PLYMOUTH, CA. When the lawns at the Amador County Fairgrounds were becoming brown and unsightly just a few weeks before the annual Fair in 2013, there wasn't much the staff could do. The famous street of brightly colored zinnia flowers was in jeopardy and green lawns for Fair guests to enjoy were fading away.

The Amador Fair, located in the City of Plymouth, depends on city water for its needs. The lack of funding has hit the Fair in many different ways and one of those ways is how to pay for utilities. The water cost at the Amador County Fair is equivalent to gold prices! Yes, a little overstated, but the amount of water needed for irrigation of the big lawns and landscape can be over the top in cost. How the community stepped in to save the day resulted in a First Place Award for Crisis Management from the Western Fairs Association. The Western Fairs Association awards program is one of the most prestigious in the Fair industry.

Local resident, Elden Wait, reached out to the fair and offered unlimited water from his property about 4 miles from the fairgrounds, but the Fair would have to find a way to haul that water. Clayton Gregory at Great Water offered their water truck services for minimal cost and the Amador County Fair Foundation offered to pay for the hauling costs to get the water to the fairgrounds and onto the dying lawns and plants.

Truck by truckload, water started coming in ten hours a day for more than a week - hauling, dumping and going back for more. The City of Plymouth stepped up and offered water from a hydrant with the help of the local fire department to keep the Fair's holding tank full at a very reduced cost when they learned what a predicament the Fair was facing with just days to go before the Fair opened.

Thanks to Elden Wait for the water, Great Water for the hauling, the City of Plymouth for stepping up in the crisis, and the Foundation and friends, the crisis was averted and the Fair opened with green lawns and beautiful flower gardens.

"We have seen over and over how the community loves the Amador County Fair and they step up when the going is tough. We continue to work diligently to save the Fair following the extreme funding cuts by the State and we believe the citizens of Amador County can do the job!" stated Troy Bowers, CEO. "As our 2014 theme affirms – "There's No Place Like Home" in Amador County.

In addition, the Fair was awarded a first place for Innovative Marketing, second place for color newspaper ads, their 75th Anniversary poster and the Baxter Black Foundation event. Third place awards were received for radio advertising and black and white newspaper ads.

For more information on the Amador County Fair visit AmadorCountyFair.com. The Fair will be held July 24-27.