PUEBLO — The State Fair has gone high-tech.
Colorado’s is the first state fair in the United States to use a cashless system.
Fair-goers can use cash for products from vendors, said Christi Lightcap, spokeswoman for the state Department of Agriculture.
For everything else — food, drinks, games and rides — it’s cashless.
ATM-like machines are in 140 kiosks throughout the fairgrounds, where people can get a cash card, put money on it with cash, debit or credit cards, then use the card for spending. The cards cost $1.
So far, it’s drawing mixed reviews.
Young people love it, said Chris Wiseman, general manager of the Colorado State Fair.
“It’s generational,” he said. “It kind of depends on your age and how you feel about the systems. My daughter loves it. Next year you will probably be able to load the card right on your phone.”
For the business side of the fair, it’s about cash control.
“We control all the revenue, and we pay the concessionaires,” Wiseman said. “The old way was that the concessionaires paid us. It gives us a lot of control, because we make most of our money in 11 days.”
The 11-day event pumps about $29 million into the state’s economy.
There are other benefits, he said.
If a card is lost, cardholders can get new cards without losing money.
On opening day Friday, despite the newfangled way of paying for things, the traditions and rural roots of the fair were apparent.
Carnival rides. Animals everywhere. Overwhelming heat.
Vendors were selling such things as cowboy hats, curly fries and corn dogs.
In the horse area, young contestants rode bicycles, forgoing their horses. Others cantered in arenas, practicing for competition.
There were Polish Continental roosters, Welsh Harlequin ducks and mini lop rabbits.
