NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas State Fair Board heard a presentation from Tom Thebault with North American Midway Entertainment Saturday morning.
"We were like $9000 off from last year's Friday, but certainly up from 2019," Thebault said. "We hit the million dollar mark and we've got two days to go."
Thebault always supplements his traveling crew with local people, but said he probably didn't hire enough. He also said the traveling crew is really top notch this year.
"They do a great job representing us on the rides," Thebault said. "They also do a great job getting us moved. Some years, that doesn't happen so well."
There are two income thresholds where the company gives money back to the board for improvements in that area of the fairgrounds. They are at $1 million and $1.5 million in sales. The carnival set a record in 2021 at $1.7 million.
"I like what you are doing with the new blacktop surface," Thebault said. "It looks great, you know?"
He'd like to see work continue on that, if possible. The board also said earlier this week that they'd like to work on getting additional shade available on the midway in future years.