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Fair board warns MSU staffing changes and new online entry will increase workload; asks county to consider seasonal help and costs
Summary
Fair board leaders told commissioners that MSU Extension's staff change and a move to a new online fair-entry system transfer significant registration and packet-production duties to the fair office, and they asked the county to consider funding a seasonal May'Oct part-time hire to handle the peak workload.
Dave Bridal, president of the Cass County Fair Board, and Brenda (fair manager) briefed the Board of Commissioners on operational changes at the fair and on new responsibilities shifting to the fair office from Michigan State University Extension.
Bridal said the county's fair is a year-round facility whose principal activity is the annual fair (this year scheduled for July 26 through August). He thanked the board for prior support for MSU Extension and 4-H programming and said his board was concerned about continuity after the long-time MSU extension employee Patty Doan retired.
Brenda, the fair manager, provided details: MSU has asked the fair office to take on new tasks including processing online registrations and printing judge books and participant packets once youth entries transfer from MSU's enrollment system into the fair's entry program. The fair previously used a different vendor and will move to the FairEntry platform; that migration and the additional administrative tasks will increase workload during the peak May 1'June 17 registration window and through the fair itself.
Brenda said the fair board currently has one full-time year-round employee (the fair manager) and one seasonal employee from May through October; the rest of the 15-member board and fair volunteers provide much of the labor. The board asked commissioners to consider whether the county could help fund or otherwise support hiring an additional seasonal, part-time staff person for the May'October period to handle increased registrations and entry processing; no dollar amount was proposed at the meeting.
Julie Piaque, district director for Michigan State University Extension, told commissioners MSU has hired a new support staff member, Terry Bollinger, who started Jan. 6 and will work 20 hours a week. Piaque said that staff member will help with 4-H volunteer central and the online 4-H system and that MSU intends to partner with the fair office on the entry transition. Piaque also said she will retire on Feb. 6 and that MSU will post for a permanent replacement.
Action at meeting: Commissioners added the fair board to the meeting agenda earlier in the session so the board could present; there was no formal vote to fund fair staffing. Commissioners asked the fair board to return with specific cost estimates for any seasonal hire and for software or training needs.
Why it matters: The fair supports 4-H youth exhibitors, local agriculture and community events; shifting processing responsibilities to the fair office could create a shortfall in administrative capacity during the busiest weeks of the year if additional staffing or funding is not approved.
What happens next: The fair board will provide pricing and staffing options to the county so commissioners can consider potential support.
