A.V. TEAM TO HELP RUN FAIR L.A.-AREA EVENT STRUGGLING.

Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Staff Writer

LAKE VIEW TERRACE - Antelope Valley Fair officials hope to bring in better entertainment, increase community participation and corral a regular location for the San Fernando Valley Fair.

The San Fernando Valley Fair board has hired the Antelope Valley Fair for $150,000 a year to run its four-day June fair, a decision ratified by the Antelope Valley Fair board last week.

``A lot of it is we'll be experimenting to see what works down there,'' said Antelope Valley Fair manager Dan Jacobs, who leads the six-person staff that now will be managing both fairs.

Taking on responsibility for running a second fair shouldn't hurt the Antelope Valley Fair because much of the work - like negotiating entertainment or service contracts - can easily include the second fair, Jacobs said. But Jacobs, who has been at the Antelope Valley helm for six years, acknowledged the first year will be tough.

``It'll definitely affect us the first year because we'll be getting our feet wet. In years to come it's going to be easier.''

Last year's San Fernando Valley Fair, held within the city of Los Angeles, attracted just 15,000 visitors - paid and unpaid - compared to more than 200,000 for the Antelope Valley Fair, Jacobs said. The San Fernando Valley Fair runs four days, the Antelope Valley fair 11 days.

The Antelope Valley Fair has its own fairgrounds, with a bigger one under construction, while the San Fernando Valley Fair will have had three different locations from 1999 through 2001.

'That's been part of the problem,'' Jacobs said. ``They really hadn't found the ideal home. We're going to try to help them out and at least solidify the location until they get a permanent site.''

Both fairs are operated by agencies of the state government, run by boards appointed by the governor: the 50th Agricultural District in the Antelope Valley, the 51st district in San Fernando Valley.

San Fernando Valley Fair board President Rob Wilcox said he expects the June 7-10 fair to offer better entertainment, exhibits and attractions, with a new carnival and nationally recognized entertainers.

``We are reinventing the fair. This is a total overhaul for the San Fernando Valley Fair,'' Wilcox said.

The Antelope Valley Fair and its staff are both highly regarded, he said.

``They give us a great strength by coming in with an entire team,'' he said.

The 2001 fair will be at Hansen Dam Recreation Center, different than last year's spot at the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center. For several years before that, the fair was at the Burbank Equestrian Center.

An advantage for the San Fernando Valley Fair is its timing in early June, when it has little competition in booking attractions, Jacobs said. The Antelope Valley Fair's schedule over Labor Day means it is competing with several state fairs around the United States.

Jacobs said he couldn't name any entertainers yet.

``We've got some offers out there right now,'' he said.

The San Fernando Valley Fair board will continue to direct the local fair, although the managers will be from Antelope Valley, he noted. Jacobs said a San Fernando Valley office will be used for meetings, to receive mail and for other functions.

``We don't want anyone to think the Antelope Valley Fair is taking over their fair,'' he said.