With horseracing in the far back stretch as an option for entertainment, the Humboldt County Fair board and staff are seeking input from the public on what to do next. A town hall is scheduled for Monday, June 9, at 7 p.m. in the fairgrounds’ Turf Room.
HCFA CEO Moira Kenny cautioned the board during its May 27 meeting that expectations should be modest for the upcoming fair, which is now only three months away. Some suggestions for use of the arena and grandstands — including a Monster Truck Rally and demolition derby — have already been ruled out due to cost and the noise restrictions included in the fairgrounds’ Conditional Use Permit (CUP).
“I did strongly recommend that if we did move forward with a town hall meeting of any sort we were very clear on parameters — we’re at 90 days here,” said Kenny, referring to a previous meeting with the Executive Committee, during which she expressed the opinion that a town hall could potentially “backfire” on staff if none of the suggestions were ones that could be implemented.
“I think it’s really important to have a town hall,” said Director Jack Rice. “We have so many changes this year. We should be getting input, letting community ask questions. ‘Here’s what’s happening, here’s what we’re planning, what would you suggest to help us be successful this year?’ They could be just as upset with us for sitting in our little boardroom and making decisions without input.”
Director Clint Duey agreed, but suggested they widen the scope of the meeting’s purpose to be about “moving forward” rather than actionable items for the fair in August, which might help with expectations. Duey suggested a “tough mudder” obstacle course race might be popular; Director Lawrence Dwight said many people had suggested staging a concert. Kenny said staff had considered what they were calling “a day of races” with several different categories of competitors, from corgis to humans in costume.
Whatever takes the place of horse racing this year must be cost-effective; per Kenny no money is currently budgeted for extra entertainment, and recent financial reports show the organization working within a tight margin to stay solvent. The fair is the association’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and it remains to be seen if the lack of racing as an attendance draw will break the 129-year old institution’s budget.
Reached for comment after the meeting, Board President Andy Titus said this is a “pivotal time” for the association and said he hopes the public will come out for the event.
“I know there’s great ideas out there. I hear them all the time and I’m just hoping those people will actually come to the meeting and put them out there and see if there is anything we can do to make them work,” said Titus.
This article appears in Glory Over Land and Sea.
Why not do smaller animals for the racing? Dogs, pigs, turtles? Just a thought.