Maries County Fair asking community to volunteer in food stand

Posted 8/14/19

The Maries County Fair Board is asking community members to give them two hours of their time by working a shift in the concession stand at the annual Maries County Fair, which will be held at the …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Maries County Fair asking community to volunteer in food stand

Posted

The Maries County Fair Board is asking community members to give them two hours of their time by working a shift in the concession stand at the annual Maries County Fair, which will be held at the Vienna City Park Aug. 28-31. 

This year the fair board is not contracting out the food concessions at the fair and instead, in an effort to make money, the fair board will be responsible for the main food concession stand. Because of this, they need volunteers from the community to help with The Caped Crusader Cafe behind the grandstand. Volunteers are especially needed to work two hours shifts on Friday and Saturday taking food orders, collecting money and serving the food. Hours of operation on Friday will be from noon until about 10 p.m. and on Saturday from 11:45 a.m. until 10 p.m. or later. To volunteer, sign up on the Maries County Fair Association’s Facebook page through private messaging or contact Desiree Shockley at 573-422-3323, or Cindy Curtis at 573-308-5793. 

The fair board members decided to take over the food concessions to try to increase the fair’s profit, which has been becoming less and less each year. The board met last week and Treasurer Desiree Shockley reported the 2018 fair’s total profit at $1,161.48. The 2018 fair had income of $61,327.97 and expenses of $60,166.48. There was a beginning bank balance of $4,344.36. Shockley said in June they paid $4,300 for insurance for the fair and now have cash on hand to begin the 2019 fair of $5,505.84. Expenses for the 2018 fair were $24,026.36 for general expenses, $28,734.64 entertainment expenses, $3,091.14 advertising expense and $4,314.35 insurance.

The fair board members said they made cuts where ever they could. They have had several fund raisers including a murder mystery that made $1,000, a BBQ in July that made $1,000 and a BBQ was held Sunday, Aug. 11, at The Maries County Bank’s parking lot. Shockley said this year is a make it or break it year for the fair and they are asking for the community to help them make a profit on the food stand in order to continue this now 74-year-old fair tradition in Maries County.

Helping the fair board with food this year is the Tasty Cravings food trailer operated by Terry Mings and Cindy Williams. They will be in the grandstand area and on the motor sports hill on Friday and Saturday. Other food trucks also are scheduled to be at the fair so there will be a variety of food available for fair attendees.