Monday Top 10: He’s all about the Stanislaus County Fair

The Monday Top 10 delves into the minds of some of the Modesto region’s movers and shakers.

Stanislaus County Fair CEO Chris Borovansky marks his final expo beginning Friday, as this year’s 10-day blowout gets under way. Borovansky announced in March that he will retire in August after more than five years at the helm of the Stanislaus fair and more than 35 years managing fairs in California and Oregon.

As he prepares for his final fair run, Borovansky shares the Top 10 things people might not know about the Stanislaus County Fair – countdown-style from last to first:

10: It’s possible to eat healthy at the fair. While deep-fried ice cream and Twinkies certainly are available, food vendors are encouraged to use local products. In addition, Cipponeri’s Farm to Table has a stand that offers their fresh fruits and vegetables all through the fair.

9: Being a headline entertainer isn’t as glamorous as it might seem. Most entertainers travel with custom tour buses, but they’re still on the road a lot; as much as 250 days a year. And their contracts aren’t guaranteed. If there’s no play, there’s no pay.

8: The good news about being a headline entertainer at the fair is that you eat really well. Latif’s Restaurant has catered the fair’s backstage area for years, and we have become known in the entertainment industry for providing excellent home-cooked meals, along with Latif’s famous pies.

7: The fairgrounds is actually a state agency, and is the only state agency in California that develops and funds its own programs, like the fair, AND must fund and maintain all of its land and buildings. All state funding for fairs was eliminated five years ago, so the fairgrounds is completely self-sufficient.

6: The fair is governed by a nine-member board of directors, all nominated and appointed by the governor of California. Their pay? A whopping zero. In fact, all members of the board make financial contributions and spend countless hours in committee meetings planning the fair and year-round operations.

5: The kids at the fair work really, REALLY hard. What you see at the fair is the tip of the iceberg, with shows and sales. What you DON’T see is the months of sweat and chores, feeding daily, cleaning pens, doctoring the animals, attending 4-H and FFA meetings and coming together as a team. There’s a reason most 4-H and FFA kids don’t get into a lot of trouble: They’re too busy and tired!

4: The carnival is a family business. Butler Amusements was founded in 1970 by Bud and Evie Butler, after years of working with other carnivals. Their son, Butch Butler, took over in 1996. All five of Butch’s children are involved in the family business, and when Butch passed away two years ago, his son-in-law Mick Brajevich was named president. Butler Amusements is considered one of the finest, cleanest and safest carnivals in North America.

3: Planning for the fair starts literally the day after the fair ends. Monday after the fair’s closing, known as “Getaway Day,” fair staff begins discussion on what worked well and what changes might be beneficial for the next year. Meetings are held with all areas of the operation, from livestock to food to marketing to entertainment.

2: The fair supports local businesses. Our annual operating budget is over $3.3 million, and the vast majority of that is spent within Stanislaus County. During the fair, we feature local products such as Hilmar Cheese, Foster Farms chicken, Wolfsen’s sausage, Dust Bowl and Sandude craft brews, Noah’s water products and an assortment of locally grown vegetables.

And the No. 1 thing people might not know about the fair: It’s the people. What could be better than working with a tremendous group of people to put on a party for 230,000 guests? For 10 days out of the year, we’re a small city. From the fair board to administrative staff, to marketing, to livestock and exhibits, to maintenance, to operations and security, the Stanislaus County Fair is known as a leader in the fair industry. So come on out and help us celebrate.

This story was originally published July 3, 2015 at 12:44 PM with the headline "Monday Top 10: He’s all about the Stanislaus County Fair."