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At first sight, Randy Prasse, executive director of State Fair Park, cuts an almost GQ figure with nice duds and a manner that says, "business savvy." But image fades when you hear Prasse's stories of growing up in farm country, of his custom Harley and of his daughter Emma.
Prasse's event background in Wisconsin began in Racine with Harborfest. He then became executive director of the East Town Association in downtown Milwaukee, coordinating popular events like Bastille Days, Jazz in the Park, and Gallery Night and Day.
Prasse was born and raised on what is now a seventh-generation family dairy farm near Freeport, in northern Illinois. The farm was settled by his family in 1873 and his entire family (grandparents, parents, and older brother) lived on the farm during his youth, his brother still farms there. He was officer of his 4-H Club and his chapter of FFA (Future Farmers of America). Needless to say, State Fair has always been "calling his name."
But, Prasse's love of the festival began in the 1980s at his hometown Founders' Day Celebration where he volunteered. This volunteer gig eventually lead to Harborfest, and then to East Town where Prasse is the first to admit that Jazz in the Park was always his "baby." The day of each Jazz event, Prasse could be seen cleaning, putting up signs, even chasing rats out of Cathedral Square Park.
These days, Prasse has a much larger domain to survey, taking on Wisconsin State Fair and all its connected entities. While preparing for the 2005 State Fair, Prasse gave us a few minutes:
OMC: What is your favorite event?
RP: Of course I love Jazz in the Park and Bastille Days. They're good, fun events and I have a closer connection to them. I love all events ... and I love to see what other festivals are doing. You know, if you borrow an idea, it's stealing. If you borrow multiple ideas, it's research. If I had to pick one, though, it would be Jazz.
OMC: What are your three favorite fair foods?
RP: Corn dog is definitely number one, cream puffs, of course, and ... is beer a food?
OMC: How does it feel to attend Jazz in the Park as a spectator?
RP: Oh, it's great. I can show up when I want, drink, leave when I want. It is a family and friend reunion. "Milwaukee's Biggest Friend Reunion."
OMC: Any strange stories from your Jazz days?
RP: Well, there was one time we had a brawl between homeless people ... pepper spray was involved, and I got hit in the face! Then, another time we had a death during the event, but it was most notable because the man involved was an elderly gentleman who rarely got out of the house. But, he came to Jazz in the Park that night to hear his grandson play. He was with his family and heard his grandson play on stage, then he died.
OMC: With your farm roots, do you feel at home at the Fair?
RP: There's still the farmer in me. Being part of State Fair puts me in touch with my roots. I can show up here at State Fair Park in jeans and a flannel shirt and nobody thinks a thing of it. Unless there's a board meeting, of course. Being here reminds me of my childhood. I can show off my skills; milking or whatever.
OMC: What was the first event you ever did?
RP: It was Tutty Baker Days in my hometown of Freeport, Ill. It started in the early '80s. In 1987 I joined the event as a volunteer. I remember it as kind of a mini Bastille Days. My claim to fame with that event was that I paid $30,000 to get Cheap Trick at the event. That was huge! Tickets were $10, and it rained 15 minutes before the show was supposed to start. Amazingly, the rained stopped right before the show was supposed to start. We had 4,000 people show up, and we made $10,000 after all was said and done. Immediately after the show, the rain started again.
OMC: What are you most proud of in your time at State Fair so far?
RP: Making it six months! Although here they don't count in months or years, they count in fairs. You haven't really made it "in" unless you've made it through at least one fair. Seriously, it means a lot to have the trust and confidence of the people here. There have been five or six people at this desk in recent years, so getting trust this quickly is not easy to come by.
Dianne Crowley, a freelancer, questioned Prasse for this interview.
