‘Very Real Possibility’ That the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds Will Close

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RedwoodAcresLanding

Redwood Acres [Image from their website.]

Hello all,

These are difficult and stressful times and the financial outlook for Redwood Acres and all fairgrounds is grim. There is a very real possibility that fairgrounds will be closing, for a better idea of how Redwood Acres is doing, scroll to the bottom of the page for a cash flow statement. Please help advocate for funding for fairgrounds by contacting your local representatives. In Humboldt, our reps are Senator McGuire (https://sd02.senate.ca.gov), Assemblymember Jim Wood (https://a02.asmdc.org/), and Jared Huffman (https://huffman.house.gov/), your voice makes a difference!
Updates:
  • General:
    • I’d like to thank the Junior Livestock Association volunteers, Rex Bohn, American AgCredit, Mercer Fraser, Murphy’s Market, Ray Gomez, Vern’s Furniture, Shafers Ace Hardware, and Recology for pulling together to ensure that all the animals were purchased. I’m grateful for this strong group of volunteers and businesses who keep this community strong!
    • On 6/10 a car drove into a power pole which feeds Redwood Acres, we lost power for the day, though PG&E had the power on by the evening. On 6/30 at 10:30 pm a tree caught fire in the McKay Tract right behind the horse barns. Thankfully the fire department was immediately on the scene and was able to have it out by midnight.
    • We recently launched a new and improved website located at the same address www.redwoodacres.com
  • Events:
    • A virtual stock car race is scheduled for 7/12 with an all-day practice on 7/11. There will be no spectators. Both days should end by 8 pm
    • The Humboldt Flea Market is working to shift the monthly event outdoors and is busily working through the details with DHHS. There will tentatively be a market each month beginning in August.
    • Outlaw Karts have events scheduled for 7/18, 8/8, 9/22, 9/19, 10/3 & 10/4
  • Finances:
    • We are hosting a COVID-19 testing site and an alternative care site. A deal was worked out between the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the Office of Emergency Services, which requires no payment for the usage. While we are happy to be able to play an important part during this crisis, fairgrounds are forced to be financially self-sufficient which makes this a particularly difficult situation.
    • Redwood Acres submitted an application for the Paycheck Protection Program. Initially, this program was not open to organizations like ours, thankfully the rules changed and we’re hoping this works out.
    • Below is the cash flow statement, which indicates that Redwood Acres will run out of money by December. This is a very scary proposition as not only are we the region’s emergency location, we are home to 14 businesses, horse boards, and actively serve the community through hosting and renting out the facility for events. The state has allocated funding to help unwind operations and for the layoff process for fairgrounds that run out of money, yet no funding to keep them open.
cash flowThis is a fluid situation and we are doing our best to push out our timeline as far as possible. We have gone through one round of layoffs and the remaining staff has all reduced their hours and/or wages. We are very lucky to have such fantastic personnel, who are continually asked to do more with less. I’m actively deferring loan payments and seeking new revenue streams. Please don’t forget to contact our local representatives, Jared Huffman, Mike McGuire, and Jim Wood to advocate for Redwood Acres. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
 
Ben Brown, C.E.O.
Redwood Acres Fairgrounds
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48 Comments
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Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago

Wow, it’s almost like social distancing is having an effect on people’s life’s and incomes

Connie Dobbs
Guest
Connie Dobbs
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

If it prevents even one new infection it will all be worth it.

uh
Guest
uh
3 years ago
Reply to  Connie Dobbs

no it wont. 1.5 million people died of TB last year. where was the panic then?

Angela Robinson
Guest
Angela Robinson
3 years ago
Reply to  uh

Uh..mmmm.

In 2018 there was a total of 9025 cases (not deaths) of TB in the United States. In 2017 there were 525 deaths.

https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/statistics/tbtrends.htm#:~:text=In%202018%2C%20a%20total%20of,1.3%25%20decrease%20from%202017).

Worldwide, yes, 1.5 million died.

uh
Guest
uh
3 years ago

that was world wide.

DQ
Guest
DQ
3 years ago
Reply to  uh

Oh, so now it’s TB that’s the metric for a serious pandemic? What happened to the flu? Next month you’ll be talking about whooping cough…

Suggesting that there were 1.5 million TB deaths in the U.S. is clearly bullshit, as another poster has already explained.

People dying for cause
Guest
People dying for cause
3 years ago
Reply to  uh

Seven million “collateral” lives were murdered by the U.S Army bombing errors and murderous soldiers in the past 70 years. No one was arrested for those errant mistakes. Yet in Germany they were. And we are still killing innocent civilians. All those lives could have been avoided if America wasn’t the unauthorized “Charlie Manson” country in the world. Making deaths an example is amusing and laughable through obvious absurdity, incongruity, exaggeration, or eccentricity.

Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Connie Dobbs

What if one child starves to death because of it?

lol ok
Guest
lol ok
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Why would that happen?

lol ok
Guest
lol ok
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

So due to economic downturn, the WFP will not be able to deliver food to these impoverished nations. This will cause 14% increase in the number of people who are facing “crisis levels of hunger or worse”. Makes sense.

