Answering the phone is just one of the duties for Sharon Keil during the Dodge County Fair.
The telephone is ringing when Dodge County Fair Secretary Sharon Keil arrives at her office at the fairgrounds at 7:30 a.m.
"The minute I walk in the door it is ringing. And it rings practically non-stop throughout the day. And people stop in to ask questions," Keil said.
But with 29 years of experience in the position of secretary that she assumed when Red Marthaler left, and one that she apparently loves, Keil is used to the calls.
And it is a year-round, part-time position. Keil said that as soon as the fair is over, the board starts working on the next year's five-day event.
"We have monthly meetings and we evaluate the fair to see what can be done to improve it," Keil said.
With a nine-year, full-time job with Gergen & Gergen Law Office in Beaver Dam, Keil said that at the time she was hired she was asked what the fair means to her.
"I said, 'It means I need to be off for about nine days,'" Keil said.
"And from July 1 on, it is all uphill."
According to Keil, her biggest worry each year is the weather.
Those who want to know where something is located on the grounds, can get an answer from Keil.
"I know about where everything is. If someone wants to see a specific exhibit, I can tell him which tent to go to. But not necessarily exactly where in that tent what they want to see is. Don Fabisch's paperwork comes through me," Keil said. "I am the middle man all the way around."
"We are looking for a good year. We have had a lot of interest in the musical entertainers we have. A lot of people has asked about all of them. And there are a lot of side shows," Keil said.
A new outside show is the Muttsville Comix that will be set up near the Youth Building.
All shows are included in the admission fee.
"There is no additional charge on our end," Keil said. "The only cost would be what one wants to spend on food and refreshments."
Is the 2007 Dodge County Fair going to be the biggest and the best?
"I hope so," Keil said. "If it doesn't rain all day Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, we should have a very good fair."