County seeking new fair manager

By: 
BARBARA ANNE GREENE

At the September 9 Big Horn County Fair Board meeting, the board was given a letter of resignation from Fair Manager Cash Duncan. The resignation is effective Sept. 30, 2024. Duncan has taken a job with the Basin Recreation Department.

Duncan told the board that he has spoken to the new Big Horn REA general manager, Jeff Pillow, about upgrades and cleanup of the Big Horn REA Arena. Duncan estimated the cost around $10,000. Pillow said an application would have to be filled out. It will be taken to the REA board.

“They may not be able to be here to put it all together, but just donating material or time on equipment could help out,” Duncan said. 

Board member Tracy Haley asked if the county maintenance foreman, Jeremy Pouska, would be a part of the process. Duncan replied yes and that he had already talked to Pouska about it.

CAT SHOW ADDITION 

Gretty Gasvoda, the UW Extension 4-H educator, told the board she would like to have a cat show next year at fair. It will not be open class. It will be open to 4-H and FFA members only. Gasvoda said the addition could get youth who don’t live where they can have livestock involved in the fair. The board approved the addition.  

VENDORS

Duncan and Gasvoda told the board that two meal tickets turned in for reimbursement by a vendor appeared to be photocopies of real tickets. There was discussion on how to make sure tickets are valid next year. 

Board member Rebecca Bates shared she had talked to the owner of one of the food vendors who normally is at fair. He told her that some of the vendors were mad because there were too many of them. Duncan said that all the vendors he spoke to were happy with the amount of money they earned.

This same vendor called a county commissioner to complain about the date that the fair closed vendor applications. He also complained about having to write several checks to the fair to be a vendor.  Duncan told the board that the vendor sent numerous checks that were not for the correct amount. 

Bates said that vendor also vented that, at previous fairs, the vendors could pay after fair week was over. She also heard “too many vendors” from one other food vendor.

PIG BARN

Duncan contacted four to five businesses to ask them for estimates on the pig barn. Only one got back to him.  That estimate, for the building and wash bay, was between $325,000 and $330,000. He gave the estimate to the commissioners.

A memorial fund was set up for longtime manager Howard Gernant. When the fund is closed out, the family will present the money to the commissioners. It is earmarked for the pig barn.

In other fair board business, the Twitchell family said they would like to do a goat barn cleanup. 

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