From the mid-90s to the late 2000s, Stanislaus County Fair attendees grew accustomed to stopping by the KAZV-TV booth for a quick interview about their favorite part of the 10-day event, broadcast live on Channel 14. Ever since the public access channel became obsolete years ago, fairgoers haven’t had the chance to partake in the local media scene — until now.
We at Studio209 are bringing live interviews back to the Stanislaus County Fair on July 18 for one night only by way of a YouTube live stream, and we invite the community to stop by and share their favorite fair stories, send shout outs to friends and family members or just stop by for a quick “hello.” In between getting to know those spending their summer night at the fairgrounds, Studio209 correspondents will also give viewers an inside look at the fair, from attraction tours to interviews with some of the event’s VIPs during our modern twist on the old tradition.
County residents and visitors alike used to make a stop at the Modesto-run TV station’s booth every year at the fair, eager to show their face on KAZV-TV’s Channel 14 station. In 1997, Modesto almond grower Frank Azevedo started up the station, providing a steady stream of local content, including the nightly show “Home Town Focus,” which focused on local communities from Stockton to Merced, an every-other-week agricultural show hosted by the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, political features hosted by a local county supervisor and, annually, a 10-day nightly show live from the Stanislaus County Fair.
Azevedo and KAZV-TV stopped hosting their fair show in 2008, Stanislaus County Fair spokesperson Adrenna Alkhas estimated, and in 2014, the station’s license was canceled by the Federal Communications Commission.
Now, Studio209 hopes to bring back the magic of live fair interviews with help from those in attendance as well as a few special guests.
Stanislaus County Fair Chief Executive Officer and Ceres native Matt Cranford will be just one of several 209 residents the live stream will feature on Wednesday; another Ceres resident, Greg Mathews, will also be interviewed about his first-place finish in Monday night’s Destruction Derby and will be joined on the show by his brother, Bryce Mathews, who came in second.
Studio209 correspondents will also be interviewing the likes of Hypnotist Suzy Haner, some Future Farmers of America members from local high schools, the “cowgirl on stilts” Karen Quest, girls from the fair-famous empowHER Lounge and Turlock mayoral candidates.
The live stream comes as part of 209 Magazine Day at the Stanislaus County fair, and the first 1,000 attendees to walk through the gates will receive a free pair of 209 Magazine sunglasses. Fairgoers can stop by the 209 Magazine booth, located in front of the ReCharge! Lounge and Baby Care Center building, to grab the magazine’s latest copy and to be interviewed by Studio209 personalities like Angelina Martin, Frankie Tovar, Candy Padilla, Virginia Still and Eddie Ruiz and 209 Magazine editor Kristina Hacker.
From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., viewers at home will be able to watch their friends and family members be interviewed and catch exclusive Stanislaus County Fair content and coverage by visiting the Studio209 YouTube channel, which can be found at 209magazine.com or studio209.tv. For more information, contact ftovar@morrismultimedia.com.