I suppose it is a balance of lives lost. Far fewer will be lost if we quarantine than if we dont. Should we value these foreign live as much as Americans? If so, that would be a radical change of tune from conservatives.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  lol ok

If it didn’t matter more than American lives, that would be quite a change for liberals. Now did that piece of matching knee jerk spew help anything?

There’s also spikes in domestic violence, child abuse, suicides, substance abuse, etc. https://www.lowellsun.com/2020/05/31/suicides-overdoses-on-upswing-as-lockdown-drags-on/ A pandemic all by itself raises stress levels with real fears but causing radical disruption in living increases the fall out for those on the edge. Add to that the constant barrage of negativity and how much damage is done beyond that necessarily caused by the disease itself?

Connie Dobbs
Guest
Connie Dobbs
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

This is a time to teach our children what it means to sacrifice for each other.

Lou Dobbs
Guest
Lou Dobbs
3 years ago
Reply to  Connie Dobbs

Not if you’re the one who’s infected.
Everyone knows that you’re a super spreader.

well . . .
Guest
well . . .
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Well of course it is. You will not find a single person who said that it wouldn’t. I just had to send my brother money because he hasn’t gotten unemployment for the self employed, even though he applied, and was approved in April.

It’s really pathetic to strawman people like that.

We have every reason to think that the alternative would be FAR worse.

Smbaloney
Guest
Smbaloney
3 years ago

If you Covid spreading hicks would just wear your masks and wash your hands, quit going places in large groups we could see a sharper decline. Instead you want to point out perceived inaccuracies based on your tinfoil hat wearing conspiracy theories. There’s a difference between facts, and ideology.

Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Smbaloney

If y’all liberals would quit traveling across the nation protesting in mass numbers spreading the plague like crabs at Woodstock

Kari
Guest
Kari
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

And who goes to conventions?

Fast Freddy
Guest
Fast Freddy
3 years ago
Reply to  Smbaloney

You damn hippies at the plaza, smoking weed, not a mask in site, and over forty people gathering we would not have such an issue. Or, the wonderful Farmer’s Market where hundreds of people gather, and some not wearing masks. They sure don’t look like hillbillies. I like that one. How about the outbreak at the childcare centers in Eureka. That hasn’t been mentioned in the news.

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
3 years ago
Reply to  Smbaloney

i think i just read that because people arent going places the problem is the fairgrounds are shutting down

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
3 years ago

I’ve got no problem with Redwood Acres but it should support itself. If I were going to contact my elected officials and ask them to fund something, Redwood Acres would near the bottom of my priority list

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

They are like any other business being prevented from being self supporting by regulations. Only if they go down, they take a whole lot of others with them.

Hmmm
Guest
Hmmm
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

They are NOT “like any other business being prevented from being self supporting”…. not every business is allowing for testing sites and alternative care centers on their grounds and in their facilities… they should get some support for what they are doing for the community.

No Joke
Guest
No Joke
3 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

They had been, up til now. They had a very smart idea a few years ago to make it in to what’s essentially a business park, with commercial kitchens/food and beverage production being one of the main industries based out there. I’ll be making an effort to patronize the businesses that I know are based out there.

cu2morrow
Guest
cu2morrow
3 years ago

no racing !

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
3 years ago
Reply to  cu2morrow

its dangerous and everyone needs to stay safe

well . . .
Guest
well . . .
3 years ago

“Redwood Acres submitted an application for the Paycheck Protection Program. Initially, this program was not open to organizations like ours, thankfully the rules changed and we’re hoping this works out.”

Good. Problem solved. They will definitely get the PPP money by October.

Cat
Guest
Cat
3 years ago

Redwood acres sucks all the people living there all have to move out and fine new places to go but they still want everyone to pay rent which at one point was $675 now it is $710 and then it’s going up to $745 which is absolutely ridiculous for this place because the maintenance doesn’t do s*** here to keep it sanitary or clean up. your Park lady who does nothing but stay down in the barn and deal with her horses it doesn’t do anything either but she doesn’t have to move but everybody else is a trying to figure it out it’s ridiculous

299 Commuter
Guest
299 Commuter
3 years ago

Their budget might be in better shape if they didn’t charge so much for fair entrance every year. We haven’t attended in many years because it is too expensive for what they provide. Also, try to store a boat or trailer there. They make you pay for the months that you can’t use it because you have pay to hold the spot. Humboldt Co Fairgrounds doesn’t charge for the unused months so guess where our stuff is during the winter.
Poor management.

margot bray
Guest
margot bray
3 years ago

Since they raised thee price on entrance fees I have not gone. Put an announcement about wearing masks and wash stations and lowering the price and I’m there.

