York Woman Recipient of First Ever Ultimate Fair Fan Giveaway
Published by Grand Island Independent Aug. 6, 2025:
When Elizabeth Sochacki of York received the email saying she’d won the Ultimate Fair Fan Experience Giveaway, she literally didn’t believe it.
“There’s no way this is real,” she said, recalling her initial reaction. “I was very shocked.”
Yet there she was on Tuesday in the Nebraska State Fair offices receiving the prize.
“It’s amazing,” Elizabeth said.
Nebraska State Fair Executive Director Jaime Parr (right) presents the Ultimate Fair Fan Experience Giveaway award to the Sochacki family of York on Tuesday at State Fair headquarters. Family members are (from left) Shawn, Aurora, Elizabeth and Izabelle. (credit: R.J. POST, THE INDEPENDENT)
Elizabeth, her husband, Shawn, and daughters, Aurora, 5, and Izabelle, 2, moved to Nebraska from New Jersey three years ago.
“We love it here,” she said.
They attended the Nebraska State Fair for the first time in 2024.
“Last year, you guys spent every day at the fair,” Shawn told his wife.
She only entered the contest two days before it closed.
“You guys posted, ‘Last call,’” she told fair officials. But she’s glad she entered.
The prize package, an estimated $2,000 value, includes a slew of goodies starting with four season passes, which cover admission to all 11 days of the fair. Also included are:
Tickets to two concerts of their choice for four people, including VIP access
Front row parking
Four midway wristbands
Tickets to any one Twisted Chrome or Stampede Series event
Tickets to their choice of Llama Yoga or Birthing Pavilion Before Hours
$100 in food vouchers
1868 Gift Shop Gift Certificate
“This is a way of the fair providing the ultimate experience,” Marketing Director Courtney Glock said.
The contest, which was new this year, opened for entries on June 30 and closed on July 30. The State Fair spread the word through its newsletter and social media. The public was able to enter on the fair’s website, statefair.org.
Elizabeth was chosen at random from more than 2,500 entries, Glock said.
“We had folks from all over,” she said. “Nebraska was well-represented. Folks from east to west entered that drawing.”
The contest represents the wide variety of things to see and do at the Nebraska State Fair.
“You can’t get everything the fair offers in one day,” Glock said. “All the things that you could see at the fair are included in that package.”
Perfect for a family such as the Sochackis, the package includes four of everything.
“Of course, you want someone to go with you,” Glock said. “We wanted someone to experience it with three of their favorite people.”
The family just wrapped up four days of fun at the York County Fair, where the girls rode carnival rides for 10 hours with their grandmother and the parents enjoyed the figure-8 races.
Figure 8 racing returns to the Nebraska State Fair this year with Crossroads Chaos: Nebraska’s Ultimate Figure 8 Showdown at 4 p.m. Aug. 24 in the Motorsports Park.
When asked what they were looking forward to at the State Fair, Shawn said the food, and Elizabeth said, “probably the Llama Yoga.” She also wants to attend the Matthew West concert.
Shawn said he thought they’d spend “at least three or four days” at the fair.
With the theme of “Showcase Your Fair Face,” this year’s Nebraska State Fair will be from Aug. 22 through Sept. 1 at Fonner Park in Grand Island.
