Mono County exhibit wins gold
On Friday, July 12, Mono County’s exhibit at the California State Fair County Exhibit competition was honored with a Gold Award as well as the award for Best for Use of Products, Produce or Artifacts. The county’s exhibit this year showcases Devils Postpile, Mono Lake and Bodie State Historic Park – three of the region’s most intriguing attractions and part of the reasons why pre-eminent travel publisher Lonely Planet named California’s Eastern Sierra as one of the Top 10 Best US Destinations to visit in 2013.
Chair of the Mono County Board of Supervisors, Byng Hunt, said, “We are delighted to be recognized by the State Fair again this year for our original exhibit which really helps to promote to Californians all the uniquely beautiful things to see and do in the Eastern Sierra.”
On the fair’s opening day, Dan Lyster, Director of Economic Development, was at the State Fair Awards Ceremony to receive the ribbons on behalf of Mono County. Lyster commented, “The Mono County exhibit features three of our most popular visitor attractions and is really an eye-catching display. Our builder, John Queirolo, has outdone himself in terms of attention to detail this year — the interior of the Bodie General Store is so realistic, you almost expect the shopkeeper to come out and take your order.”
Mono County Economic Development staff worked closely with Queirolo to establish the design direction for the exhibit that includes Styrofoam postpile columns as well as some real granite rocks and trees to add a three-dimensional effect to the 10’ wide backdrop photos of Devils Postpile and Mono Lake. Queirolo, a passionate historian, stocked the Bodie store with his own artifacts from a lifetime collection of antiques and historical items.
State Fair visitors to the exhibit are invited to sign up to win a Getaway Trip to Walker/Coleville, California, which includes lodging generously donated by the Andruss Motel and the West Walker Motel, lunch for two at the new deli at the Walker Country Store, and a $25 gift certificate for Mountain View Barbecue. An online entry form for the contest is also available at www.MonoCounty.org.
Mono County has received awards at the State Fair every year it has participated since 2008. This is the second time the County has taken the award for Best Use of Products, Produce or Artifacts – the first time was in 2010.
The California State Fair in Sacramento attracts an average of 38,000 visitors per day (2012 State Fair figures), and is open daily from July 12 – 28.
Photo: John Queirolo
