St. Cloud Sun

The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped plans for the summertime county fair just yet.

Benton, Sherburne and Stearns counties are all still aiming to have their county fairs this summer, but it is a waiting game.

The University of Minnesota Extension has cancelled all face-to-face meetings until June 30. This includes community events as well, such as the 4-H club and all county, state and regional meetings.

For the Sherburne County Fair, the 4-H club covers over 50% of the booths at the fair. If the 4-H cannot attend, the fair would be two-thirds empty.

Luckily, all county fairs occur after the June 30 extension date.

"We're going to plan as if it is going to continue," Al Stemper, Benton County Fair board president told the St. Could Times.

The boards for each respective fair have been planning the fair for this year since last year’s ended. Sherburne County Fair Board President Jenni Axelson said that their board only takes two weeks off after the fair ends until they start planning the next year’s fair.

Yet, at plans for this year have suddenly become very murky.

"We're not going and doing major expenditures if it's something that can be put off," Stearns County Fair Association Vice President Shannon Olson said.

A large consideration for the fairs is the need to make rides and eating areas sanitary. The close-knit, large crowds, livestock and finger food could be potentially dangerous breeding grounds for spreading infections. The fairs will now need to find additional funding to provide toilet paper and hand sanitizer to visitors.

Without a promise for clean spaces, the fairs are worried people won’t attend at all.

“That's been another difficulty for the fair: Nailing down sponsors for whom economic uncertainty is making it difficult to commit,” said Axelson.

The Benton County Fair has also been the annual home for the international VEX Robotics competition for six years in a row. The competition draws contestants from Japan, China, and Europe, as well as North America.

With flights and travel bans still uncertain, contestants will physically not be able to make it in time.

Alternate fair attractions are being brainstormed by each fair if social distancing remains in effect.

Sherburne is considering a virtual animal show, but it isn’t likely unless they can find a company to sponsor it.

"It's all so stressful," Axelson said.

For now, Benton County Fair is scheduled for Aug. 4-9. Sherburne County Fair is panned for July 16-19. Stearns County Fair is on July 29-Aug. 2.