08/17/08 — The entertainers at this year’s Crawford County Fair aren’t particularly fussy about what food they’d like to eat — but, when it comes to quenching their thirst, some of them want the energy drink Red Bull and all of them want plenty of non-carbonated water.

George Deshner, who handles arrangements for the entertainment, said the requests were “pretty simple” this year. Pampered Palate, which is catering the meals, has been in contact with the entertainers’ staff with samples of menus, and the staff selects the precise menus for the meals. However, one of Deshner’s assistants will go shopping each day for the other requests from the stars.

Corbin Bleu, the “High School Musical” performer who will play the fair Monday at 7 p.m., wants assorted drinks and sodas, veggie tray, hot breakfast (“would be appreciated”) and meals for two vegetarians on staff.

Vanessa Hudgens, his “HSM” co-star, requested Gatorade, herbal tea, assorted juice, two fruit plates, 12-pack of Coke, veggie platter, and deli meat and cheese tray.

However, although her food requests were simple, she is the first entertainer to request specific furnishings for her dressing area, according to Deshner, who said she wants a couch, two 8-foot

folding tables, one large recliner, four folding chairs, one makeup stand with light, a large mirror and wardrobe racks.

For rockers Daughtry, who play Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., “no hamburgers or hot dogs” was the main request, with a note they have been “hot dogged and hamburgered to death” this summer and asked for “anything but hot dogs.”

Their other requests: tea, coffee, orange and blue Gatorade, 12-pack of Diet Rite Zero Cola (if that’s not available, then no soda), cranberry juice, Life cereal, Honey Nut Cheerios, 12 cans of Red Bull, salted nuts, fresh inpeel bananas, oranges, apples and strawberries, bag of potato chips and Tostitos, jar of salsa, case of vitamins, water, two bags of South Bend cereal bars, and package of nut and berries trail mix.

Country singer Gretchen Wilson, who’ll sing Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., has asked for a meat, cheese and crackers tray, veggie tray, fruit tray, chips, salsa, 12-pack of Red Bull, box of “high quality” Ritz crackers, jar of creamy peanut butter, grape or strawberry jelly, Planter’s Deluxe mixed nuts, assorted cans of Mountain Dew, Coke, Diet Coke and Sprite, six medium-size scented candles in glass containers (no vanilla), six-pack of Starbucks Double Shots, and case of Fiji water.

Blake Shelton, her opening act, wants assorted Coke products, peanut butter and jelly, pack of peppered beef jerky, bag of Cheetos, large bag of barbecue Baked Lay’s potato chips, box of Hershey chocolate minis, three-pack of Orbitz chewing gum, a veggie tray, two cans of tuna packed in water, and two packs of low-fat string cheese.

Although he now has his own catering bus, Deshner said Toby Keith — who performs Thursday at 7:30 p.m. — isn’t bringing his own caterer to Crawford County; instead, he’ll eat food provided by the county. He had no special requests except ice and soda.

The entertainers have large staff which accompanies them.

Keith has a staff of 72 which travels on six buses and four trucks.

Shelton has one bus and a trailer; Wilson, four buses and two trailers; Daughtry, three buses and two trucks; Hudgens, two buses, one pulling a trailer; and Bleu, four buses, one with a trailer behind it.

Deshner said the fair also will make arrangements for some of the staffers to play golf or go to local workout facilities, if they request it.

While the entertainers are here to make money, they also spend money, he noted, pointing out they often fill up their vehicles at gas stations and make requests for directions to Wal-Mart.

The only request which wasn’t approved was for alcohol, which isn’t permitted on the fairgrounds. Deshner declined to reveal which entertainers requested it.

Deshner said the shopping is done daily because of lack of storage space at the fairgrounds. The caterer provides the fruit and veggie trays, so basically his staff shops for the other requests.

The bill is usually between $2,000 and $3,000, he said.

Deshner has been working at the fair since 1970 when he started parking cars. He began working with the entertainers in the early ’80s — when stars from “The Lawrence Welk Show” were featured. He recalled that when JoAnn Castle was the featured entertainer, he had to take out the piano, a stool and a microphone and plug it in.

“It’s a long way from then,” he said, with the major sound systems set up at the fair.

He also has “runners” available for the entertainers if they want something from local stores purchased. Another request he fulfills when asked is to arrange for laundry to be done if the entertainer has been on the road awhile.

He tries to accommodate the singers as much as possible to make their short stay in Crawford County enjoyable.



Shanley retired this week from the Tribune.



Toby Keith

Keith now has his own catering bus, but he is not bringing his own caterer to the fair. His crew will eat food provided by the county.

He had no special requests except ice and soda.



Gretchen Wilson

Requested items: Meat, cheese and cracker trays, veggie tray, fruit tray, chips, salsa, Red Bull energy drink, Ritz crackers, creamy peanut butter, grape or strawberry jelly, mixed nuts, assorted cans of Mountain Dew, Coke, Diet Coke and Sprite, scented candles (no vanilla), six pack of Starbucks Double Shots and a case of Fiji water.



Daughtry

Requested items: Tea, coffee, Gatorade, Diet Rite Zero Cola (no substitutions –– if that’s not available, then no soda), cranberry juice, Life Cereal, Honey Nut Cheerios, Red Bull energy drink, salted nuts, fresh fruit, bag of potato chips and Tostitos, salsa, vitamins, water, cereal bars and nut and berries trail mix.

Other requests: “No hamburgers or hot dogs” was the main request. The band said they have been “hot dogged and hamburgered to death” this summer.



Vanessa Hudgens

Requested items: Gatorade, herbel tea, assorted juice, two fruit plates, Coca-Cola, veggie platter, meat and cheese tray.

Other requests: Hudgens is the first entertainer to request specific furnishings for her dressing area. She requested a couch, two 8-foot folding tables, one large recliner, four folding chairs, one makeup stand with light, large mirror and wardrobe racks



Blake Shelton

Requested items: Assorted Coke products, peanut butter, jelly, peppered beef jerky, Cheetos, barbecue potato chips, chocolate minis, chewing gum, veggie tray, two cans of tuna packed in water and two packs of low fat string cheese.



Corbin Bleu

Requested items: Assorted drinks and sodas, veggie tray, hot breakfast, and meals for two vegetarians on staff.



TODAY AT THE FAIR

9 a.m.

–– Farm and antique tractor pull

Noon

–– Mad Mar Entertainment wrestling event, Youth Show Arena

–– Horshoes for Life tournament

–– Grange judging, home economics, floral, FFA and open judging, farm crops, honey, arts, crafts, photo, fruits, vegetables, maple syrup, 4-H family living

5:30 p.m.

–– Baked goods auction, Exhibit Building 1

7:30 p.m.

–– USA East Regional Truck and Tractor Pull