Broadwater County Fair Board finalizes program details, recommends county appointment and considers escape-room booking

The Broadwater County Fair Board approved minutes from its March 13 meeting, recommended a candidate to the County Commission for the radio-board liaison slot and spent much of its latest meeting on fair planning for August — from open-class rules and judges’ fees to sponsorship vouchers and entertainment options including a proposed commercial escape-room installation.

Board business matters took place at the start of the meeting. A motion to approve the March 13 minutes was moved and seconded and approved on an oral vote. Later, the board moved, seconded and voted to forward a letter of interest for a radio-board liaison to the County Commission for approval; board members said that recommendation will appear on the commission’s consent agenda.

Those procedural items led into a lengthy review of fair logistics. Board members discussed edits to the fair book for the open-class competitions, new contests and judging procedures, vendor solicitations and sponsorship benefits. The board debated fees and logistics for small-animal judges, new advertising trade proposals and a $5-per-voucher “country cash” system for sponsor benefits. The board also moved and seconded a motion to contract with Escape Room Parties of Montana for an on-site commercial escape-room attraction in the convention/commercial building during the fair; the transcript records the motion and a second but does not include a recorded vote.

Open-class and judging changes

Tayla (board member) reported that the open-class superintendents are working edits for this year’s fair book, including replacing last year’s boot-decorating contest with a “blue jean” contest open to any item made from blue jean material and allowing…