PLANNING FOR THE FAIR

            Yesterday we spent most of the day drilling into the nitty gritty of the upcoming July 17-18 Mother Earth News fair we're hosting.  Getting 10,000 people over two days into and out of the farm is a fascinating logistical exercise.

             If we assume 5,000 people each day, that's 2,000 vehicles.  If we assume a 2-hour entry window, that's parking a car every 15 seconds.  How do you get people in and parked at an average of a car per 15 seconds?  These were the issues we handled yesterday and we believe we have it licked.

             We'll route all the traffic in one way and exit the other way to eliminate having to pass on the public road, which is dirt and not a super highway.  By flowing everything one way, it'll facilitate constant movement, like a round-about.  The VIP, handicapped, and vendors will be split off and come in the other farm entrance, but still go in the same direction.

             Next big issue:  power.  With 300 vendors all wanting to run video screens, iPads, and take money via credit cards, that's a lot of power.  So we're looking at upgrading our electrical drop and running special 100 amp boxes out to service all the power requirements.  And we might have a generator or two.

             With 5,000 folks enjoying the day and seeing everything from felling a tree to milling a log to moving cows to constructing a clay pizza oven, we want to make sure folks can instagram and buzz about the day; hence, we need serious wi-fi access, which we currently don't have.  But not to worry.  A COW has the answer:  a portable cell tower booster.  Okay, that's covered.

             Food.  Food trucks.  And we're hoping all the ones selling meat and poultry will use Polyface product.  To be determined.

             Bathrooms.  How about 50 porta-potties?  Covered.

             Ponds.  Hazard?  Liabilities?  We have ponds all over the place.  They're beautiful; do we need to police tape them, electric fence them?  We agreed that in today's litigious society, we have to do something, but we don't want to detract from their natural setting or beauty.  So we'll put a simple high visibility electric fence around them--without power on it. 

             The biggest issue right now is the massive MEN book store.  The fear is dust; who wants a dusty book?  And a violent thunderstorm; who wants a wet book?  We don't have that completely resolved, but we met with the tent guy yesterday too and they have some pretty sophisticated covers.  I think that's close to being done.

             We have all sorts of special programming planned.  Friday night music legend Rory Feek will do a concert.  First time an MEN fair ever had live music.  It'll be a huge, terrifying, exhilarating two days and we're moving along on plans.  Tickets went on sale this week and are shockingly good.  If you want to come, don't delay. Click HERE to get yours!

             Have you ever been to an MEN fair?