Four nights of music at the Fair?
Board to hold special meeting Thursday to address entertainment
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WORLAND – The Washakie County Fair Board met Tuesday, and after hearing from a Montana-based music promoter, decided to hold a special meeting on Thursday to determine if the fair can pay an estimated $9,000 for four nights of music during the 2018 county fair.
Originally, the board envisioned Ned Ledoux, the son of the late musician Chris Ledoux, to play at the event, to help offset the annual rodeo and other entertainment. After reviewing Ledoux’s requested $17,000 one-night fee, plus the addition of a provided sound system, lights and a 20-foot by 40-foot stage, it was declared that the board would seek other entertainment in the months leading up to the late July, early August event.
“Once all that is done it would end up costing us closer to $27,000 for one act,” noted Board President David Doyle.
At the February meeting, Secretary Beth Shaffer offered to help find the music acts, and invited Montana musician and music promoter Daniel Kosel to attend Tuesday’s meeting.
Kosel outlined how he could submit a proposal within 48 hours to provide up to seven regional bands for the Tuesday through Friday evening concerts, along with a portable dance floor and sound system. Kosel’s band would also headline the Friday night show, after the annual rodeo.
Pig wrestling will be featured on Tuesday night of fair week.
Music may be the only other source of evening entertainment during the week leading up to the Friday-night rodeo, as the fair board has had difficulty finding a carnival contractor, and the tractor pull is not currently on the schedule.
For the months of July and August 2017, when the fair is hosted in Washakie County, the bank recorded a total of $32,417.17 in deposits, and expenditures of $56,144.96. (Deposits for the first week of August (after the fair) amounted to a total of $24,769.21.)
At the end of July, the bank recorded a balance of -$1,085.06, and at the end of August, a balance of $21.690.32.
An example of expenditures for the fair included $7,500 for musical acts, $4,500 for beer for concessions and over $15,000 in assorted livestock fees and transportation.
Thursday’s special meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Washakie County Fairgrounds.
