Event Ranch Harvests Good Times

Event Ranch Harvests Good Times SPECIALTY/SERVICES Specialty/Services 31-4-11 When Curtis Hart hired a band for a party in 1977 with his muscle car buddies and friends, little did he know what it would turn into. The annual party kept getting bigger. Finally Hart decided to turn the Oklahoma dairy farm where he lived into an "event" ranch. "By 1989 we were using up to 25 acres to park cars for the party, so I decided to make it a commercial event in 1990," explains Hart. "Each year since it has grown, with nationally known headliners like this year's country star Stoney LaRue." Thousands will pay $20 to $25 to attend the concert. In addition to the main event, Hart also holds numerous car meets each year, but never charges admission. Last year he decided to branch out with a nationally sponsored tractor pull. When word about the event got out locally, Hart was told by zoning officials he couldn't host it. "I was told the æSwap Meet' had been grandfathered in when zoning was introduced," he says. Hart had to get his property rezoned. The tractor pull was cancelled, but now he is gearing up for four additional events each year, including a vintage truck meet. Like the muscle car event, it will include entertainment. "The entertainment helps attract radio and TV coverage," he says. "That helps drive attendance." Hart also relies on attention-getting fliers and posters, as well as unique signboard trailers with information. In the two months prior to the meet, he will put on nearly 19,000 miles, shuffling them from spot to spot within a 300-mile radius of the ranch. Hart emphasizes quality in every aspect of the ranch and the meet. Even the 20,000 fliers he is putting out this year are printed on heavy card stock with the expectation that they will become collectors' items like those of previous years. "I can stop at a place and see fliers still up from previous years," says Hart. "Graphics and quality are important. We run a low budget outfit, but we set standards and stick to them." The same holds true of T-shirts sold at the event. While he could make more money with low quality material, he recognizes that they are promotional tools as well. The longer they last, the more value they have to building interest in the coming year's event. With 50 acres in parking and thousands of people in attendance, Hart rents plenty of portable toilets. He also has open-air restrooms and shower units for use by attendees and campers. "We built the restrooms with cobblestone walls and porcelain block walls for the showers," he says. "The open top units are easy to keep clean and that's important." Throughout the past 17 years, Hart has learned to work with local officials. Keeping a clean record helps. In all 17 years, there has been only one incident when the police had to intervene, and it was a domestic dispute. Attitude also is important, he says. "When I got the letter about zoning, I went in to see the official who sent it. I stuck out my hand, introduced myself and said, æwhat can we do,'" recalls Hart. "He realized I was easy to work with. I've learned to bend when I need to bend and go with the flow." Hart does caution that event sponsorship has its risks. In 11 out of the past 15 years, there has been concern over bad weather. In 2006, he lost $22,000 on entertainment due to rain. It's a risk he's willing to take. "It's not about the money," he says. "Bringing people together was what got me started and keeps me doing it. Besides, it's been a great way to go without getting a æreal' job." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Curtis Hart, Muscle Car Ranch, 3609 South 16th Street, Chickasha, Okla. 73018 (ph 405 222-4910; charticus@aol.com; www.musclecarranch.com).

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