HURON, SD – The South Dakota State Fair has turned the corner to a brighter future just a few years after legislators questioned the annual event’s future. The 126th fair earlier this month saw both attendance and revenue increases. Manger Jerome Hertel says the fair continues to work toward self-sufficiency in case state funding ends. In 2002, the Legislature gave $900,000 to the fair to help it retire debt. In 2006 and 2007, it gave the fair $750,000 before decreasing the amount to $400,000 in 2008 and now $267,000 as officials seek to close a gap between state revenue and expenditures. In 2004, Agriculture Secretary Larry Gabriel announced a three-year plan to get the fair on solid footing. The fair has recorded attendance increases the past five years.© 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved