Tear Down Of Tulsa State Fair A Massive Operation

By Lacie Lowry, The News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Expo Square only has five days from the end of the fair to the start of the set-up for the U.S. Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show.

The massive tear down operation started less than 24 hours after the Fair ended. To get it done, Expo Square hires temporary workers for extra manpower.

"They'll move all the trucks in right away and just go to work right away and it's 'quick and get out of here fast," said Chuck West, Fair Vendor.

The most visible reminder of the fair is all the trash left behind from 840 vendors and thousands of fair-goers.

"We have maintenance out here about 24 hours a day, cleaning, setting up," said Sarah Thompson, Expo Square.

The horse show uses every facility at the fairgrounds, so there's no time to waste.

"We have dirt and stalls moving in to quite a few of our facilities, including the Quik Trip Center," Thompson said.

Jim Clark has worked the Tulsa State Fair for 21 years. He had three ice cream booths on the fairgrounds this year.

"It takes us about a day and we'll get everything out and torn down and put away. All the fair workers have to be out by 5 p.m. Tuesday," said Jim Clark, Fair Vendor.

This is the third time the fairgrounds has done this particular turnaround.

"In the Super Duty Arena, you'll be able to see stalling and the Arabian horse shows. In Central Park Hall, we'll also have stalling and of course in the Quik Trip Center, there'll be stalling and warm-up arenas," Thompson said.

After working out the kinks the first two times, organizers say five days is plenty.

Thompson says the Arabian Horse Show has a $33 million economic impact in the Tulsa community.

The show starts next Thursday and runs through October 30th.

10/10/2010 Related story: Tulsa State Fair Ends On High Note