Wyoming county fairs reported doing well

In spite of COVID-19 and the resulting restrictions, the University of Wyoming Extension Service reported most of Wyoming’s county fairs have done well this summer.

Most of the fairs are wrapping up this week, including the Sheridan County Fair, which ended Monday with the annual market livestock auction.

Fairs in Teton, Park, Platte and Converse ended more than a week ago, and the Natrona County Fair finished up in mid-July.

Many fairs required masks for 4-H exhibitors, and social distancing. Masks weren’t required in Sheridan County, but shows this year were organized differently, the Exhibit Hall wasn’t opened to the public, and some shows were moved to different venues so they wouldn’t be held inside buildings.

In addition, this year’s fair featured only 4-H and FFA shows, with no open class exhibits and none of the extraneous events such as pig wrestling that normally happen during the fair.

Glenn Owings, who’s 4-H educator in Teton County, said nearly all the fair events changed to some degree this year in either location, duration or method. But, he said, the fair in Teton County had a more community-oriented feel.

With county fairs mostly over, 4-H and FFA exhibitors across the state are now preparing for the state fair, scheduled to start next week in Douglas. Dates of this year’s state fair are Aug. 11-15.