Fair Association distributes wristband funds

Citizen Staff
Saturday, September 25, 2010

 More than $7,000 raised through the sale of $1 wristbands to those who drank alcohol at the Dodge County Fair was donated to six organizations on Friday morning. Seated from left are Devin Sellnow of Dodge County Emergency Response Team; Mike Devitt, Badger Honor Flight; Teri McMillan, Badger Honor Flight; Kelly McMillan, Badger Honor Flight; and Doug Ninmann, Shop with Cops. Standing from left are Dale Schmidt, Dodge County Law Enforcement Explorer Post; Michael Matoushek, Moraine Park Technical College Corrections Club; Sharon Keil of the Dodge County Fair Association; Jim Schoenike of the Dodge County Fair Association; Ryan Zukowski of the Wisconsin Troopers Association and Randy Kind of the Wisconsin Troopers Association

JUNEAU - More than $7,000 raised through the sale of $1 wristbands to those who drank alcohol at the Dodge County Fair was donated to six organizations on Friday morning.

Sale of the wristbands was new this year and drew some criticism, but Fair Association President Jim Schoenike said the system was a success and will remain in place for the 2011 fair.

"It turned out to be a positive thing," Schoenike said. "It did help our servers, it did help our supervisors."

A press release from the Fair Association pointed out that numerous fairs, festivals and picnics use a similar system.

Those who attended the fair who wanted to consume alcoholic beverages had to purchase the $1 wristbands and wear them. That allowed for ID checks to take place once instead of repeatedly by alcohol servers.

It also raised funds that were donated to charity. Organizations receiving checks on Friday were Shop with Cops, Moraine Park Tech Corrections Club, Dodge County Emergency Response Team, Dodge County Sheriff's Dept. Explorers, Badger Honor Flight and the Wisconsin State Troopers Association.

For next year, the Fair Association is actively seeking service groups and clubs to provide manpower for checking IDs and putting on the wristbands. Any organization that has an interest can find contact information at http://www.dodgecountyfairgrounds.com/contact.html or can send information about their group to PO Box 654, Beaver Dam WI 53916.