A Fair Amount of Activity

POMEROY–The Garfield County Fair Board approved a contract with Harvest Host to allow free one dry camp overnight stay dry at the fairground RV facility at the meeting July 20. Harvest Host is a 160,000 member Texas based RV club that promotes local museums and other attractions throughout the country. The contract allows members to dry camp at an RV site one overnight stay a year at a given location. Reservations are recommended and members who stay longer or use hookups would pay for the additional nights and fees. This would bring more visitors to the area to visit the museum. Harvest Host, promotes local museums and other attractions throughout the country.

The board approved to cap the total expenses for livestock judges and attempt the tiered package this year. Those who travel less than one hundred miles will be paid a flat-fee expense package of $150 with no mileage reimbursement, and those traveling one hundred miles or more will be paid $200. Judges were previously paid $150 per day plus fifty-six cents for mileage.

The Garfield County Fair Board is holding two fundraisers this year; a guided one-day bass fishing trip for six people with lunch provided for a day in September, May, June or July, normally valued at $1,500. The other is an eleven-hour trip for two people up to Hells Canyon Dam with both breakfast and lunch provided, normally valued at $578. Tickets for fair fundraisers are available from any board member or from Monica Bartlow at the Garfield County Extension Office and are limited to 500 tickets per raffle. The drawing will be held at the rodeo and winners need not be present to win.

In other board business, Lunsford's idea to hire an announcer for the arena games at the fair on Saturday, September 18 was agreed to by the board. A start time for the event is tentatively set at 7 p.m. Lunsford also asked if any board member would like to take over the featured agricultural display at the fair that is worth one hundred points on the state fair list. This project entails creating an educational display of an agricultural or fair-related subject and directing people to it. It was suggested that the display information be listed in the online.

Superintendents have been found to fill the vacancies so all departments are covered. The suggestion was made to "tag" the superintendents of each department on the fair's facebook page so people would know who to contact if necessary and all the superintendents present agreed.

Dave Ruark said the Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum (EWAM) has hosted numerous visitors at the facility and have tour groups scheduled. He also said the museum has a possibility of acquiring a 1919 Case tractor from a donor and noted that the yellowjackets are getting more active and the area needs to be sprayed.

Voni Mulrony stated things were looking good for the rodeo and the stock supplier will be the same one used in 2019. The arena still needs some work and they will need water "big-time" on the grounds due to the extremely dry and dusty conditions. County Commissioner Larry Ledgerwood said when the water lines at the fairgrounds are redone the plans are to send a two-inch line to the rodeo grounds.

The Fair Board will next meet on August 10, 2021, at 7 p.m. in the Dick Brown Community Building. Lunsford pointed out that this is the second Tuesday of the month instead of the usual third Tuesday.

The Garfield County Fair Board met Tuesday evening, July 20, in the Dick Brown Community Building with thirteen members and four guests in attendance.