County fair to focus on 4-H and FFA

The Sweetwater County Fair will be scaled down this year in response to uncertainty related to future COVID-19 guidelines. As a result, the fair will focus on 4-H and FFA projects this year, scaling back from an annual event featuring nightly concerts, a carnival and entertainment.

“Due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation, it is difficult to predict what the national, state, and community guidelines for events will be at the time of the scheduled fair dates.

Our priority is ensuring that 4-H and FFA participants can complete their projects,” Larry Lloyd, executive director of the Sweetwater County Events Complex said in a press release.

The events complex is working with Sweetwater County 4-H and Green River FFA to prepare a live show for both groups to showcase their projects. If restrictions to public gatherings by Gov. Mark Gordon or the University of Wyoming Extension Office are established prior to the live fair, the events complex will host a virtual fair featuring photographs and videos of participants’ submissions to be judged online.

An online livestock auction would also take place.

“With the direct impact that the Sweetwater Events Complex has already taken from COVID-19, we have to be fiscally responsible, but still allow our local youth to finish projects that many have already started,” Lloyd said.

“The Sweetwater Events Complex Board had some tough decisions but feels that scaling the event back to only 4-H and FFA events is the best decision.”

A scaled-back fair is the latest economic hit for the events complex. Two major RV rallies scheduled to take place in June and late August have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, also resulting in lost revenue.

The unexpected revenue declines forced Lloyd to seek a $200,000 loan from the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners last week to help keep the complex operational until its next tax payments.

So far, the complex has lost 36 events and more than $1.07 million in revenue, but he events complex isn’t the only organization losing revenue.

Sales tax, the main revenue source for Green River, Rock Springs and other incorporated towns in the county, is projected to decline as more summer events are impacted by social distancing guidelines.