County fairs still staying the course

Big news from Des Moines has shifted eyes to local officials as they determine whether or not to hold county fairs this summer.

The Iowa State Fair was canceled last week for the first time since World War II. The COVID-19 pandemic was the cause this time around, as state fair board members voted 11-2 to wait until next year.

"It was a hard decision. You work all year to plan a fair," said Darwin Gaudian, of Primghar, who represents the Northwest District on the Iowa State Fair Board. "Too many things were against us."

Locally, fair organizers in both O'Brien and Clay counties are still planning on hosting their respective events.

The O'Brien County Fair Board agreed earlier this month to move forward with a youth 4-H and FFA fair only. Livestock shows will be held in a show-and-go format July 18-23, with more details to follow.

"The kids will bring them in the morning to show them, and then either take them to market or bring them home so there's nothing overnight at the fairgrounds," explained Gaudian, who also serves as president of the O'Brien County Fair Board.

The non-livestock and static exhibits will be shown in a similar manner utilized at the state fair. Additional details will be forthcoming, according to a post on the O'Brien County Fair's Facebook page.

All entertainment, including Tuesday youth activities like the talent show and royalty contest, are canceled. Open class and commercial exhibits have also been shelved.

Additionally, current licensing restrictions have prohibited the fair's food court. No temporary food licenses are being issued by the state at this time.

Gaudian said the Primghar Jaycees will determine whether the annual races are held. He was hopeful the fair would be able to continue under this reduced format.

"As long as the county stays pretty stable [with COVID-19 infection rates], we'll plan on it unless the governor or public health tells us not to," he said.

Gaudian noted the state fair board is exploring scheduling 4-H and FFA livestock shows in August. More information will be forthcoming.

The Primghar man voted in favor of pushing the state fair to next year. With deadlines approaching and entertainment acts already jumping ship, he felt there was no choice.

"We deal with so many people there. How do you keep them apart?" he said, acknowledging COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. "You see what's happening right now in Dickinson County. To me, I could see the same thing happening at the state fair."

• Clay County Fair still a go

Organizers in Spencer are still planning to host "The World's Greatest County Fair."

A final determination on whether or not to hold the 2020 Clay County Fair will be made in July, according to CEO/Manager Jeremy Parsons.

"That's still the plan," he said. "We continue to evaluate all sorts of scenarios."

Parsons said fair organizers need 60-70 days to complete all pre-event activities. He also noted the outlook for fall events remains unclear, as CDC and Iowa Department of Public Health guidelines do not extend that far into the future.

"All events are still in place, with no cancellations or postponements," he said.

If the fair gets pushed due to COVID-19, Parson said the hope is to reschedule all existing entertainment acts for 2021.

"We're investigating a ton of different scenarios," he said. "Our plan right now is to put on a complete Clay County Fair in 2020 with all those things people have come to expect and love from the fair. But come July, we'll sit down and evaluate if can we actually do those things logistically with all that's in place."