Heine elected to guide Nebraska Fair Managers Association
PUBLISHED FEB. 1, 2023 Written by Mark Mahoney Cedar County News HARTINGTON
It is fair to say Greg Heine is a fan of fairs. The rural St. Helena man was elected as the president of the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers Board of Directors on Jan. 22 in Kearney.
Heine, the Cedar County Fair Board president, noted he is looking forward to working with fair managers across Nebraska in his new statewide position.
“I have a lot of friends across the state that I met from being on the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers,” Heine said.
“I also learn a lot that I can bring back to the Cedar County Fair and share information with other fairs to help each other,” he said.
Heine will serve for two years as the board president for the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers. The position will require the 40-year-old to periodically travel throughout the state to county fairs and regional district meetings.
“I will lead in the organizing of the annual state convention, as well as assisting counties with finding the tools and information to help their county fairs be successful,” Heine said. He has served for six years on the 12-member board for the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers, including as its vice president for the past two.
Heine has enjoyed having the opportunity to help communities across the state have better events and help their fairs grow.
“I have learned what not to do and what makes a fair successful,” Heine said. “We try and help each other and look out for each other.”
He noted his wife, Lyndsey, has played an important part while he has served on the board for the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers. “She has been helping out for the past six years with the annual convention with setting (up) slideshows that showcase all of the 90-plus fairs throughout Nebraska,” Heine said.
He explained how his tenure as the Cedar County Fair Board president – he is entering his 11th year in the position – has helped him as a board member for the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers. “It helps me appreciate the time and work that goes into each county fair across the state and hopefully find how the statewide board can help us all,” Heine said.
He noted he has enjoyed serving on the Cedar County Fair Board because of the people he gets to meet and work with.
“There is a lot of work and time commitment throughout the year to make a fair work, but having a great board like we do in Cedar County makes it easy,” Heine said. Heine, the plant manager for the Michael Foods facility in Norfolk, noted preparations continue for the 2023 Cedar County Fair, which is scheduled for July 19-23 in Hartington. “I look forward to seeing the crowds and working with everyone that helps to put on the event,” Heine said.
Gabby Barrett, Cooper Alan to headline Cedar Co. Fair
Published December 21, 2022 | Cedar County News
HARTINGTON — The Cedar County Ag Society announced two of its three July concerts — both million-selling country music artists.
Multi-platinum country star Gabby Barrett will be the headlining performer on Saturday, July 22.
Barrett was originally scheduled to play here in 2021, but had to cancel at the last minute because of pneumonia.
The Cedar County Fair was scheduled to have country singer Gabby Barrett perform on Sunday, but she has contracted pneumonia and had to back out of the show. Chris Lane, who thrilled crowds here in 2018, replaced her on the Cedar County stage. Barrett's star has only risen since she was originally booked to play in Hartington.
Barrett was the the most-nominated country music female at the 2021 American Music Awards.
She’s been named Billboard’s Top New Country Artist of 2020; an Amazon Music Breakthrough artist and was even named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Music. Her songs have been at the top of the Billboard Country Music Charts since 2018. Her first hit, 'I Hope,' hit number three on the Billboard charts. She followed that up with 'The Good Ones,' which peaked at 19 on the Billboard charts. Her latest single, 'Pick Me Up,' spent 18 weeks on the Billboard charts this summer.
Cooper Alan isn't as widely known, but Cedar County Ag Society President Greg Heine doesn't think it will take long before he is just as well known for his music. He independently built a fanbase of over 8.5 million social media followers and has earned over 80 million streams on his music. Originally from Winston Salem, NC, he spent his high school and college years playing bars, college campuses, and Honky Tonks all across the Carolinas. Cooper’s hit singles include “New Normal”, “Tough Ones”, “Colt 45 (Country Remix)”, “Can’t Dance”, and many more.
His songs have reached number one on the iTunes Charts multiple times. Last year, he started his own record label (Cooped Up Records) and began to translate his social media audience into well attended live shows, selling out venues all across the country. Because of his streaming and live touring success, he was named a “Next Big Thing” artist by Music Row Magazine.
THE CARNIVAL IS BACK!
Cedar County Fair Board signs Nebraska-based company
Published FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | Cedar County News,
HARTINGTON – This year's Cedar County Fair is not only expected to return to normal with a full slate of musical and family entertainment, but the fair will also feature something that's been missing the pat few years - a top quality midway and carnival.
Cedar County Ag Society President, Greg Heine, said the Fair Board has signed River City Carnival of St. Paul, Neb., to operate its carnival at the Cedar County Fairgrounds this year.
