The Warren County Fair Board has decided to cancel this year’s County Fair due to the unpredictable circumstances surrounding COVID-19.

The Fair board announced its decision April 16, saying it did not want organizers and participants to go through several more weeks of preparation, only to cancel the week of events. The cancellation includes the annual Fair parade and Fourth of July fireworks.

The Fair had been scheduled to take place the first week of July, with the parade on June 28. But it’s hard to predict whether restrictions on large public gatherings will be lifted by that time, or if such gatherings would still be a public health risk.

“It is best to call it off now and hope to have other events later in the year to celebrate as a community and under better conditions,” the Fair board said in its announcement.

Fair board President Paul Owenby said proceeding with plans for the Fair might also have put the organization’s finances in jeopardy. He explained that many attractions, such as carnival rides and motorsport events, have to be paid for in advance. The Fair board then recoups those advance payments using revenue from attendance.

“You could easily have $30,000 to $40,000 wrapped up. Without any way to make that revenue (if we cancel later), we couldn’t afford that risk,” Owenby said.

Organizers are discussing possibly hosting several smaller events in the fall. But that will depend on whether there are still government-mandated limits on the size of public gatherings, Owenby said.

“Hopefully, this will be the only time in my lifetime, or my kids’ lifetime, that this happens,” he commented.

Livestock shows may continue

Despite the surrounding Fair activities being canceled, organizers of the livestock shows say they’re going t0 continue on as planned — for now.

“Right now we decided we’re going to plan the livestock shows and what we have scheduled as-is,” said co-coordinator Brenda Molitor. “We’ll reassess what we have on June 1, as far as what the limitations are, what restrictions are in place.”

But if the stars align, the young members of 4-H and FFA clubs who have been preparing to show animals this year will still get their chance. Many of them have already made financial commitments to their projects, Molitor said.

It’s too early to know what special arrangements might have to be made for the livestock shows. If there’s still a cap on the size of public gatherings, the shows might need to be spread out over more days, Molitor commented.

In the worst case scenario that the shows end up being canceled, the livestock committee will arrange an online auction so kids can still sell their animals, Molitor said.

4-H and FFA exhibits

Warren County 4-H organizer Carey Benne said there’s an ongoing discussion about how to handle craft exhibits that are normally displayed and judged during the Fair.

Benne said 4-H and FFA club sponsors are considering using an online format to display and judge projects.

“It would be almost like a Zoom meeting, where they would have a conference judging-type experience, where they present their item. All those details are still coming into place,” Benne said.

She said losing their seasonal activities is hard for 4-H and FFA families. Organizers are doing their best to engage with them online and through limited activities.

“We’re trying to just be there for them, and let them know if they need something, all they need to do is reach out,” Benne said.