The joint Agriculture committee considered legislation on Oct. 31 that would expand the State Fair Board’s authority to manage contracts and certain financial decisions related to the state fair and fairgrounds. The committee voted to sponsor the bill after adopting amendments intended to clarify the board’s financial responsibilities.

Sponsor and rationale: The sponsor explained the bill was drafted after months of the newly formed State Fair Board operating and seeking authority to act more nimbly on contracting and budget decisions. Supporters said giving the board direct contracting authority and clearer financial control will allow faster hires, allow the board to respond quickly to operational needs (for example, last-minute judge replacements or contractor services before a fair) and provide the board more detailed budgeting information to manage interim revenue generation and facility improvements.

Testimony and discussion: Courtney Konkle, general manager of the Wyoming State Fair, outlined recent fund-raising progress (the board’s endowment had roughly $3.8 million and a recent kickoff fundraiser raised about $115,000) and said the board also secured a $100,000 local match that unlocked a 1-to-5 state match for near-term master-plan projects (about $600,000 total) to improve landscaping, ADA access, gates/security, and a building modification to increase rental revenue.

Department of Agriculture director Doug Miyamoto said the department supports transferring day-to-day financial authority to the State Fair Board and proposed a conforming change that would make the department director an ex officio, nonvoting member (rather than the board’s voting member) to avoid a tie on an even-numbered board. Committee members also amended the draft to remove a phrase that made the Department director explicitly responsible for disbursement of fair funds; they adopted an amendment setting the bill’s effective date to Sept. 1 to allow the current fair season to complete before the governance change.

Committee action: The committee adopted several technical and substantive edits (including deleting the director disbursement sentence and changing the effective date to Sept. 1) and voted to sponsor the bill; roll-call recording showed committee support (14 ayes, 1 excused).

Ending: The board said it will continue to provide updates, including on the feasibility and funding of a potential enclosed arena complex that passed a favorable recommendation from the State Building Commission for further consideration. Committee members said they will continue working with the board and Department on statutory language to ensure a smooth operational transition if the bill becomes law.