Some area residents may already be familiar with the third-generation Nebraska company , as they have operated the carnival at the Wayne County Fair for the past several years.
River City Carnivals will bring 10-13 rides to town and operate them on Thursday through Sunday of Fair Week [ July 14th - July 18th, 2021].
Heine said the carnival includes, " a really nice lit up ferris wheel, and rides for younger kids and older kids. They'll also have a good assortment of game and food stands."
Heine said he's very happy they could come to an agreement with the carnival.
"We're glad to get them, they are a class operation. I think people will like them," he said.
Heine said the search to find a quality carnival that is able to make its schedule mesh with that of the Cedar County Fair has been very difficult.
" It's been a real challenge. I've been talking to about 70 different carnivals from 12 different states. We are very excited to have them. We think they will be a very good carnival," he said. "Finally, we found the perfect fit."
Finding a new carnival was also made more difficult by the fact that many of the small carnivals from the Midwest alone have gone out of business in the past five years, " he said. "When a carnival goes out of business, that means more fairs and events are scrambling to replace them."
Heine said the company has been in business for 75 years and mostly toured the south in the past. It's a very clean, competent operation, he said.
"They have a better management team than a lot of carnivals and they keep their equipment much nicer and cleaner than a lot of them," he said. "You can just tell by how they take care of their machinery and equipment, that's kind of how you take care of the people, too."
This is just part of the plan to beef up this year's Cedar County Fair.
Fair Board members announced late last year they will expand their entertainment line-up, adding a third night of concerts to the Fair, transforming Fair weekend into the CedarStock Music Fest.
Up and coming country music singer Gabby Barrett has been signed to take the stage Sunday, July 18. She will add to the already star-studded line-up of Lanco on Friday, July 16, and Jimmy Allen on Saturday, July 17.
The five-day Cedar County Fair will open Wednesday, July 14 and run through Sunday, July 18. The three-day CedarStock Music Fest concert series will be presented Friday through Sunday, as part of the Fair.
Cedar County Fair Presents “CEDARSTOCK” Music Fest
Lanco, Jimmie Allen, and Gabby Barrett to Headline 3 Day Concert Series
Published November 11, 2020
HARTINGTON – The Cedar County Fair announces the addition of a third headline concert, Gabby Barrett on Sunday, July 18th, to their already star-studded line-up of Lanco Friday, July 16th, and Jimmy Allen Saturday, July 17th.
The five-day Cedar County Fair will be held Wednesday, July 14th – Sunday, July 18th with the 3-day concert series, CedarStock Music Fest, presenting Friday through Sunday.
Barrett, who finished third on ABC’s American Idol in 2018, was nominated for “Best New Female Artist of the Year” at the September ACM awards - will be performing her top 10 single “I Hope” on November 11that the CMAs, at which she is also nominated for 2020 CMA Single of the Year.
Vice President, John Brodersen added, “With all the unknowns following 2020, we are still looking at schedule changes but are excited to add CedarStock Music Fest as an annual event to our fair.”
In the wake of the 2020 pandemic, the Cedar County Fair successfully held a scaled down “hybrid” version the fair while following the restrictions established by the Nebraska Department of Health.
Board member, Alissa Bartling commented, “As disheartened as we were to postpone our headline events, we consider 2020 a great success, learning experience, and overall – an opportunity for us to get back to the heart of what the Cedar County Fair is about and really focus on our area youth programs and enhancing events.”
As the Cedar County Ag Society plans for next year, they are optimistic navigating the uncertainty of what 2021 will bring, while remaining focused on the overall safety for youth, fair attendees, ticket holders, volunteers, and board members.
Greg Heine, Cedar County Ag Society President, commented, “not delivering is just not an option for us,” he said. “As a small community fair we have the ability to be flexible and opportunistic, so we will continue to reshape and improve the Cedar County Fair within whatever boundaries we have to work with. We owe it to the people of our county and beyond.”
He continued, with 2020 concert events having been brought to a standstill, the Cedar County Ag Society is dedicated to bring optimism and hope to the area. The Ag Society, like many fairs and festivals, are embracing technology to make them safer, including the decision to expand their digital ticket purchase options and extending their online ticket sale dates.
Ticket purchase options for “Cedarstock” and the 3-day concert line-up will go on sale Black Friday, November 27th, just in time to make your holiday ticket purchases. Prices and packages will also be announced at that time.
Cedar County Ag Society announces Gabby Barrett set to headline Sunday, July 18 at Cedar County Fair