Fair board to seek attendance variance

WORLAND — The Washakie County Fair Board continues to finalize plans for fair and make sure COVID protocols are in place.

During Monday’s regular meeting Chairman Jeff Lapp reported that his initial request seeking a variance from the state health order requiring no more than 250 people in attendance to an outside event was denied by county health officer Dr. Ed Zimmerman.

He said guidelines were provided by Public Health Nurse Manager Amanda Heinemeyer, including that separate variances needed to be requested for each event. The board discussed seeking variances for the musical concerts, the pig wrestling, kids rodeo, ranch rodeo, county fair rodeo and the monster truck show that will conclude this year’s fair on Aug. 1.

The board determined that they don’t usually have 250

spectators at any of the animal shows or the livestock sale so variances would not be needed.

Marty Cross suggested they also seek a variance for more than 600, perhaps as high as 1,200 spectators. He said he was expecting larger turnout this year because people are wanting to get out and wanting things to go and do.

The variances also need to include how the board will ensure social distancing guidelines are met.

Board member Beth Shaffer said she would assist Lapp in getting the variances completed and submitted. The variances need approval by the county health officer and state health officer Dr. Alexia Harrist.

Lapp said he used the Ten Sleep Rodeo variance as a model for the variance he put together.

He is also working with LeAnn Baker of the Washakie Development Association regarding a grant that may help cover costs the board is incurring this year due to COVID including bandanas that have been ordered for all spectators at the grandstand events for facecoverings, additional panels that will be needed to provide enough distance between pens, a large canopy to rent or purchase in order to extend the show arena for use for the livestock sale and the swine show.

The board approved entering into a contract with Tim Young’s Train similar to last year’s. The “train” is a children’s train ride. The board told Young that he would need to adhere to guidelines with only one child in a car unless they were immediate family members. Hand sanitizer needed to be used by all riders before and after rides and the cars would have to be sanitized several times a day.

The approval was contingent upon approval from County Attorney John Worrall.

In other business, the board discussed hours and personnel for the fair office. The fair office will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. during fair week. Three full-time employees were hired each for 40 hours per week, and one part-time person. No other applications were received.

The board also discussed reminding the public that dogs are not allowed on the fairgrounds at any time except for the dog show on Monday of fair week.

Regarding other COVID protocols, the board will have signs posted throughout the fairgrounds reminding visitors and participants to use hand sanitizer and social distance and wear a mask when social distancing is not possible; Xs will mark social distancing at the food court, hand sanitizer stations will be placed throughout the grounds and gloves and masks will be available for exhibitors and judges to use if they choose.

Attendees at the livestock shows are encouraged to bring their own masks if they so desire.

The Washakie County Fair Week runs from July 25-Aug. 1 although shooting sports are taking place this week.

The fair includes the aforementioned entertainment, the livestock shows and other exhibits and the fair parade and rhubarb rhevival on Saturday. A full schedule is published in this week’s issue.