Small, but still happening
Fair-goers admire ribbon-fetching produce at the Benewah County Fair in 2017. The 2020 Benewah County Fair will be quite small, but plans are still in place to have it later this month.
Courtesy photo
Benewah County Fair attendees enjoy shade under an awning in 2016. The Benewah County Fair is still a go for Aug. 20 through 23, although it will be reduced in size and no big events will be held. (Courtesy photo)
Benewah County Fair still a go for Aug. 20-23
ST. MARIES — No rides. No vendors. No big attractions.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has put an end to countless community events, plans for the Benewah County Fair are still a go. The fair will be strictly exhibits and 4-H presentations when it takes place at the Benewah County Fairgrounds in St. Maries Aug. 20-23.
"Our fair is always small," Kenny Moore, chairman of the Benewah County Fair Board, said Friday. "I'm really happy that we're going to have this for our kids, but on the other hand, I don't want it to get so big that someone comes and shuts it down."
With the theme of "Barnyard Mardi Gras," the hometown fair will feature indoor exhibits; the Junior Show Market Animal Sale with fittings, showings and awards; contests and more.
Moore said the fair never has amusement rides or carnival attractions, but all big events like the Gas vs. Grass motorcycle and horse races, introduced last year, have been scrapped.
"We knew we couldn’t have that many people down there this year, so we didn't even pursue it," Moore said. "We know we have to keep it small."
"We have a Junior Show and Sale Committee, we put the fair on for our kids," Moore continued. "Our goal is just to mainly have a show so the kids can finish their projects and have a sale.
"Our plan is to have a qualifying fair," he said.
According to its Facebook page, the Benewah County Fair Association said "there will be different ways of doing things than in the past."
"We are working hard to make the fair a possibility this year," the post reads. "Tables will be set up outside with fair books and entry tags. Families are asked to fill out all their tags (there will be examples and someone to assist if necessary) and then one family at a time will come inside to enter their projects."
Info: www.benewahcountyfair.com
