In a week leading up to the State Fair of Texas opening day, vendors are working hard to prepare for the fair’s first in-person event in two years.
Jack Pyland with Jack’s French Frys said his family business has been involved in the show for 76 years. Pyland was one of the vendors to attend the show’s drive-through event in 2020 due to coronavirus concerns.
“I’m really excited. I’m back in my life Sitting around twiddling my thumbs and waiting to see what’s going to happen is getting slow, but I’m back to meddle again, ”he said on Friday. “I get up at 3am and go to bed at midnight. It hasn’t been running for two years. Everything you plug in, touch, oh … it’s broken, fix that, fix that. “
Like Pyland, Juan Reaves was part of the drive-thru event last year with Smokey John’s BBQ. While preparations are tough for a personal fair, Reaves said they are eager to be ready for this year’s fair.
“The transit was great for the people who got to attend, but you speak of a small fraction of the people you will see at the regular event,” said Reaves. “That of course means more money, opportunities, more jobs.”
On Friday, Reaves electricians set up the booths that will be used during the fair. Lighting and electrical work were some of the biggest Friday jobs ahead of Monday’s inspections, he said.
“Last week will be one of my toughest ever. I have a lot to do. I’m way back, ”he said. “I still have a lot to do in the next seven days before I can open up and welcome our guests.”
This year, recruiting is another challenge for providers. Reaves said their staff typically number 100-125 people during the state fair. So far they have hired around 60 employees.
“We’ll be hiring when the fair starts. We will probably fill a few other positions. We definitely have some contingency plans, if we can’t work at our normal level then we’ll have some kind of skeletal crew, ”he said. “We hope that people will be patient with us because a lot of people have the same problem of finding people. We think we can still be efficient, still serve good food and still have fun. “
Karissa Condoianas, senior vice president of public relations for the State Fair of Texas, said they are looking for additional help as well.
“We need people from ticket buyers to parking lot workers to cashiers out here to work at the fair, and you know we have different shifts available,” said Condoaianas. “Up until a week ago we were about 10% below what we wanted to be on opening day, but we were confident that with the measures we took we could get there.”
Condoaianas said in 2019 more than 2.5 million people visited the fair in the 24 days of operation. Although no precise forecasts are currently available, she expects the number of visitors to be lower this year due to the pandemic.
“It was definitely a fluid situation and it will continue to be. We understand that things can change as Mass begins and continues, and we may need to change some of our protocols and things. We are ready for that, ”she said. “We have been planning the State Fair of Texas for almost two years.”
It is estimated that the State Fair of Texas brings more than $ 400 million economic impact to North Texas each year. Guests are asked to bring masks this year as they must be worn in buildings.
[ad_1]
