Anthony Iczkowski lives just a few hundred yards from a pedestrian entrance to the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis.

For nine years he has made his yard available as an independent parking lot for trade fair visitors – for a small fee, of course.

He usually charges $10 per car, but on Thursday a customer only had $7 in cash.

“I thought to myself, ‘Okay, I’ll do it for that if you buy me a cream puff.’ And they actually brought me a cream puff,” Iczkowski said. “I thought to myself, ‘You know, I’m really going to be fun in this deal.'”

Iczkowski said he typically makes about $1,500 during the fair, which attracted more than a million visitors last year. He uses the money to pay for his insurance policies.

He usually finishes work at noon, but on Fridays he’s off work at 10 a.m. to prepare for what he hopes will be a busy weekend. Some days he even sets up a TV and a tent in his front yard to avoid the sun.

“It should be fun and not like a job,” he said.

Parking on the fairgrounds can cost between $15 and $25, but off-site some homeowners charge as little as $10.

Pas Meekhunsut accepted Iczkowski’s offer on Friday morning. As it turns out, he is a regular customer.

“We usually just drive down that street (77th Street), and if there’s no spot, we just pick one, and it happens to be the same guy,” Meekhunsut said.

Tammy Lanz has been parking cars in her front yard during the fair for about 30 years. She charges $10 per vehicle. It’s a quick way to earn some extra money, she said.

“I try to keep my prices fair, but still earn a little bit,” said Lanz.

Lanz said she takes time off work on the days of the fair to direct drivers to her front yard, which normally earns her a few hundred dollars a year.

“It helps with house repairs and taxes,” she said.

Pam and Ken Miller have a house just one block from the fairgrounds, on the corner of 76th and Washington Street. They have been parking cars on their property for over 20 years. The property has room for 11 cars.

“Why not?” said Pam. “We’re not going anywhere for the entire 10 days of the fair, so we’re making our money.”

Pam estimates they will earn more than $1,000 this year.

“When we started, we helped the grandkids with school supplies and stuff, but now they’re off school, so it’s our stuff – (they) help pay the taxes,” Ken Miller said.

Ronald Lovrine is also taking part. He has lived in his house near the exhibition center for over 50 years, but says he has only been using his garden as a parking lot for five years.

“I’m not getting rich, but it keeps me out of the house and gives me something to do,” said Lovrine, who retired five years ago.

Lovrine and others said they often change their prices depending on how busy the fair is and how many cars are rolling through the neighborhood.

“Supply and demand,” said Lovrine.

Once, Iczkowski changed his price to $25 when there was a traffic jam near his house.

“It was like saying, ‘Grandpa, take the sign away, change the price,'” he said.

The Wisconsin State Fair runs through the end of Sunday.