Editorial:

Agricultural heritage remains at the heart of our county fair

Posted 7/23/20

Like most parts of life in 2020, this week’s Park County Fair looks quite different. Gone are the spinning carnival rides, smashing derby cars and crowds milling about on the midway.

But …

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Editorial:

Agricultural heritage remains at the heart of our county fair

Posted

Like most parts of life in 2020, this week’s Park County Fair looks quite different. Gone are the spinning carnival rides, smashing derby cars and crowds milling about on the midway.

But despite significant changes, the Park County Fair is remaining true to its roots, celebrating our county’s agricultural past. Those roots run deep.

From the first homesteaders who farmed the Powell Valley to today’s youth who faithfully care for livestock throughout the year, we are an agricultural community.

Fair week is the culmination of months of hard work for youth who will proudly showcase their prized lambs, hogs, steers, goats and rabbits in 4-H and FFA shows.

While many of the typical fair events were canceled this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the core remained: Recognition of our county’s agricultural heritage, and a celebration of the youth who carry on those traditions as the next generation.

This week, 4-H and FFA market shows will continue at the fairgrounds, just as they have for generations. And once again, the community will gather on the final day of the fair to support these hard-working kids and teens at the annual Junior Livestock Sale.

Thanks to the steadfast commitment and hard work of local volunteers, Saturday’s sale will go on as it always has, with youth selling their livestock to the highest bidder. New this year is online bidding, so folks don’t have to attend the sale in-person.

Understandably, some buyers will choose to get online and bid from the safety and/or convenience of their own home. Other buyers may wear a face covering while in the Sale Barn. Though the sale may look different in some ways, we believe the community will show up to support 4-H and FFA youth, whether virtually or at the fairgrounds.

We also know it won’t be easy for some businesses to support the sale at the levels they have in the past. Businesses across Wyoming are struggling in the current economic downturn, and Park County is no exception. Small businesses have been hit hard in 2020, and many face an uncertain future.

Yet we share the optimism of Junior Livestock Sale Chairman Joe Bridges going into Saturday’s sale, believing that faithful supporters in our county will do whatever they can for local youth.

“That’s deep in my heart, knowing that these kids are still going to be taken care of, because that’s what kind of community we live in,” Bridges said last week.

We’re a community that shows up, even when we can’t all be together.

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