With 19 years as a Pierce County Fair ticket supervisor under his belt, Gerald Anderson has experienced just about any customer encounter one could imagine.

Anderson is thankful for his time as ticket supervisor as he looks forward to a 20th year of training in employees and dealing with customers.

Anderson collects the shirts from each of the fairs, and now has a strong collection with only one missing from the last 20 years.

“That’s how I know how many years I’ve worked,” Anderson said.

Anderson soaks in the atmosphere of the fair through the sounds rather than the sights. Due to the role, Anderson is often working while many of the fair’s famous events are taking place.

Anderson still enjoys these events, as he can hear the music, laughter, engines roaring or whatever the event is at the time.

“When the memories play, I can hear them in the background, but I couldn’t see them,” Anderson said.

Despite often taking in the sounds, Anderson also appreciates the chances to walk around and take everything in. From the bright lights of the midway at night to the colorful food stands, Anderson likes the energy surrounding the fair.

He is no stranger to interesting scenarios, encountering so many customers that there is nothing he does not expect anymore. The most memorable for Anderson are when people attempt to bring in animals.

Animals from home are not allowed at the fair due to safety concerns for other fair goers and the animals that are there. This has not stopped some people from trying, according to Anderson.

“Some would come in with a snake around their neck, some would have a dog’s head in their bibbed overalls,” Anderson said.

Anderson’s father was on the fair committee from the county board; his father met his mother at the Minnesota State Fair and Anderson met his first wife at the fair.

“We have the fair in our blood I guess you could say,” Anderson said.

With around 200 employees working for Anderson over a 20-year span, teaching people how to count money and treat customers is a part of the process every year. Anderson has learned to treat employees with respect, and not to overreact to a mistake as everyone will make them.

As for the customers, Anderson tries to make sure they get through as seamlessly as possible to get them back to enjoying the fair. Anderson called the role the “first contact” of customers at the fair, and said the role heavily involves making sure the customer is happy and has all the assistance they need.

He said the job ultimately comes down to treating everyone fairly, from the customers to the employees.

While Anderson’s time as ticket supervisor will come to a close one day, he is ready to teach the next person in line how to do the job.

“You’ve got to step aside some day,” Anderson said. “This way, whoever takes over, I’ll be there to help make sure that they can handle it.”