For the second time in two years, attendance at the Island County Fair dropped significantly.

At a fair association meeting Monday, association secretary Sandy Brandon announced that 2003’s total attendance of 22,097 people was down 8.64 percent from the 2002 fair. Attendance in 2002 was also low, approximately 8 percent lower than in 2001.

Brandon attributed the lower numbers to slow Saturday evening and Sunday gates after the owner of Paradise Amusements — the carnival provider at the fair — died after being struck by one of his rides. She said the attendance loss was not as bad as it could have been, considering the seriousness of the accident.

Sunday’s attendance was down 17.28 percent over the previous year.

Even so, the fair still has about $59,000 in its checking account after paying most of its bills. The fair has yet to total up its gross gate receipts, so no estimate of that number is available.

In terms of rental income, the fair did a little better this year than last. Gina Smith, chairwoman of the fair’s vendor committee, said the fair made $27,398 by renting booth space to vendors. That is about $3,000 more than in 2002.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the association elected new officers for the 2003 fair year. Newly-elected officers of the Island County Fair Association are: president Gary Kay; vice president Gina Smith; and secretary/treasurer, Sandey Brandon.

The association also named two new members to the Island County Fair Board, the fair’s policy-making body. Elected to the South Whidbey board position was Tarey Kay, while Marianne Hatfield was named to the Oak Harbor at-large position.

The Island County Fair Association meets the third Monday of each month.

The October meeting will be held in Coupeville.