Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

BASIN – Wyoming State Fair Director James Goodrich met with around two dozen interested fair goers and members of the local agriculture community in Basin on Tuesday, to hear ideas concerning the annual event, and discuss the impact of state budget cuts to the fair program.

The program is part of a state-wide "listening session" program, to gather input from taxpayers.

The State Fair is budgeted under the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, and both fair operations and related capital construction projects are funded through both state general funds and special revenue. Overall, since 1999, the State Fair has received approximately $25.2 million in General Fund appropriations for operations. Annual appropriations have increased by about 63 percent since 1999 to the current budget of $3,172,434, however, with state budget cuts, the fair is expected to lose approximately $375,000 in funding.

Previously, the State Fair had two enterprise funds in reserve, but spent those down to qualify for further general funds appropriations. The loss of those appropriations has left the division in a tight spot, and may require cutting functions from the fair.

"It's pretty much handicapped us," said Goodrich, noting that the fair compensated in 2017 by raising vendor fees for the carnival midway, cutting free entertainment by 80 percent over 2016 and raising facility fees (for private receptions) by 15 percent. Food vendors fees for the fair remain at $2,700, to help retain vendors for the event.

Goodrich also noted that the talent agency contracted for 2017 waived the usual contract fees for the musical acts, instead footing the bill and taking the majority of the ticket sales as compensation.

"We really are trying to retain all of the elements that make the fair," said Goodrich. "The rodeo really doesn't make us any money, and all of the revenue from off-season events [weddings and conferences] go toward maintenance."

Goodrich also noted that gate and livestock registration fees have been raised, per a mandate from the appropriations committee.

For the audience gathered in Basin, the primary focus was on the livestock portion of the fair, and concerns ranged from available lodging and facilities, to the amount of time and money that is spent on junior livestock showing and agriculture-related events.

The general consensus was that local livestock showers go to the fair to see friends and see the event as a vacation to Douglas. Many expressed that they would rather see changes to other portions of the fair program before any effect to the livestock portion, as the fair has always been ag-dominated.

"It seems the further away I get from the Douglas the more I hear that," commented Goodrich. "The carnival portion may not be as important to the people farther away."

Goodrich noted that the concerts and carnival bring people from Colorado and South Dakota, while the livestock portions are largely drawing only local interest, and the Wyoming State Fair is one of the only fairs left that still have an open livestock show.

"It may have to come down to associations sponsoring some of the cost [of the livestock shows]," said Goodrich.

While hope was expressed that mineral money may return to the state, in the form of oil and coal revenues and jobs, Goodrich noted that even if that were immediate, "it would take three or four years before we see the effects at the fair."

While ideas were exchanged, options included shortening the length of the fair, moving the fair to later in the year, having specific days for breed showing (sheep, cattle, etc.) and raising gate fees.

"If we shorten the length of the fair, we will definitely have to throw some things overboard," said Goodrich.

The session ended with attendees filling out an input evaluation, to offer their ideas to the Wyoming State Fair Advisory Board.

The next listening session for the Wyoming State Fair will be held in Buffalo, tonight at 7 p.m., at the Johnson County Fairgrounds.