Showtime in Red Oak
RED OAK — Weather that was nice, but not too nice, and the return of a popular radio station promotion helped boost attendance and participation at the 11th annual Red Oak Farm and Home Show Saturday.
According to the official count, more than 900 people came to the Red Oak High School that featured more than 60 vendors from throughout southwest Iowa.
“I think it went very well. It was well organized,” Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association Executive Director Paul Griffen said. “Overall, I thought it was a great day and the event really showcased what we have to offer here in southwest Iowa.”
The Association sponsors the annual March event, designed to give local businesses an opportunity to highlight their products, especially those geared to the upcoming spring and summer seasons.
Participation in terms of vendors and attendees was down last year and Pudgy Pumpkin Patch owner Elaine Hollen noticed a substantial increase in foot traffic this year.
“I thought the crowd was nice throughout the entire show,” she said. “I had been there some years where it would fall off. We had people walking the gym up to the last part of the day and I thought that was good.”
Hollen was selling items from her booth inside the gym but said the show also sparked traffic to her store in Fountain Square Park.
“We had sales we made and people would see things, for instance, if we didn’t have a certain color or school they were looking for, we would hold it for them at the store,” she said. “We had a great day at the shop as well and I think the two were very connected.”
The return of KCSI’s “Rollin in the Dough” promotion was credited with much of the increased attendance. From 11 a.m.-noon, the auditorium was packed with people hoping for a chance at winning the $20,000 grand prize.
Macey Ellis had the first shot at the grand prize, but at the urging of his wife, instead of rolling the dice he took $300 from station owner Jerry Dietz. When he rolled the dice “just for fun,” they turned up K-C-S-I, which would have won him the grand prize.
“That’s okay,” Ellis said after the fact. “I still walked out with $300 more than I walked in with.”
Ellis, a wireless technology specialist with Chat Mobility, was also working the show as a vendor.
He agreed with Hollen’s assessment of the event.
“There were a lot people coming through most of the day,” he said. “We got a lot of potential upgrades and new customers. We were able to get some really solid leads.”
In addition to a shot at $20,000, which no one ended up winning, Hollen also believes the weather was perfect for the event.
“It was a very nice day, but it still wasn’t nice enough to work in your yard as the ground was still frozen, which allowed people to come and see us.”
For Griffen, it was his first year participating in the show in his official capacity as executive director of the sponsoring Association. He said they will be reviewing vendor surveys to determine how to better the event next year with the hopes of bringing more local businesses into the fold.
This year, he said he just tried to stay out of the way and leave the event’s organization to longtime assistant director Jodie Smith.
“My compliments to Jodie and the committee that helps organize this event,” Griffen said. “They did a great job and I’m sure they will continue to do so in the future.”