Overall, County Fair Went Well

The aroma of popcorn, grilled hamburgers and nachos are already a memory. 4-H members have sold their lifestock and are looking toward next year’s project. The dust from the PRCA rodeo, the barrel races and then the demolition derby has settled. The 2018 Cheyenne County Fair and Rodeo is concluded.

Fair Board President Gerald Frerichs said this year’s fair went well.

He said events were well attended. He said he observed stands at the events to be half to three-fourths full each night.

This year, the Fair included Fun Night, a night of games and zip line fun.

“We had the Dance Team do it,” he said.

He said the Fair Board hopes to get other communities involved.

One of the difficulties with this year’s fair is the carnival, and the date of the fair. This year’s fair was scheduled to accommodate the carnival provider’s schedule and availability. The challenge, according to Frerichs, is there are fewer and fewer carnival companies. However, the carnival provider did not bring all of the rides contracted.

He said the Fair Board is hoping to bring back a previous year’s carnival contractor.

“We’re working with them, trying to get them back next year,” Frerichs said.

The hope is to return the Fair to early August, after harvest and before the Nebraska State Fair. Frerichs said the Fair Board travels to a carnival convention in Kearney to meet with contractors.

Performers are contracted through a talent agency in Iowa.

“We try to book (performers) a year in advance,” he said.

The Cheyenne County Fair Board meets Monday, Aug. 6.