by Jessica Schroeder, assistant fair liaison, the U.S. Trotting Association

Columbus, OH — The United States Trotting Association will award $10,000, up to $500 for each winning proposal, to support marketing initiatives at county fairs or race meets for 2009.

Applications were sent to all county fair organizations in their Track Membership packets at the beginning of February. If you are a member of a horsemen’s association that did not get a packet, you can download the application and information by clicking on this link.

The Matching Funds Grants program was started in 2006, and requires groups to secure or provide equal or greater funding. The USTA looks for originality, feasibility and financial need when reviewing the marketing program. Some winning examples from past years include:

• Rubber ‘Live Strong’ type bracelets
• T-Shirt toss by drivers
• Placemats for local restaurants
• Pedal Horse/Stick Horse/Bouncy Pony races
• 4-H program cover contest
• Rent horse mascot for pictures in grandstand
• 4th of July parade float
• Crazy Good book giveaway
• Standardbred Star activity book giveaway
• Newspaper advertisements
• Radio advertisements
• Pick-A-Winner/door prizes in grandstand
• “Celebrity” horse to greet fans/take Polaroid pictures or provide stock photo
• Cable advertising
• Pen giveaway
• Traveling exhibit displayed in local businesses two weeks prior to fair
• Billboard advertising
• Photo mug giveaway
• Life size horse moss topiary put around town, then in winner’s circle
• Web site for horsemen’s association

For more information on the Matching Funds Grant program, contact Jessica Schroeder at (877) 800-8782, ex: 3212 or e-mail jessica.schroeder@ustrotting.com.