There is a lot at stake for the University, the City of Lincoln and the State Fair Board and Foundation in considering a move of the fair from its 106-year-old home. Even though Grand Island's prospects in the quest are brightening with each passing day, the dream is only in a formative stage with many questions yet to be answered.

Nonetheless, as long as we are dreaming, here are 10 good reasons why Grand Island is the best place for the State Fair:

1) The economic benefits of shared operational expenses would be substantial. The year- round staffing, maintenance and operational expenses of the Nebraska State Fair could be substantially reduced by co-locating operations with Fonner Park. Both complexes cover more than 240 acres and contain numerous buildings, expansive roadways and parking facilities, etc. Consolidation of the staffing and management of events and facilities could be worked out to the economic advantage of both enterprises.

2) Grand Island would take the fair back to its rural roots. Excitement is building around re-envisioning the State Fair to tie back to its blue ribbon values but also add attractions for a new technologically-adapted generation. Currently 82 percent of the attendance at the fair comes from Lincoln's mostly urban residents. Grand Island has proven that it can draw visitors from all over the Midwest and beyond for Husker Harvest Days. An outstate location would be more accessible and appealing to rural residents and ultimately provide a greater balance between urban and rural attendees.

3) A win-win-win-win scenario for the State Fair, the University, Lincoln and Nebraska taxpayers is made possible with a Grand Island move. Moving the fair opens up land adjacent to the UNL campus for the proposed research/innovation park, thus fueling a new tier of investment in the state which in turn places higher value property in the University's holdings and enhances tax revenues for the City of Lincoln.

4) Starting over sets the stage for fair of the future. Moving the fair makes more sense than spending $30 million to patch up an aged and outdated infrastructure or the $94 million proposed for the East Lincoln site. The Fonner Park proposal starts with an essential spectrum of core fair-adaptable assets, all in good condition, and opens a clean palette of possibilities to fulfill the State Fair Board's well-thought-out concept for the future. State fairs all over the country have cast aside old thinking and developed creative new venues. At no time in the Nebraska State Fair's history have so many forward-looking ideas been presented for consideration.

5) The State Fair is a natural compliment to Husker Harvest Days. The Farm Progress folks have expressed support for the move of the fair to Grand Island and recognize the possible synergies. The growing and phenomenally successful Husker Harvest Days is centered primarily on crop production and mechanical exposition. The State Fair's agricultural focus is on livestock and equine events and activities. Any crossover dealing with the exhibition of agricultural machinery, equipment, buildings, technology, etc. would help both events and also provide vendors and exhibitors by allowing them to piggy-back on two events staged in close geographic proximity.

6) Diversifying the location of government interests is good for the entire state. Moving the fair 90 miles to the west and some of the state's investment away from Lincoln and Omaha helps in some measure to bridge the age-old rural-urban divide. Revenues derived from the University's future development at State Fair Park would most certainly replace any economic loss caused by the fair moving out of Lincoln.

7) Grand Island's world-renowned agricultural brands provide instant marketing. Grand Island is world headquarters for some of the biggest brands in agriculture. Case New Holland, Global Industries and Chief have all placed Grand Island on the map. Mutual benefits would transfer between marketing and outreach done by those and other Grand Island-based companies and the marketing of the State Fair.

8) Tri-City regionalism moves up a notch. Although Central Nebraska regionalism isn't a priority for the State Fair, the University or the City of Lincoln, we believe that what's good for Central Nebraska is good for the whole state. Leaders in area towns have awakened to the far-reaching economic impact that the fair would bring to the area. Restaurants, hotels, retail stores and attractions throughout the region would benefit from the more than $13 million spent each year by fair goers with more than $9 million going into local tax coffers.

9) Grand Island already has a race track. Fonner Park is not only home to a first-class thoroughbred racing facility and brand new Heartland Events Center, but the grounds include some $35 million in total assets, lessening by that amount the money needed for re-investment in an alternative solution.

10) The Grand Island option is the only one that makes economic sense. The net economic impact that would result from moving the fair to Grand Island cannot be known at this point; however, the Grand Island option allows the University to move forward with its innovation park plans, sets in motion the next steps for fulfillment of the future vision for the State Fair and stands to secure a more solid financial footing for an event that Nebraskan's have deemed important enough to support when put to a vote. Fonner Park's compatible, already-in-place assets and ideal setting make it the only sensible option.

Senator Erdman's Ag Committee will meet in executive session next Wednesday to continue discussion on the fate of the State Fair. We applaud the hard work of Grand Island's fair ambassadors and the firms providing support for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Regardless of the outcome, Grand Island's stock has risen.