Goebel Recalls Years As Fair Manager

The Richland County Fair has remained an extremely popular summertime event for decades, drawing crowds from around the area and creating lasting memories. Former fair manager, Doris Goebel, who served as fair manager from 1980-1990, recalls fair time with fondness and remembers a lot of good times associated with the Richland County Fair. “I’m a long-time fair person,” she says. “I was with the fair for 22 years. I started in 1958 as secretary for the fair manager and in 1980 I took over as manager.”

She adds, “The only fair I ever missed was in1959 because that’s when my second daughter was born. Otherwise I was at the fair every year.”

As secretary, Goebel worked part time, keeping busy all summer, but she had very few responsibilities during the winter. That changed when she assumed the duties of manager. “The manager position was a full time year-round job,” Goebel remarks. “I was busy all year.”

Securing good concert entertainment began in late fall with a convention designed specifically to link entertainers with potential fair engagements. “In November, we went to a fair convention that showcased different performers and entertainers,” Goebel comments. “This started the selection process. We visited with different agents to try to get certain entertainers for the fair.”

Once the fair board secured the entertainment for the coming year, Goebel finalized contracts, worked to complete premium books for the next fair and performed normal day-to-day duties. “There was a lot of behind-the-scenes work to do,” Goebel says.

Goebel recalls that throughout the ‘80s, the fair board received extra money for improvements, so she witnessed many renovations during her tenure as fair manager. “The fair board planned improvements over the winter and we’d start these projects in the spring,” Goebel says. “We switched from overhead wiring to underground wiring, which was a safety issue and a big improvement. We got a cover over the grandstand and we put siding on the buildings to eliminate painting. These were huge improvements.”

She continues, “The carnival owner was not happy with the dust as it got the prizes and stuffed animals dirty. He wanted underground sprinklers and grass, so we did that for him. This was a nice improvement for everyone, but it was a big job to plan for.”

Other upgrades that Goebel helped to plan included the paving of roads within the fairgrounds, renovations to the fair office, and a turnstyle gate at the grandstand. “The fair office used to be under the grandstand,” Goebel remarks. “The roof leaked so we used buckets to catch the drips when it rained. We also had no air conditioning. We got the office roofed and we installed a window air conditioner. With these improvements, we thought we were living pretty high.”

Goebel’s husband helped out quite a bit as well and Goebel credits him with volunteering to do many odd jobs around the fairgrounds and with building new gate exits. “We used to lock the back gates at the grandstand but the fire marshal told us we had to have a way out for people in case of fire,” Goebel comments. “We had seen a turnstyle gate at Minot so my husband made one out at Albins. This allowed us to keep the back gate locked but people could still get out if needed.”

Goebel reluctantly decided to retire as fair manager in 1990. She loved her job, she loved the fair and the excitement associated with it, but she decided it was time to step down. “The job was exciting and I loved working with the fair,” she says. “There were a lot of headaches and unexpected problems, but I loved it. I loved the people, as everyone was so much fun to work with. 4-H people were so good and the communities with their seed pictures were all an important part of this. I had good help, which made it easier for me, and the fair board was always very helpful and supportive.”

She adds, ‘I had a lot of fun and I loved the position, but I had been with the fair a long time and I decided it was time to be home. I resigned as fair manager in 1990.”

Goebel continues to visit the fair every year and she believes the fair serves a vital purpose for the county. “I still enjoy the fair and the board continues to make great improvements,” she remarks. “I’m thrilled with the new event center.”

She concludes, “The fair is important. It is a meeting place and a good way to show handicrafts and photos and for kids to show their 4-H animals. This is important. The fair has been going for many years so there must be a reason for it.”