Mason — The cinnamony scent of fried elephant ears sizzling on the grill seems the same, and so do the bright lights of the Ferris wheel in the night sky.
Even so, much has changed behind the scenes at the Ingham County Fair.
For the first year, the Ingham County Fair Board has hired Skerbeck Brothers Shows Inc. to run the carnival.
Joe Skerbeck co-owns the carnival company with his brother, Bill. Their great-great-grandfather founded the business in Europe about 150 years ago, and their great-grandfather brought the business to Wisconsin in 1881.
Bill's son, Bob Skerbeck, a 2006 MSU graduate, may be the next in line, Joe said. Growing up, the family traveled to festivals and fairs each summer.
"As a kid, I probably saw fireworks three nights a week," Bob Skerbeck said. "Grandstand shows like tractor pulls and demolition derbies with my family are some of the fonder memories I have of growing up."
Board member Connie Krebs said the fair organizers decided on Skerbeck Bros., based in Escanaba, Mich., when the contract with the previous carnival company expired.
"The company is family owned, 98 percent of their employees are Michigan residents and they really seemed like they would provide the family-oriented time we want," Krebs said.
Skerbeck shows his children and grandchildren pictures of the company - dating back to the 1880s - in hopes the business will stay in the family.
The company runs about 55 county fairs, festivals and other events each year, mostly in Michigan.
With enough space for 30 rides and tents for ball and ballon dart games, the Ingham County Fair is one of the bigger events the company works, Skerbeck said.
More than 100,000 people come to the six-day fair each year for the carnival rides, 4-H shows, petting zoo and other fair activities, said Mike Prelesnik, Ingham County Fair Board president.
Prelesnik, a 1996 MSU graduate, has been a member of the fair board for a decade. The board's 13 members are appointed by the county's commissioners, but it supports itself.
"We don't use any money from the county's general fund," Prelesnik said. "We generate our own revenue, hire our own staff and pay our own improvements, which we're pretty proud of."
The fair generates $3 million, which helps boost Mason's economy, fair manager Tom Edman said.
The fair board filled the two commercial barns on the fairgrounds with vendors this year, which hasn't always happened in the past, Prelesnik said.
Businesses sold blankets, lawn mowers and jewelry, among other items, and two groups began selling presidential candidates.
The Ingham County Republicans and Ingham County Democratic Party boasted matching blue booths complete with campaign signs.
Norm Shinkle, chairman of the Ingham County Republicans, said the two booths used to be erected across from each other until someone complained. Usually, everyone gets along though, he said.
"It's really good-natured because it's more of an information-gathering opportunity to find out how people feel about issues," Shinkle said.
Nate Triplett, a 2006 MSU graduate, helped run the Democrat's booth. He reiterated his rival party's description of the role the fair plays in the upcoming campaign.
"It's a good opportunity to recruit new members or get people who have been active in the party interested in volunteering," Triplett said.
