Park County Ag Fair Alumni asks parks board to partner after county funding tightens

Members of the Park County Ag Fair Alumni Association told the Park County Fairgrounds and Parks Board on Feb. 19 that they have become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and are seeking a formal working relationship with the board as county budget pressure threatens existing support.

The request came during the meeting’s public-comment period, when the association described its history managing public fair events after the county asked volunteers to take over in 2019 and outlined the fair’s local reach and economic impact. "We are now officially called the Park County Ag Fair Alumni," a representative said. "We're a bunch of volunteers who have 4‑H and FFA exhibits there and we manage all of the public community events down at the fair in July." (Representative name not specified in transcript.)

Why it matters: Association members said the fair functions as a major source of scholarship money for local youth. "That $57,000 that you gave us this past year turned into what? $730,000 that went back to the youth of Park County," Tim Sondling, a member of the ag fair board, told the parks board. The association said the livestock sale proceeds are often saved by youth for higher education.

Association members described attendance and participation figures to show community involvement: between about 97 and 100 open-class exhibitors in recent years, roughly 430 to 480 submitted exhibits, a community barbecue that serves about 300–400 people on the fair’s first night, and an annual volunteer pool of more than 165 people. "We continually every year take the money that the county has given us and exponentially provide through that sale dollars to these kids," the association representative said.

Board response and next steps: Board members signaled interest in working together. Morgan Squires, the fairgrounds and parks director, said the board could appoint a liaison to work directly with the association; later in the meeting the board appointed John Ball as a liaison (see related actions in the committees article). Shawna Johnson and other board members said they would support a committee-level collaboration so volunteers and board members can design a workable arrangement.

Background and constraints: Association members said in past years the county funded the fair through the commissioners, but this year commissioners told them the county may have little or no discretionary money for events. The transcript records commissioners and board members discussing possible county budget cuts and the need to look for outside fundraising or partnership arrangements.

What’s next: Board members said they will appoint a member to work with the association and asked the association to meet with that liaison. The parks board identified the ag fair relationship as a topic for a committee and placed an item about the Park County Ag Fair on the next board meeting agenda for follow-up.

Ending note: Association representatives emphasized the youth impact of the sale proceeds and asked the board to consider practical ways to sustain community events if county funding is reduced.