energy on making the fair successful. We are willing to compromise. We do not dictate to people but respect each other. Each one of us wants the fair to be successful.
In my lifetime I’ve been a member of many groups I’ve seen bickering destroy the ability of people to work together to do the best job possible.
To paraphrase the Bible, there is a time to speak, a time to listen, a time to defend and a time to
consider others’ beliefs.
The Albion Area Fair’s many volunteers have learned to work together. The individuals do not spend their time causing friction but spend their time pulling together to create a “Great Fair”.
Any adult group should think about what examples are they setting for young people. The Albion Area Fair’s volunteers are an outstanding group of people that our young people can imitate. They are saying to the young people, “This is the way to work together to achieve the goals you have!” The fair’s goal is to provide a great family fair for all the wonderful people who attend. To any of us who want to achieve our goal in any organization, the leadership of the Albion Area Fair is a valuable lesson for us. We are proud of our fair and, nothing will get in the way of many volunteers working together to provide the best Fair possible.
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