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Plans for the Cheyenne County Fair keep moving forward. At their monthly meeting this week, Fair Board members reviewed the events schedule for the fair, scheduled for July 21-27, 2019.
In discussion, the barrel racing event in the main arena could be the opening Sunday following the open class horse show, or on Monday evening, depending on how it works with other potential events on the calendar.
No evening grandstand event is currently planned for Tuesday, but the board plans to bring back, and expand, the family fun night which drew rave reviews last year. It is also possible the board’s free barbeque could be held that night. Board members discussed the BBQ change to allow for more residents to participate. Last year, the BBQ was tied to an event, and board President Gerald Frerichs said some were not able to attend because they didn’t have event tickets.
“This way, more people can be at the barbeque and they won’t have to buy an event ticket to go to the free barbeque,” Frerichs said.
A good deal of discussion took place over the rodeo, which is proposed for Wednesday night. An unofficial sub-committee, made up of non-fairboard volunteers, is once again working to get a PRCA (Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association) event, building on last year’s success. Part of the discussion was the slack performance, where cowboys and cowgirls not making the main event make their rides. The best logistics, the group said, might be to have the slack in the afternoon.
The group also hopes that with Sidney being close to Cheyenne, the local event will draw performers who would make the relatively short hop to Sidney after performances at Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Thursday’s grandstand show isn’t set yet, but big engines and lots of horsepower will be on tap. Right now the board is looking at either a tractor pull, or the return of monster trucks.
Friday will see Walker Hayes on stage, then plans are for the demolition derby to once again close the fair with a bang.
In other business the board got updates on plans to replace the arena lights, make repairs in conjunction with the county to the rest rooms just west of the livestock pavilion, and obtain repairs for one of the steel buildings.
The board also started its first look at whether Cheyenne County should keep running its fair under a fair board, or switch to that of an ag society. Frerichs and member Stephen Powell obtained information about the trend toward ag societies at a recent conference. Powell said they were advised by one group to avoid such a change. Fair board members want to research the information before them before they even consider such a proposal, which would also have to be approved by voters.
In it discussions, members also got input from Cheyenne County Commissioner Randy Miller, who said he was there to help increase communication between the boards. Miller was able to provide insight on how county government looks at the fair from a business standpoint.
Some of that came out of an audit report that showed fair reports were lacking in some areas. Miller said adding to the complications of government bookkeeping is the fact that the fair and much of its spending is in the first quarter of the county’s fiscal year.
While he said he may not be at all fair board meetings, Miller told the board he wants to work with the board to help the fair as much as possible. As a county commissioner, Miller is not a voting member of the board.
The next fair board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 5.
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