County Fair loses money

The Cheyenne County Fair and Rodeo lost money this year.

The event had $110,604 in expenses, Anita Pennel, fair board treasurer told County Commissioners Monday at their regular meeting, and earned only $41,726 in ticket sales.

The event, though, had a budget of $110,000 in levied funds from the county, as well as donations.

“We are levied in X amount of dollars. That’s the money we have to work with,” Pennel said. “Doing it this way, we know what events are actually covering their own expenses. That’s what’s going to let us know what we want to bring back next year.”

Most of this year’s fair events lost money, in terms of tickets sales against expenses.

Expenses for the rodeo were $9,500, but it earned only $4,930.17.

The John Michael Montgomery concert had expenses of $28,386, but earned only $14,550.

The monster truck show cost $14,500, and earned $7,080; the truck pull cost $10,270 and earned $4,220; and the demolition derby cost $11,425 and earned $8,480.

The declining trend continues from the 2016 Fair and Rodeo, which cost $85,928 and earned only $43,730 in ticket sales.

Pennel attributes the loss to the economy in Cheyenne County and the surrounding area.

“The economy right now had a lot to do with it,” she said. “Attendance was down from last year, which you can tell from the comparison. I really think with the economy the way it is right now people are kind of being cautious.”

Pennel is optimistic, though, that there will be an upswing.

“I think it will pick up,” she said. “I really do. What you have to take into consideration is the timing of the fair, which is around harvest time, as well as the economy at that point. I really think our economy is going to pick back up.”