PALMER, Alaska—
This year’s Alaska State Fair has been one of the slowest fairs in years. While vendors say they can't quite explain it, with weather good and the economy on an upswing, the focus is now on this weekend as things wrap up.So much of the fair is about stimulating the local economy and providing jobs, and one vendor says just two weeks of work can help pay for someone's entire future.
“I think it makes an impact,” said Mary Littlefair, owner of the Cheesecake in a Cone stand. “I think the fair makes an impact on our economy for sure, but I think for the kids who work the fair, it makes a huge impact in their life.”
Have you ever wondered what happens to your money after you spend it at the fair? A lot of family-owned businesses make enough money in the fair’s 12 days each year to put all their kids through college.
“I went to school down in Seattle, my older sister went to school down in Seattle, and my sisters are going to get into school,” said Jeremy Favor with The Rollin’ Donut.
Favor now has a degree in computer animation, but comes back to the fair every year to help his younger brothers and sister pay for their future.
But for the kids who work there, the fair means hard work and long days. Lydia Schumaker, a 4-H member, has averaged about five hours of sleep every night this week. She's raised two steers this year for auction this Saturday.
“It will go toward college and getting a car and starting life -- that kind of thing,” Schumaker said.
She's hoping to make $3,000 for her steers -- enough to help her get through her first year at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where she hopes to get a degree in animal science.
Littlefair hasn't put any of her own kids through school based on work at the fair, but has helped a lot of high-school kids save. She says it's a great way to learn how to work hard while saving fast.
“She has paid for her first year of college working for us this year,” Littlefair said, watching one of her employees work. “And I know a lot of the vendors have done that with kids that they've hired.”
It’s knowledge that might give you food for thought, as well as an excuse to justify the calories.
The 4-H animal auction, where a lot of high-school kids will show off their year’s work, will be held Saturday.
Contact Ashton Goodell at agoodell@ktuu.com
