Brown County Fair had a profitable year

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The Brown County Fair made money for the second straight year, but the profits were down slightly from last year.

The annual report, which details the amount of money that the Brown County Agricultural Society spends and makes from the county fair, was released to the society's shareholders Tuesday night.

The 2002 fair marked a financial turnaround for the annual event because it rebounded from years of increasing losses when it made $11,849.

The report said the Brown County Fair earned a total net profit of $10,862 this past summer, an 8 percent drop from last year. It indicated that four events -- the motocross, talent show, rodeo and the awards -- lost money and four events -- the demolition derby, the tractor pull, the beer hall and the carnival -- profited.

"There were not a lot of major things that didn't work," said Brown County Agricultural Society President Dan Kotten. "Except we didn't advertise the arena like we should have."

Bob Reinhart, the society's treasurer, attributed the 2003 profits to some cost-cutting done last year, which helped save $12,000 from the fair's budget. He said the 2004 fair will probably make more use of the New Ulm Civic Center, which is located on the Brown County Fairgrounds, since organizers received many compliments on the building. He also credited volunteers for donating their time.

"It's good to see some results that are a good bottom line," Reinhart said.

Despite its satisfaction with 2003's profits, the fair board is still going to tweak the fair here and there to keep things interesting, Kotten said. He said the grandstand events -- the demolition derby, the motocross, the tractor pull and the rodeo -- attracted good profits even though the society actually lost about $2,600 on the motocross.

"It earned less because not as many people knew about it," he said.

The society's board of directors also elected officers for 2004. Kotten was re-elected president and Reinhart will remain the treasurer. Bonnie Mangen was re-elected to her previous position as secretary. Joan Osborne was chosen as the society's vice president.