County Fair Board moves ahead with more music for 2019

WORLAND – The Washakie County Fair Board voted to accept a plan to offer six nights of music during the 2019 fair, and has agreed to work with the Worland-Ten Sleep Chamber of Commerce to expand activities and increase participation in the annual fair parade.

During a special meeting last March, the Washakie County Fair Board, after hearing from Montana-based music promoter and musician Daniel Kosel, unanimously approved a proposal to pay $10,400 for four nights of music, totaling 20 hours, during the 2018 county fair.

This year, during the first January meeting, the board approved six nights of music, again promoted and planned by Kosel, at a total cost of $15,000.

This year’s evening entertainment will feature Daniel Kosel, a songwriter night, Tylor and The Train Robbers, The Cold Hard Cash Show, Tris Munsik and The Innocents, Arterial Drive and Lacy Nelson.

Previously, with a vote of 3-2, the board voted to eliminate gate fees for the fair, deciding instead to charge for special events.

“Now, you’ll only pay to go to special events and not the fair itself,” noted Fair Board President David Doyle.

After the 2018 fair, the board recognized that, although there have been complaints, the entrance fee at the fair may need to be looked at, but noted that the fee covered all events inside the fair, where other fairs require a separate fee for rodeos, music and special events. The board ultimately decided that event-only admission was the better idea.

The board also agreed to work more closely with the Worland-Ten Sleep Chamber of Commerce in planning and promotion of the 2019 fair. In September, both the Fair Board and Chamber of Commerce agreed that the fair parade was a priority, with only a few participating last year, and very little local business involvement.

Both groups discussed how to increase fair visitors, and noted that 4-H participation has been falling over the years, and so many events are becoming harder to fill.

This year, Doyle says the parade will be planned out with the chamber well in advance. Doyle also noted that the chamber will be distributing a survey of Washakie County residents on how the fair could perform better. The chamber noted that the survey will be posted on SurveyMonkey soon.

The chamber also volunteered to recruit a local civic club to bring a demolition derby to the fair, if time permits, as well as seeking business sponsorship to bring the Budweiser Clydesdales to the parade.