DEL MAR — The 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) and Cloverdale Citrus Fair at Cloverdale have formed a Joint Powers Authority, or JPA, pending final state approval. Tim Fennell, the fair’s general manager and CEO, said that could take three months or longer.
The decision to form the JPA was unanimous during the regular monthly meeting of the 22nd District’s board of directors May 12.
Fennell said Cloverdale is one of two citrus fairs. During Del Mar’s early years it also was tagged as a citrus fair. At that time the county was a major producer of citrus crops.
The main purpose for the JPA, explained Fennell, is to jointly exercise common fair activities related to management powers in the conduct of an agriculture fair and to promote and protect agriculture.
Del Mar currently has JPA agreements with the California Construction Authority and the Race Track Authority. President Kelly Burt and Vice President Barry Nussbaum plus a third person will sit on the JPA’s board of directors.
As reported at the meeting, Katie Phillips, exhibits manager, said a countywide promotion involves an educational fair team that is visiting elementary schools to encourage students to grow vegetables.
This year there are 69 schools and 10,793 students involved including 500 students from Mexico.
In a separate endeavor, 44 retirement facilities and 1,000 senior citizens are also taking part in the project.
All competitors will bring their plants to the fair on designated days to be judged.
George Bradvica, Surfside Race Place manager, reported attendance on Kentucky Derby day exceeded last year’s by 671 persons.
He predicted the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown, also will be well-attended.
There is a full field of 14 horses entered including Rachel Alexander who won the Kentucky Oaks by 20 lengths the day before the Kentucky Derby.
Fair dates are June 12 through July 5.
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