Jeanne M.
Yelp
I'll be writing another review after I go tomorrow, or updating this one. :-) I was reading the reviews below for the past couple of years, and I have to agree with a couple of themes:
1) Extremely overpriced for everything. I have arranged my plans for tomorrow so I won't be eating main meals there, but I will be stopping to patronize the Oregon Dairy Ladies and the Dairy Princesses at the dairy wagon stand which hopefully will be around its usual place. I always get buttermilk: inexpensive comparatively, protein, and a wonderful tart refresher on a hot day. I won't be doing rides because of the prices, except for the Fair Lift, which is our family tradition at as close to sunset as we can get. We love the two different views of all the lights, the people, the different music. It may seem like a lot of money comparatively but it's an unbeatable experience of beauty, and additionally, if you do it one-way, it's a great way to get back to a gate you started at to get to your car.
2) The animals. I'm an animal-lover, preferring to meet new animals over new people some days, and the beautiful draft horses, the livestock and K-9 activities are wonderful. I love when the police have had K-9 demonstrations and promoted our knowledge of and respect for what they do. My favourites: the small animals (bunnies, ducks & especially pheasants), the draft horses and paso fino -- like flamenco for horsies! - and PLEASE bring back exhibitors like Walk on the Wild Side with teen apex predators.
3) I love the art & craft exhibits and demos. I will be looking at cakes - such original ideas some years! - quilts, calligraphy, photos, science projects, vegetables...
4) The food vendors are fun, but you do have to budget, and the offerings are hit & miss. We could lose deep-fried everything and I'd be happy. What about like a salad bar - you could set one up in a wagon quite easily, with vats of greens & veg & fruit that a person tonged into a recyclable bowl as someone pointed, even supergreens, maybe tuna & chicken & egg with sufficient refrigeration and away your family goes with bespoke salads. I'd certainly buy that over corn dogs and elephant ears. Also, *there needs to be a list* available online; been looking all evening, can't find one. People need to be able to look over it & make decisions based on special diets (like gluten-free-by-choice) and genuine allergies (like I'm allergic to tree nuts).
Other things to improve: definitely fair staff attitude. I know they get hot & tired, but stop with the disbelief on pre-order tickets. Soooo many people do that these days, use their phone or some app to order, and to be given grief in this luddite manner is ridiculous. I'm not pre-ordering this year for that very reason, but check the number of people who cite it as a fact in why they won't come back. *It is more important to make things easier for the many hundreds of honest people who use these functions than to worry about how perhaps 1 person will have some sort of fake or forgery.*
Big one: MAKE PARKING FREE. It's a hidden cost.
Cut back on the cheap stuff vendors. Some of the vendors are good, but I agree with one commentor: not buying a hot tub, nor a satellite dish, at a State Fair. Some of the ag related vendors are interesting.
Finally, have more environmentally friendly stuff overall. More demos where audience participation is possible & welcomed. More groups about community involvement, like community garden organizers. And folks, we're coming up on an election year. The political advertising is inevitable, and some of the petitions & lobbies I support. *Put it all in one area.* That way you can go if you're interested, and avoid if you're not.