The Blaine County Commissioners and Blaine County Fairboard held a meeting last week on Thursday, July 17 with discussion focused on finalizing a schedule for the 2020 Blaine County Fair and deciding how the events will be carried out.

The Blaine County Fairboard and Commissioners have the enviable task of making the most out of a difficult situation in doing what is best for this year’s fair to take place in some form.

Both the Commissioners and Fairboard met with a representative of the counties insurance coverage to discuss COVID-19 coverage.

Currently there is no coverage for any situation involving COVID-19. Any filings against the County would have to prove negligence to win a lawsuit.

Blaine County Fairboard Manager Debbie Ramberg has been very busy working out the logistics with all the parties involved and provided the Blaine County Journal News~Opinion an update on the current situation, “After discussing our options and not having enough manpower for sanitizing and cleaning the whole grounds. We opted to cancel vendors in the commercial building and Ag hall.”

It should be noted that prior to the meeting, five of the food vendors, the carnival and the petting zoo had already canceled their participation at the 2020 Blaine County Fair separately from any decision made by the Blaine County Fair board of the Blaine County Commissioners.

The meeting Thursday resulted in the cancellations of vendors in the commercial building and entries in the Ag building and open class due to insufficient manpower. The lack of workers would make it impossible to sanitize and clean the property effectively.

One of the major points of discussion at the meeting including the Commissioners presenting a resolution that would have shut down events of more than 50 people taking place at the Blaine County Fairgrounds.

The Fairboard responded with a revised fair plan that was originally set to have the Kids Rodeo (Since Canceled) on Wednesday, The Bear Paw Roundup on Thursday and Friday with the ‘Doo Wah Riders’ for entertainment. the Doo Wah Riders would also have a concert on Saturday evening.

The Kids Rodeo canceled their event Friday morning. The Blaine County Showdown Demolition Derby and the ever-popular Pig Wrestling events have also been canceled. Later the Commissioners voted 2-1 to not pass the resolution and the Bear Paw Roundup Rodeo Committee decided to move forward with their rodeo.

“We’re happy to hear that the Commissioners voted against the proposal as this will allow events that were already booked to still take place. These events include the Chinook Golf Course Annual Banquet next month as well as the Blaine County Cruisers event and the Chinook Rod and Gun Club’s Annual Gun Show in October.

The end result of the meeting for the 2020 Blaine County Fair will include a 4-H Fair that will begin on Thursday, August 13. The PRCA Bear Paw Roundup Rodeo along with the Doo Wah Riders will take place Thursday and Friday, August 13-14. The Doo Wah Riders will also have their concert on Saturday night.

The Blaine County Fairboard has a COVID-19 plan in place for these events and will have plenty of hand sanitizer in place. The grandstands will be roped off in 50 seat pod sections and the local Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter will provide concessions. There is also the possibility of a Food Truck being on site.

The Blaine County Fairboard as for the publics kindness and understanding as those involved are doing their best to keep the Fair on schedule.