Embarrass Fair needs new blood to carry on

Blurred screen shot from promotional video about the Embarrass Fair. This annual tradition is just one of many in Northern Minnesota at risk of fading away for lack of new volunteers.

Blurred screen shot from promotional video about the Embarrass Fair. This annual tradition is just one of many in Northern Minnesota at risk of fading away for lack of new volunteers.

I think back to the number of conversations I’ve had with Roland “Charlie” Fowler of Embarrass and I don’t think I can name one where he didn’t mention the Embarrass Regional Fair in some way or another. I even heard Fowler drop a plug for the Embarrass Fair on a CNN story about the friendly cold weather competition between Embarrass and International Falls.

Despite reasonably good attendance and enough money to carry on this weekend’s Embarrass Fair, however, the Mesabi Daily News reports that the organizers of the Embarrass Fair will have to close up shop if they don’t find some new people to take over.

“The volunteer membership has dwindled. … We’re lucky if we have a quorum (at meetings.) Sometimes we don’t,” [volunteer coordinator Ami] Keene said. Thus, it’s difficult for “key decisions” to be made.

“Without someone to hand the reins to, what do you do? There’s a point where you can’t continue,” said Keene, who has young children, one just a baby.

Unless volunteers are willing to take those reins to serve as board members, event coordinators, and general volunteers, the fair association will disband. “We plan to make a decision by the end of the year,” she said.

The Embarrass Fair takes place Aug. 22-24, 2014 at the Embarrass Timber Hall.

Here’s a promotional video from the Embarrass Regional Fair, to show you what goes on there:

I am reminded of the troubles we have in Hibbing right now finding new volunteers to run Dylan Days as myself and others step back from the organization. Or how the Range Artists Association folded for similar reasons just this year. These are all great events and organizations, but new people and ideas are necessary for them to survive. I fear many will have to go away before people realize the value of bringing them back.

Comments

  1. What is the attendance of your fair

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