The following is a statement from the Dane County Fair:
It is with great sadness that the Dane County Fair Association, Inc. announces the cancellation of the 2020 Dane County Fair due to COVID-19. Recently, a State of Emergency was declared for Dane County until at least July 15, 2020, and the Alliant Energy Center was designated as a community testing site. Numerous other events over the summer have already been canceled, and it is evident that the risk of community spread of COVID-19 will still exist through the summer. The Dane County Fair Association, Inc. Board of Directors assessed the risk to our exhibitors, their families, our volunteers, and the public as well as the uncertainty for social gatherings and the financial implications and determined that we are unable to host the 2020 Dane County Fair scheduled for July 16-19, 2020.
Our youth exhibitors and fair traditions are very important to us, but nothing is more important than the health and safety of every patron that joins us at the Dane County Fair. This consideration also extends to the Fair and 4-H staff, carnival employees, food and commercial vendors, entertainment, dedicated volunteers and judges, and hard-working Chairs and Superintendents who make our Fair possible.
While the Dane County Fair will be canceled this year, the Fair Board has determined that any youth exhibitor who is aging out of participation this year and is enrolled in a 2020 project will be eligible to participate in the
2021 Dane County Fair within the same project areas. This exception is only made for the 2021 Dane County Fair under the Fair Rules. More details to come.
“The Board of Directors fully realize there are a number of kids that have put in an enormous amount of preparation and planning in anticipation of exhibiting one last time at the Fair,” states Darwin Lynde, President
of the Dane County Fair Association, Inc. “With this extension, it will give them that opportunity in 2021.” Sponsor, vendors, and pre-paid ticket holders will have the opportunity to have their payments rolled over to the
2021 Dane County Fair or be issued a full refund. The Dane County Fair staff will reach out to those parties directly to make arrangements.
“This decision was extremely difficult and disappointing for our board, but ultimately the health and safety of our community, attendees, partners, staff, and volunteers are of the utmost importance,” says General Manager,
Danielle Ziegler. “We thank our community for their support and understanding, and we look forward to next year when we can all come back together at the 2021 Dane County Fair – July 15-18, 2021.” On behalf of the Dane County Fair Association, Inc., we wish you good health and thank you for your patience during these unprecedented times.
Ron says
Why can’t they do judging over zoom? Auction the same way. Kids have put in lots of time and money. I can see kids dropping out or not doing projects cause they won’t have the money to do this next year. Lots of kids rely on that auction money for next year project.
Pam Jahnke says
I think fairs are looking at a lot of options right now. Remember, even if they sell the animals on line – where are they going to go for processing? In Wisconsin, most local butchers are backed up to this fall if not 2021. Is the exhibitor going to keep and feed that animal until it can be processed? If the animals are going to be sent through regular marketing channels (local livestock barns) there’s no premium there for the kids and they can market those animals on their own.