By Kalin Krohe, Panhandle Post
The Box Butte County Fair Board recently met along with 4-H leaders and have decided to hold the 2020 fair as COVID-19 restrictions ease up. This year's theme is "Boots, Jeans, & Nebraska Dreams."
The fair is scheduled for Aug. 2 - 9 at the Box Butte County fairgrounds in Hemingford.
Tickets are available at bbcofair.com and the Box Butte County Fair Office.
Box Butte County Fair Board President Ron Henzler told Panhandle Post he's hoping virus restrictions continue to ease up and that the fair can have more than 25% attendance.
"We're thinking by August it'll be pretty decent," said Henzler. "We realize we had to go in accordance with what the CDC and the Govenor says for what we can do and can't do. There will be a lot of signage and we're going to try to spread people out if we have to. Try to distance as much as we can...we're hoping this all gets better and it won't be quite as bad as it is right now. If you're not content with what is happening then I guess don't attend. We don't want to keep anybody away, but at the same time we do need the attendance."
Henzler said if the virus doesn't get better the board will figure out other plans.
"The exhibitors can all follow through with their projects," Henzler added. "They've been working hard all year. That's one of the reasons we agreed to go ahead with this. You hate to see anybody not be able to show their animal or project."
Henzler said that for events held in the grandstands, the fair board is going to try to spread people out.
The main concert headliner will be country singer/songwriter Ned Ledoux. Other popular events like the demolition derby, Queen Contest, tractor pull, and more are currently planned. The fair will not have a carnival due to budget restrictions, but will have inflatables as in previous years.
"I really appreciate all the board members and the 4-H and FFA personnel," Henzler stated. "It just takes a tremendous amount of people to pull this all together. It's just a lot of people working together. I really feel...as far as Box Butte County goes...we are probably working even closer together than what we were before. We take a fair amount of pride in that."
Fair Schedule:
