Pocatello kicks off annual spring fair

Hundreds of people have been streaming into Idaho State University’s Holt Arena on Thursday for this year’s Pocatello Spring Fair.

This three-day festival is kicking-off the spring, drawing hundreds of people into the venue to scope-out the 240 businesses on display.

But this year, there is an increase in local vendors who are supporting the Idaho economy.

Sandy Anderson is a representative from the Boise-based nonprofit organization Buy Idaho and is attending the fair to support local businesses.

“When Idaho businesses support one another and the community supports Idaho businesses, it makes our community unique and special,” Anderson said.

Chuck Joy is one vendor who has been cooking-up a success story of his own after he launched his latest creation, Fat Daddy’s BBQ Sauce, one year ago. Since then, Joy said his Idaho-made product has skyrocketed to the big markets.

“Folks want to buy and support local products,” Joy said as he attributed his success to the ‘buy local’ movement.

Anderson says she is seeing an increase in the ‘buy local’ trend over the past few years.

“People are more conscientious about buying local,” Anderson said. “They look for ‘made in Idaho’, ‘made in America’, ‘made in Pocatello’, and really try to be more local about who they do business with.”

This event was started by the Pocatello Chamber of Commerce years ago, but in 1990, Raven Productions took over and opened the fair up to the public.

Kate Delate is a co-owner of Raven Productions, and said she is already seeing this as its most successful year.

“We’ve sold out earlier this year than we have in many, many, many, many years,” Delate said. “I think that is a great economic impact.”

Delate also said this is not just about showcasing businesses, but about the fair itself helping push the city of Pocatello further toward the green.

“A lot of the vendors pay for hotel rooms, they buy gasoline, they buy products here, and they buy supplies here, so it really has an impact on the Pocatello market,” Delate said.

Delate estimates more than 60-percent of the vendors attending this event are either local or Idaho-based companies.

Admission is one dollar at the door and the fair ends Saturday at 7 p.m.

Follow Kaitlin on Twitter: @KaitlinLoukides