Tom Paine
Guest
Tom Paine
3 years ago

This is the absolute destruction of our traditions and way of life by the Medical Industrial Complex and Agenda 21 types and their state and local agents. The globalist harpies like Greta and Angela want America on its knees, and worse. Socialism and fascism is their mental disease. A leading climate change advocate has turned truther and refutes all the fake sky is falling SCIENCE. He’s writing a book showing how it’s all a sham. He’ll be destroyed by the harpies of hate. Taking away our local institutions like toppling our statues is the real hate crime. This is utter cultural and philosophical savagery. ENOUGH.
We are at war. The lines have been drawn. The enemy is all around and among us. Patriots need to rise up. The hideous creatures hiding behind their rainbow colored masks are traitors and insurrectionists. The hysterical oldsters afraid to die after a lifetime of adhering to communist doctrines need to get out of the way or suffer the consequences. The counter revolution begins today.

Hank
Guest
Hank
3 years ago
Reply to  Tom Paine

Google Covid-19 and Blood Clots in 30 and 40 year olds with no co-morbidities.
Google permanent lung damage from those who have recovered from it including young athletic people with no co-morbidities. .
Google the virus’ mutations: NY’s came from Italy, CA’s originally came from China.
Google latest mutation of US Covid-19 has a greater ability to transfer than earlier versions because the virus’ spikes don’t break off as often as the earlier versions.

Inquiring Mind
Guest
Inquiring Mind
3 years ago
Reply to  Tom Paine

Critical thinking goes a long way …
https://youtu.be/-_qMdSBu9Hk

Jim Brickley
Guest
Jim Brickley
3 years ago
Reply to  Tom Paine

Russian Bot much?

😷
Guest
😷
3 years ago

How are monthly expenses so high? I’m sure it’s a dumb question but really?

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  😷

The utilities alone are thousands of dollars per month. Timers for the lights were put in horse barns and other places to try to reduce usage of lights. The rv park and race track must use large amounts of electricity as well as water. If households use $100-200 or more per month, it boggles the mind to think of their bill.

Lurch
Guest
Lurch
3 years ago
Reply to  😷

This was my first thought as well. Monthly expenses are incredibly high, and no explanation why or where the money is going. When having financial problems the first thing to look at is expenses and how to cut them. Tighten the belt. so to speak…. Businesses need to think outside of the box with the pandemic situation, how can the fairgrounds spend less and make more? I have only been to the holiday market and the flea market at the fairgrounds, so I am not completely familiar with the layout and what is available there. With more information, it is possible that someone could come up with a perfect money making idea!

Ben Round
Guest
Ben Round
3 years ago

I’m sure glad the stimulus money went to companies owned by Jared Kushner, Trump, Mitch McConnell’s wife’s family, etc., etc., etc., instead of community resources like this. 🙁

Jennifer's Walled Garden
Guest
Jennifer's Walled Garden
3 years ago
Reply to  Ben Round

Don’t forget Gavvy’s Plumpjack, Benny Boy!
Full stop.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Ben Round

Imagine that- a forgivable loan to businesses that use the money to maintain payrolls and pay. Written by the Democrat majority House to help businesses keep and pay employees while they are forced to suspend business due corona virus shut downs. Yup- it certainly would have been better if the Democrats had restricted payments to only Democrat businessmen. That would have shown Trump.

Ben Round
Guest
Ben Round
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Who said anything about ‘restricting loans to Democrats’? Just offer the loans/ PPP funds to organizations that support communities like ours. The BIG boys have DEEP pockets that they can use!

Ceya Darwin
Guest
Ceya Darwin
3 years ago

This is not an emergency situation for the vast majority of Americans (under 70 without comorbidities

If you are at risk then shelter. If not roll the dice like we do with all of life’s normal risks.

Just The Tip
Guest
Just The Tip
3 years ago
Reply to  Ceya Darwin

👏

Watchdog
Guest
Watchdog
3 years ago

Too much in state salaries for a group of State employees that cannot understand basic revenue vs. expenses. It is amazing how well Redwood Acres did before the State of California entered the picture. Don’t blame this on the pandemic; it was inevitable. The State of California couldn’t survive in any real business venture.

JDS
Guest
JDS
3 years ago

Hello can we talk about solutions to save the fair grounds! Solution people

Serena
Guest
Serena
3 years ago

Are they still holding the covid-19 testing event starting july 14? Please yes cause it’s the only place that has the testing cant go back to work intill me and my husband get tested our appointments are on the 15th. Really going crazy want to go back to work I’m not even sick or have it but being made to test. Anyone know of any other place who may be testing? Please let me know thank u.

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
3 years ago

Website with past fair videos. Spotlight section highlighting vendors, animals, entertainers. Online store for shopping for T shirts, sweatshirts. Work with the local college to teach business classes or event management via the fairgrounds faciities and pre existing infastructure.
🐴🐷🐄🐏🐰🐓🐝🚜🌞❤🥒🌶

Everyone kick in ten bucks
Guest
Everyone kick in ten bucks
3 years ago

Would a “go fund me page” be legal for Redwood Acres? I don’t know the requirements for that. Who monitor’s the collections? Would Redwood Bank work as a deposit for the money? Redwood Acres has been a long tradition in Humboldt County. Be a shame to see it go belly up and some commercial developer buy it and build something few county residents would use.