The Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority and staff say "thank you" to the 416,709 Fairgoers who attended the 20th anniversary Georgia National Fair. Despite the weather roller coaster, Fairgoers continued to show their support for and celebrate
"20 Years of Georgia's Best."

The 2008 attendance was 407,136.

"The Fair was an extremely satisfying fourth quarter win with time running out," said Ransom Moore, executive director. "It was very satisfying for the entire staff to see the fruits of their labor rewarded with an increase of nearly 10,000 Fair patrons over last year."

The Georgia National Fair was proud to introduce its new Livestock Equine Arena which was used for the first time by Georgia's 4-H and FFA students showing heifers, steers, market swine, breeding gilts, breeding ewes, sheep, commercial dairy heifers, market lambs, and market goats.

"The new show arena was an endorsement of the state's commitment to youth agricultural programs," Moore said. "These junior livestock shows are one of the major reasons the Fairgrounds was built. We are thrilled to host these shows, plus competitions and/or rallies for TSA, FCCLA, and FBLA."

The increase in Fair attendance also was welcome news for the Reithoffer Shows (midway rides), food concessionaires, commercial vendors, and sponsors. Many reported record sales and were pleased with Georgia's Fairgoers. Several vendors and sponsors are anxious to renew their contracts for 2010.

"The Georgia National Fair's phenomenal success is due to the families and their friends who attend the Fair and participate in its many events," Moore said.

The Fair set four days of record attendance: October 8 (up 75 percent), October 9 (17 percent), October 13 (30 percent) and October 18 (11 percent).

The Fair staff looks forward to seeing everyone for the 21st Georgia National Fair,
October 7-17, 2010.

The Georgia National Fair has been designated a "Top 50 Fair" by Amusement Business magazine and www.carnivalwarehouse.com. Since its beginning in 1990, the Georgia National Fair has won 81 awards from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions for its livestock and horse events, competitive exhibits, and communications programs.

The Fair has been designated a Southeast Tourism Society "Top 20 Event for October" 12 times (1991, 1996, 1997, 2000-2007, 2009). The Fair has received one "Special Events Directory and Events Business News Top 200 Event" award (1997). The Fair was designated one of Southern Living magazine's "Our Best 202 Things About the South First-Prize Fair" (2002).