Complaints About The Fair Are Not Fair

Hey Mongoose, 
What happened to the fair? It's been real bad the last few years but the price is higher. My kids don't even wanna go anymore and I don't understand why we can't get good rides.

Dear That's Not Fair,
What happened to the fair? Probably not what you think. Could it be you're not 7 years old anymore? Now hang on, before your get even madder, hear me out...The Fair is put on solely by the EC Lions Club. If not for the countless and thankless hours these guys put in, there wouldn't be a fair at all. I know some of the guys on the club and although it may seem a little cheesy to some, these guys work their tails off. Not one of them makes a dime for all their work, and everything they clear at the fair is given away to charity. All of it. These guys aren't spring chickens, either. This year, volunteers outside the Lions Club had to be recruited to help because not enough members were even able to attend or help. As far as the rides? Your kids probably hear you talking about how bad they are and they've already made up their minds. Most kids will ride anything, and have fun at it...hence the $1.00 lame rides at the mall that are making money hand over fist. The rides at the fair here may not be as big because the big carnival companies won't come to small counties. They sign 5 and 10 year contracts with much larger populated areas, and it causes places like EC to have to settle for a company willing to come. Carnival companies take 50% of the gate. So out of the $10 you paid to get in, only half of it went to the Lions Club, and if there was a small crowd that night, they most likely went in the hole to pay for whatever event was featured.  Don't like how the Lions Club does things? Volunteer to help. They could use any and everyone to make the fair better. Problem is, everybody is great at complaining, hardly anyone is good at helping.