Fair Board discusses budget changes and ideas at length

The June fair board meeting has held on June 3. Board members Rebecca Bates, Tracy Haley, Eron Lampman, Katrina Zeller, Tim Allen, Dan VanderPloeg and Jesse Dewey were at the meeting. Fair Coordinator Dusty Miller and Commissioner Dave Neves attended as well. 

Board member Tracy Haley discussed with the board the upcoming and past  budgets. She explained that the fair was $11,000 over budget and there were still some additional expenses that need to be paid. Those expenses and the new budget will be presented to the commissioners. Haley said that the commissioners had specifically asked what was needed to finish out this year. The fair coordinator salary is now under the fair budget. Fair managers in the past had been paid through general county funds. 

Later in the meeting Haley presented an initial fair budget and asked for input from the board and some audience members.  She explained she worked hard on it, pulling last year’s budget and historical data for a few years. She also looked at where the fair monies sit as of now and what she believes will be needed now from the county for this budget year.  The fiscal budget year starts July 1.  

Haley said the fair will need monies now for Dusty Miller fair coordinator salary, Otto’s salary, fair book expenses, and ShoWorks. She estimated the funds needed are nearly $18,000. 

The board discussed how some items were lumped together under event/entertainment. The board indicated they would like to see each event/entertainment with their own line item. 

 Also, discussed was that fair expenses were another area that had many items had been lumped into it. Those included premiums, ice, judge’s rooms, sanitation, etc. She noted that some of the items were initial expenses but also brought money back to the fair. Such as ice sales to the vendors. Haley proposed that the judge’s room costs, fees, etc. should be under their own line item. She believes premiums should also have their own line item. Changes like this and others will create a truer picture on money coming in and out of the fair. 

After spending nearly an hour discussing the budget, the board agreed on what Haley would submit to the county for the 2026-27 fair budget. 

 OTHER BUSINESS 

• Bates introduced the new fair office manager, Amanda Otto. Otto will be in the office 8 am-noon, Monday-Friday. Her hours will increase as the fair comes closer.  

• Zeller said that the free stage lineup was nearly complete. 

• A clean-up day was planned.   

• Miller gave an update on events and the royalty contest. 

 • Next board meeting is July 1, 6:30 p.m.