The Park County Fair wrapped up on Saturday, concluding a week’s worth of entertainment, animals and exhibits.

The fair remains a tradition we should be proud of, showcasing the hard work that local youth and adults have put in over the past year and bringing together folks from all walks of life to have a good time. Park County’s Fair continues to be one of the best there is.

But beyond being fun, it’s a reminder that good government sometimes can go beyond the basics of infrastructure and public safety.

While the final numbers have yet to be tallied, it’s essentially a given that the Park County Fair will have lost some money; the fair is effectively subsidized by the county government every year.

For fiscal year 2019-2020, commissioners have agreed to provide $37,464 worth of tax dollars to make ends meet. It’s the smallest subsidy that the county has offered in recent years — down from more than $86,000 in 2017-18 — but as the county’s budget has grown tight, it’s easy to envision the fair’s expenses going on the chopping block.

“Do we really need to be spending money to put on a big show?” some might ask.

In our minds, however, the answer is yes.

Inclusive events like the fair are an integral part of what makes Park County a great place to live. And that “livability” is a critical component of growing our economy and sustaining our community.

In Wyoming, much time and effort is spent trying to lure big businesses to set up shop in the state. With the help of the state, local governments and economic development groups in Park County routinely make a point of trying to attract companies to move here.

To be sure, it’s crucial to make Park County and Wyoming a welcoming place to do business, with strong infrastructure, reasonable taxes, minimal regulations, etc. But it would be a mistake to forget the other half of the equation — that our community also needs to be a welcoming place for the people who work for those businesses.

Powell and Park County have a lot of attractive qualities, from our beautiful scenery to an exceptional education system to a generous community that, on Saturday, poured out tens of thousands of dollars to support local youth at the fair’s Junior Livestock Sale.

But local leaders would do well to remember that it takes a conscious effort to maintain and strengthen our community. Sometimes that means subsidizing the county fair so certain days can remain as free admission; sometimes it’s providing funding for a new study of ways to improve walking and biking routes around Powell, as county commissioners recently voted to pursue.

Especially amid tight budgets, no area of government spending should be immune from scrutiny and officials must make essential services their priority. However, we believe it would be a mistake to discount the value of the amenities that could be seen as mere “extras.”

Things like reliable electricity, safe streets and smooth roads are all critical parts of building a desirable place to live, but sometimes it’s the little things — like a watermelon-eating contest or goat-dressing competition — that make a place really special.