With third successful headlining concert, fair board looks to 2025

With the third consecutive headlining concert deemed a success the Washakie County Fair Board turned their attention to the 2025 concert during its Monday night meeting.

Board member Beth Shaffer reported that despite slow advance ticket sales, more than 600 tickets were sold, bringing in $18,574 in revenue for the Thompson Square concert July 27.

Board members noted that many people said since there was a fee to purchase tickets online through TicketLeap they opted to purchase tickets at the gate.

Tamara Drake, who assisted in the office this year said in her opinion it was the “best concert in years.”

Board member Dani Rice added, “It was great.”

Thompson Square got the crowd energized early, encouraging fans to bring their chairs closer to the stage.

While the nearly $19,000 (that did not include concert sponsorships), was not enough to cover all expenses for Thompson Square at $30,000, the board was pleased with the attendance.

Board members noted they received reports of people jumping the offense avoiding the entry fees and some of those who had campers at the fair were inviting people to their campers to listen to the concert at no charge.

The board discussed increasing the camper fees to cover the cost of two concert tickets. No action was taken Monday night.

They discussed having the same budget or possibly higher for the concert but no formal motion was made. Shaffer is to ask Daniel Kosel, who the board contracts with for musical entertainment, to provide a list of possible groups to have available at next month’s meeting.

Rice noted that the board does not expect to make money or break even on the concerts but rather recoup some of the expenses and they are pleased with the crowds they have had the past three years.

Board members stated that the kids rodeo and fair rodeo also did not break even with both rodeos combined bringing in $3,250, with the contract by Cassidy Griemsman costing $15,000.

They noted that the people taking tickets at the Friday night Fair Rodeo left during the rainstorm, which was at the start of the rodeo and did not return, thus many attendees got in without paying.

They discussed options regarding ticket sales but made no decision.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business:

•Chairman Jeff Lapp said the board needs to figure out what to do about dogs on the fairgrounds. Dogs are not permitted on the fairgrounds except for the dog show and Strut Your Mutt however they ran into several problems.

Lapp noted he stepped in dog poop at the entrance to the concert because a dog owner did not pick up after their dog; one woman allowed her little dogs to run on top of the picnic tables, others had dogs running around without leashes or on a leash but not in their control.

Aside from asking people to remove their pets they were unable to come up with a solution to people “showing disrespect,” according to Lapp.

•On another dog matter, board member Sherry Walter said the third Strut Your Mutt was another huge success with several dogs and great prizes.

•The board approved a motion to purchase a new printer opting not to purchase the printer from bookkeeper Sandy Richard due to the fact they could not get it to stop printing a line.

•The board agreed to get gift certificates to the Green Hills Restaurant for Breck Buer and Kyle Emerson for their work during fair week.

•Rice noted they need to spend money to upgrade the indoor exhibit displays. No decision was made.

•Rice reported that Beef Superintendent Myles Bush was requesting some of the horse stalls as steer tie-outs as they are running out of room.

Several options were discussed with the board wanting to wait and have Bush attend a meeting to discuss options.

Beef numbers were up this year and Rice said she anticipates larger numbers next year.

•It was noted that more sheep pens are needed and at least 50 panel pins were also needed as they were missing. Worley Welding provided a quote of $150, and the board approved the quote. No action was taken on the pens.

•The board discussed new chicken and rabbit cages. Drake said the ones there were custom built to fit the custom-built stands. She said probably 10 new cages are needed.

Shaffer was tasked with getting pricing for material to build new cages.

•There was discussion regarding the number of fair books with about 35 of 150 leftover. The board opted to stay with the same number next year and work on distribution. The fairbook is also available online.

•Beth Bates, who manned the office for fair weeks said “everyone seemed team-oriented” but had a few suggestions, like having a map available to help judges find the areas they need to go, to provide a list of who can go into the storage area in the fair office, have a more user-friendly timeline and event requirements than what the fair book provides.

•Drake suggested and Rice and Shaffer agreed that it would be good to have a fair office employee a couple days a week throughout the year who could streamline things, work on vendor contracts, contact judges, get banner sponsors and more.

The board has asked the commissioners about a fair manager in the past.

No action was taken at Monday’s meeting.