Most people might think that the office staff is busy from morning to night with a long list of tasks since the Nebraska State Fair is only months, weeks and now days away. Instead, they have been spotted at local fairs for the second year in a row.

At the Nebraska State Fair, all roads lead to fun, and many of those roads lead through a county fair. Jaime Parr, executive director of the Nebraska State Fair, and fair staff place a strong emphasis on the road to the state fair, and not just the fair itself, by not only visiting county fairs, but also going to work.

“We’re touching on our roots, where we come from and why we do what we do at the Nebraska State Fair,” Parr said. “It all has its origins in what we see at these fairs and festivals.”

Parr and Marketing Director Courtney Glock headed to the Eustis Fair and Corn Show on Friday, August 9. There, they helped clean up the cafeteria during lunch before heading to the cattle barns to assist with ultrasounds.

“We definitely don’t put ourselves on a pedestal at the Nebraska State Fair,” Glock said. “We’re willing to go out and get our hands dirty to help these county fairs.”

In total, Nebraska State Fair officials have visited more than 20 county fairs in 2024, and it’s a tradition they hope to continue in the years to come. With the Nebraska State Fair now upon us, it’s their turn to host the state, and they say they hope to be as hospitable as the county fairs have been to them.

“I can’t wait to say we’ve had staff at all the fairs across the state,” Parr added. “It’ll probably be a couple of years before we get there, but we’re working on it.”

The 2024 Nebraska State Fair will be held August 23-September 2 at Fonner Park in Grand Island with the theme “All Roads Lead to Fun.” The fair has attracted more than 4 million visitors to Grand Island since 2010. For more information about agricultural events and competitions, fairground entertainment and other musical performances, visit statefair.org.

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