Wilmot---Accuracy in calculating attendance was among the winners at the recently-concluded Kenosha County Fair.
Up until this year, fair officials used a formula to estimate just how many people made it onto the grounds each day, a process made difficult in part because of season ticket passes and a lack of technology. In years in which the weather cooperated, attendance was believed to have soared into the 90,000's.
This year for the first time, scanners were used to measure attendance, eliminating the guessing game.
The result was a much lower attendance figure--about 50,000, according to Fair Manager Denise Zirbel, who says an accurate count is much more important than high numbers. "It's so important to me to have accurate numbers for both planning purposes and when I talk to vendors and sponsors," she said.
For example, food vendors for future fairs will have a much better idea of just how many people to prepare for.
Also, the scanning system results in a wealth of demographic information, such as how many patrons used military discounts to get in.
Next year's county fair will be held between Aug. 14th and 18th, with the theme "Country Nights and Carnival Lights."
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