Dane Dugan: Not just hanging out at the fair

Remember how the world looked when you were 9 years old sitting in the back seat of Grandpa's car and headed off to the state fair?

Good as it gets, right?

Well, when you meet Dane Dugan, general manager of the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo, it's clear he considers his job a way to hang out at the fair - 365 glorious days a year.

According to Merlin Berger, past president of the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo Foundation, "Dane was chosen (for the job) because of his enthusiasm. He's seasoned well beyond his age and he just has a tremendous can-do attitude. Also, he's got this ability to work with everybody and make them glad they're involved."

Raised in Stevensville, Mont., Dugan became general manager of the North Idaho Fair in October 2012. Following is an interview conducted at the fairgrounds.

What were your first memories of going to the fair?

I could hardly stand to wait for it when I was little. I'd sometimes make myself sick with anticipation to the point where I didn't get to go at all because I was so sick.

I'm a country boy and was raised on a cattle and hay operation. For me, the fair was a getaway - one week a year when you're not in school and not having to work on the farm.

The Ravalli County Fairgrounds (in Montana) was a magic place for me.

What did you love best?

When I was really little, it was the rides and the food and the fun - it's that special and unique experience you don't get the rest of the year. But as I got older, it became more about the people - seeing people you didn't get to see the rest of the year because they'd been out on their farms or ranches.

Lots of kids love the fair, but few become the general manager of one. What headed you in that direction?

I feel I was born to do the job I'm doing today. When I was young, I was an exhibitor at the fair - I showed 4-H hogs. I'd also volunteer a lot and started a youth group that did projects like building gardens. I was always doing projects around the fairgrounds.

Was it hard on you to give up your prize animal for sale? I've known more than one 4-H kid to take his animal right back home with him at the end of the day.

When I had my first market hog - I was maybe 10 - I had that very issue. My hog's name was Sarah and I remember carving her name on the beam in the barn. The thing is that they become your friend.

I think people who grow up on farms and ranches have a better understanding of life and death, because you're always working with animals. If everybody took their animals back home with them, no one would have anything to eat. I'm thankful for my 4-H experience because it taught me about owning a business and I rely on those skills every day now.

Do you have a philosophy about how a fair should be run?

The fair should be a reflection of the community it's in. People come to experience the same sense of community today that I enjoyed when I was a kid. It's about the people mainly. Every time you have events where you have groups and organizations, it's exciting. What's better than getting people together for a cause you believe in?

How did you end up in Coeur d'Alene?

About three years ago, I took some time off professionally to take care of my grandmother in Spokane. I kept searching for fair jobs around here - I was working down in the Bay Area at the time and wanted to be closer to home. But as is the trend in this industry, jobs don't come open very often because they're such great jobs. Then, last year during the North Idaho Fair, I got interviewed for this job.

I feel like the luckiest person alive, and I really mean that. I always tell people that if going to work doesn't feel like going to work, it's a good fit and that's what happened to me.

Would you have accepted a job back East?

There's something special about the West and about the Northwest in particular. The people here are down to earth. I really enjoy the rural aspects of this community and I think it's one of the things that makes this fair special.

So that would be a no, then?

Probably a no.

What challenges does the fairgrounds currently face?

Our two biggest priorities are producing a first-rate fair and ensuring that the facility gets utilized during the rest of the year.

When people think of the fairgrounds, they think first and foremost of the fair. It's crucial that people understand we're here year-round for other events.

We need to get our buildings used more. We're a budget-friendly venue and we can do things such as wedding receptions and small business parties. We have a lot of flexibility and are there for both indoor and outdoor events.

I really like that we do a lot of fundraisers here - charitable kinds of things. I like those events because it's fulfilling the purpose of what the facility is here for - a community events center.

What about the money?

I believe we're one of this community's greatest assets, yet one of the common misconceptions about us is that the majority of our budget comes from tax dollars and it's not true. Less than 6 percent of our budget comes from the county commission budget and the rest of what we operate on comes from the annual fair and our renting out the facility. The majority (of our money) goes to producing the fair. It's very costly.

There's talk of a new event center in Riverstone. Would this be a threat to the fairgrounds?

Anything that brings people here to the community is wonderful. Are we threatened by it? Not necessarily. I think we'll always have a specific market - pricewise we're on the lower end for people. In our arena, we can seat about 2,500 people. We're going to stick to what we're good at.

What are the nuts and bolts statistics of the fairgrounds?

We have 83 acres total. If you put all the barns and buildings together, you'd have around 100,000 square feet of space. Our most heavily used buildings have about 16,500 square feet each.

What's your secret for a successful fair?

We're really heavily reliant on volunteers. I walked into a great situation here. A lot of volunteers have worked here for 10-plus years. Everyone has their part of the fair that they like to take care of, like maybe the competitive exhibits department. We're reliant on their passion and dedication to do it.

People may say to their friends, "Oh, I always take that week off. I'm on vacation." But they don't go on vacation - they come here to the fair and work at, say, the elephant-ear booth. We've got hundreds of volunteers just like that.

How does the fair change from year to year?

The theme changes, for one thing. This year it's "Everything Under the Sun." And the entertainment, of course, changes, too.

What stays the same is that after buying an admission ticket for less than $10, you can get free stage entertainment, strolling acts, community bands, free exhibits and free bleacher seating for night shows.

The family environment here is something people comment on all the time. Parents say, "I don't have to worry if I take my child to the fair. I know it's safe."

What are your dreams for the future?

My hope for the facility is that first and foremost we produce a great fair - and that we do our best at what we're best at.

We're also currently trying to maximize usage of the facility and hoping that in the future there'll be funds to erect a larger structure.

If you don't prove that what you have is a significant part of the community, you risk it going away. That's our goal now - to tell our story and show everyone what's going on here and what we can do.

I believe we already have a strong core group of people who understand the vital role the fairgrounds plays in the community. Because of that energy, I'm confident we will succeed in showing people this is a year-round viable operation.

Is the North Idaho Fair as good as the fairs of your youth?

Even in the short amount of time I've been here, I've come to love this fairgrounds as much as the place my childhood memories came from. That says something about not only the facility and not only about the fair, it also says something very important about the community here.