Fair board approves B.J. Jamison as opening act for Ned LeDoux

A. Marie Hamilton, Sidney Sun-Telegraph

CHEYENNE COUNTY – Members of the Cheyenne County Fair Board (CCFB) accepted the resignation of Shelly Sutherland, discussed updates regarding the beer garden and announced Ashby, Nebraska native B.J. Jamison as the opening act for Ned LeDoux, son of renowned country singer Chris LeDoux, during it's regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, April 24.

CCFB Board members spent considerable time discussing two opening acts and possibly not having an opening act for the Friday, July 28, Ned LeDoux concert. Ultimately, the board unanimously agreed to extend a formal contract offer to up-and-coming young country star B.J. Jamison

CCFB President Troy Kurz began Monday's meeting by announcing to CCFB Treasurer Kip Miller, Vice President Pat Finney, CCFD Secretary Shelby Roelle, CCFD Board Members Jason Juracek, Tyler Bailey, Ryan Filsinger, Zach Oliverius and Natasha Haupt that CCFD Board Member Sutherland had resigned earlier to the day via electronic communications to take affect immediately and stated she would not be in attendance at Monday night's meeting.

The board did not discuss why Sutherland tendered her resignation but did discuss other board members taking over her former responsibilities, which left some events stricken from the upcoming county fair and some in limbo.

As of Monday night during the meeting, the 'Family Fun Night' had completely fallen through, with board member Juracek advising other board members "For Monday night, as of right now – we have nothing slated, and nothing slated for the 'Family Fun Night'."

Adding, "Everything Shelly (Sutherland) had set up has all fallen through – they all essentially pulled out of the events with Shelly's (Sutherland) resignation."

For now, the board agreed to scrap the 'Family Fun Night' but did not concretely state what it would replace it with for Monday night during the fair.

Additionally, another project Sutherland worked on, the Rowdy's Round-Up Cheer and Dance Competition, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 22, is in limbo, with none of the board members wanting to take on the project. However, ultimately Kurz asked board members to reach out to Sutherland to ask what she had set up, to get a tally of cheer and dance competitors. Additionally the fair board president asked board members to think of a way to be able to continue to host the cheer and dance competition.

Board member Juracek also announced he was taking over Wednesday's Military, Veteran and First Responder Appreciation Day.

"I told Shelly (Sutherland) I would take it over," Juracek explained to board president and members.

Juracek went on to explain how Sutherland gave him the information for the Mounted Color Guard and other various components to make the day special for military, veteran and first responder fairgoers.

Additionally, the board noted the uncertainty of Sutherland resigning could have an impact on other events featured the rest of the week, but that the board would continue to reach out to those event hosts to ensure the fair ran smoothly with all of its favorite events. However, the board did explain the fairgrounds street dance also fell through with Sutherland's resignation.

As of Monday night, the schedule of events were as following:

Saturday, July 22:

10 a.m. Rowdy's Round-Up Cheer and Dance Competition – tentative

5 p.m. National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) Barrel Race Exhibitions

6 p.m. NBHA Barrel Races start

Sunday, July 23:

12 p.m. Open Class Horse Show

Monday, July 24:

To be determined.

Tuesday, July 25:

6:15 p.m. Fair and Rodeo Royalty Coronation Ceremony

7 p.m. Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo and Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) Barrel Race, Slack to follow the rodeo.

5 p.m. to close the beer garden will be open.

Wednesday, July 26:

Military, Veteran and First Responder Appreciation Day; events to be announced.

Thursday, July 27:

6:30 p.m. Truck and Tractor Pull

Carnival and beer garden will be available from open to close.

Friday, July 28:

7 p.m. B.J. Jamison opening act concert

8 p.m. Ned LeDoux Concert

Carnival and beer garden will be available from open to close.

Saturday, July 29:

3:30 p.m. Lawnmower Races

6:30 p.m. "Rumle on the Rails" Demolition Derby

Carnival and beer garden will be available from open to close.

A change that will take affect after the current Cheyenne County Fair Lady-in-waiting takes her queenship, is future queens will only be considered if they are Cheyenne County residents or enrolled in a Cheyenne County 4H club.

On Monday night, the board discussed and unanimously voted after much discussion that all future Cheyenne County Fair Queen's are residents of the county or enrolled in the local 4H chapter to be considered. This decision comes after other neighboring counties and states have gone to a similar format. The board did agree that some considerations would be taken on a case-by-case basis, but all board members agreed queen candidates had to have strong ties to Cheyenne County.

The board spent a considerable amount of time discussing its beer garden, security needs and volunteer needs.

Currently, the board is seeking applications from nonprofits able to serve alcohol in the beer garden, in which the nonprofit would receive a $500 donation check for their time spent serving. The board heard from Finney regarding a parent sports booster club interested in potentially serving in the fair beer garden in hopes of raising funds for the school sports program but had reservations about the appearance and formalities of making this happen.

Finney explained the fair board's model for this was similar to the Oktoberfest board's model that allowed other parent programs the ability to fundraiser with parents serving alcohol at that event. He stated he understood the parents reservation and wanted guidance from fellow board members in thinking of a way to help the parent school sports booster club out so that they could use it as a fundraising opportunity.

Additionally, other board members said they had been discussing the opportunity with other nonprofits, such as volunteer fire departments, and that they were waiting for those agencies to have their April or May board meetings before they could submit an application to the fair board.

"Either way – we've got some time – and we will get those applications closer to the deadline date of May 15," Finney explained.

According to Finney, one organization, U.S. Marines Toy's for Tots, already submitted a full application to serve in the fair's beer garden.

Miller presented the board with its current budget and funding report. In his report, Miller stated although the fair is currently roughly $7,900 in the hole based on current expenditures, it is well under it's budget provided by the county and various funding. He noted several checks, not yet reflecting in the fair board's financials, had come in on Monday and would be added by the next board meeting.

The board discussed various sponsorships and how they could entice more sponsorships.

Miller told Kurz he would spend more time reaching out to businesses and residents to sponsor the fair.

There are five tiers of sponsorships ranging from $500 to $5,000 or more which each comes with varying perks such as tickets, banners, radio advertising, social media, website placement, ads, drink tickets and carnival passes.

The board discussed various committees in preparation for the July fair, including the roles and responsibilities of current Cheyenne County Queen Natalie Teppert, Lady-in-Waiting Tessa Little and Princess Bentli Price. Last year, Cheyenne County said goodbye to outgoing Queen Ashton Van Anne.

Roelle explained to board members that Teppert wants to model after her predecessor, Van Anne, and stay on to help the current Lady-in-Waiting through her first year as Rodeo queen.

The next Cheyenne County Fair Board will meet May 8, starting at 6:30 p.m. to finalize events, entertainment line-up and beer garden volunteers. For more information visit, http://www.cheyennecountyfair.com.