Garfield County Fair adapts to COVID-19 by holding Youth Livestock Show and Sale

POMEROY–The restructured Garfield County Fair Youth Livestock Show and Sale, which is not open to the public, will take place this coming weekend September 17-19.

The Garfield County Fair is not able to be held in its traditional format due to current COVID–19 restrictions. The fair has been restructured for 2020 to include 4–H Still Life entries and a livestock show called the Garfield County Fair Youth Livestock Show and Sale. These events will not be open to the general public. There will be no food or retail vendors and no entertainment.

Those 4–H members who will enter still life projects, have been sent details as to how, when, and where they can be entered. Premium books and entry tags for these exhibits can be picked up at the Garfield County Extension office.

Market Steers, Hogs, and Sheep will be exhibited in both market animal and showmanship classes; an in-person sale will be held Saturday, September 19 at 4 p.m. To pre-register for the sale in-person or by market sale proxy, contact Larry Ledgerwood at 509-780-7231.

The fairgrounds will be open only to pre-registered exhibitors, their household members, and volunteers who are necessary to put on the show and sale. Public entry to the fairgrounds will not be permitted.

This event will be conducted in accordance with Governor Inslee’s Phase 2 Agricultural Events COVID–19 Requirements released August 10, 2020. Plans were approved by the Garfield County Public Health Department and the Board of County Commissioners. The cooperation of all involved is essential to the success of this event.

The Garfield County Fair Board appreciates the community’s support and the friends and family who support these youth in their projects throughout the year. We will miss all the spectators in the stands and can’t wait to come back better than ever in 2021!

Pomeroy Chamber of Commerce-sponsored events held in collaboration with the annual fair have also been canceled. To comply with COVID-19 restrictions, the Fair Parade will not be held. The Cowboy Breakfast, usually held Saturday morning of fair weekend, has also been canceled.

Collaboratively written by Jamie Hames, Garfield County Fair Board Secretary; Sheree Ledgerwood, Garfield County 4-H Coordinator; and Lisbeth Randall, Garfield County Fair Board Treasurer and WSU/Garfield County Extension Office Manager. Sale contributor Larry Ledgerwood, Garfield County Fair Sale Treasurer.