Lake Co. Fair boss: Event was an 8 of 10

While acknowledging problems such as traffic congestion and parking hassles, a top Lake County Fair official on Monday seemed generally pleased with the recent event.

David DeYoung, president of the Lake County Fair Association, rated the fair - which moved to new grounds in Grayslake this year - an 8 out of 10.

But with 137,796 people walking the grounds over the course of the fair, which ended Sunday, attendance was down more than 12 percent from 2008. DeYoung wasn't sure why the figure dropped, but said the economy and rainy evening weather could be to blame.

He also wondered if the decision to charge children admission was a factor. Previously, when children got in free, the state used a formula to estimate how many kids attended the show, he said.

DeYoung snapped back at the fairgoers who criticized the traffic tie-ups at the fair's Peterson Road entrance. Some of those complaints appeared on dailyherald.com.

"We're the biggest show in Lake County. We're the only show in Lake County. And it's a little disappointing that people don't have any patience," he said.

DeYoung and other fair officials acknowledged some structures, such as a ticket building, weren't ready when the fair opened last week.

"But what was our alternative - not to have a Lake County Fair and break that tradition?" DeYoung said.

The death of a horse in the rodeo marred Saturday night's proceedings, but fair officials and the rodeo organizer called it an accident. The horse had to be euthanized after it stepped on a rope around its neck, which forced it to the ground and caused a neck injury, officials said.

The condition of the ring was not a factor, fair board Director Bill Obenauf said. Bob Barnes, owner of the Barnes PRCA Rodeo Co., also said the grounds and the ring weren't factors.

On a positive note, DeYoung was thrilled people stuck around for Saturday night's concert despite the evening's rainfall.

"Our concert was full on Saturday night," he said. "Probably 6,000 or 7,000 people watched that concert."

After thanking volunteers, supporters and his staff, DeYoung pledged improvements for next year's fair and those beyond.

"We did our best," he said. "It's going to get better every year."