"It was our best year ever:" Country USA vendors say this year was record-breaking

NEENAH (WITI) -- Visitors to Country USA got their fill of music at this year's event, while vendors inside the event and businesses in the Oshkosh area are say they've seen a boost in sales.

For the first time ever, the event sold out -- bringing in around 185,000 people. Organizers say the festival brings in millions of dollars to the Oshkosh area.

Ford Festival Park is now quiet, but Country USA's vendors say 2014 was their most successful year.

"I'd say we sold a lot more product this year than we did last year," food vendor Jerome Ellman said.

Ellman managed a food tent during this year's Country USA.

"I think we came close to $1.5 million and just beer tents alone and food stands, I'd say we came pretty dang close to it as well," Ellman said.

Ellman isn't the only one happy with sales. Angela Trainor sold T-shirts during the event.

"It was probably 30 percent better than last year. It was good," Trainor said.

Vendors inside the park aren't the only ones who saw an increase in sales.

"The ice was the other thing that really surprised me this year. We got right down to the bottom," Marty Schibbelhut said.

Schibbelhut owns OshVegas Palms resort. It's a campground and small convenience store just outside of the park.

"We're probably up. Based on last night's number, probably 35 to 40 percent," Schibbelhut said.

All 50 of Schibbelhut's RV and tent sites sold out this year.

"For us, it was our best year ever," Schibbelhut said.

The promoter for Country USA says the economic impact on the area is huge.

"You're looking at about $20 million that is related to Country USA in impact on this regional area," Country USA Promoter Dan Liebhauser said.

Businesses weren't the only ones that stayed busy during the event.

"There's a lot of trash," Justin Graf of Ripon said.

When it comes to cleanup, it couldn't be done without trash bags. Cleanup crews say they've already picked up around 150,000 pounds of trash.

"We have to clean up these main grounds here plus the parking lot so we're always pretty busy," Bert Olson, who manages the cleanup crew said.

Olson says the biggest challenge is cleaning up all the trash before the wind blows it away.

Country USA already has big plans for next year's 20th anniversary.  The 2015 lineup includes Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, and Eric Church.