EDITORIAL: Poised for a future of transitions

Posted 7/26/11

A main building was demolished earlier this spring, and just last month, the fair’s manager resigned. But this week’s fair will go on as planned and, we hope, without any hitches.

The Large Exhibit Hall that stood at the fairgrounds for …

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EDITORIAL: Poised for a future of transitions

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As the Park County Fair begins this week featuring the annual traditions its known for — pig mud wrestling, the junior livestock sale, carnival rides, exhibits, performances and the demolition derby — some important elements are missing this year.

A main building was demolished earlier this spring, and just last month, the fair’s manager resigned. But this week’s fair will go on as planned and, we hope, without any hitches.

The Large Exhibit Hall that stood at the fairgrounds for decades was torn down after officials deemed it structurally unsound.

For this year’s fair, the exhibits that once filled the large hall — everything from pickles to cakes to colorful artwork — will be housed across the street in the Multi-purpose Room instead. Where the building once stood, a concrete slab remains, and the space has been repurposed as a sitting area with picnic tables.

The Large Exhibit Hall was heavily used year-round, beyond just fair week, and the community certainly will be impacted by its absence in months to come.

However, some promising plans are being discussed for a new multi-use building at the fairgrounds. While many details must be worked out, and it may take some time before a structure is actually built, there’s great potential for Park County to build a fairgrounds facility that meets various community needs.

Fair-goers will have a chance to weigh in on a proposed facility’s tentative floor plan this week. Residents’ feedback on the new facility also is being collected through an online survey at www.parkcountyfair.com.

As for this year’s other missing element — a fair manager — the staff and county fair board have stepped up and are working hard to ensure a successful 2011 fair. Steve Scott’s unfortunate resignation left just a month to hire and train a new manager, something that simply wasn’t possible for this year’s fair. Leaving the fairgrounds also prompted Scott to resign from the Powell City Council, effective Aug. 1. Replacements will fill both vacated positions soon.

Park County takes pride in its annual county fair, and it’s vital that the new manager steer the fair toward continued success, especially with the future structural changes at the fairgrounds.

This year’s fair is aptly themed “Proud of Our Past, Poised for the Future.” While the fair might look a bit different this week, we believe it will remain a county tradition to be proud of throughout the times of transition ahead.

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