A smaller-than-normal group met for the Custer County Ag Society’s regular meeting Thursday evening, October 8. Members Mark Cardoza, Desirei Cook, and Andy Gibbons were all absent when the Fair Board meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM in the Shooting Sports Building on the Custer County Fairgrounds.
Annual Meeting and Board Elections Scheduled for November 12 Meeting
Fair Board President Brian Palmer noted during Thursday’s meeting that the November 12 meeting of the Custer County Ag Society will be the group’s Annual Meeting, at which elections will be held for three Fair Board positions. While Board Members Jake Rosentreader and Shelby Spanel are likely to run to retain their positions, there is likely to be at least one open seat available for a new member for a three-year term.
Nominations are made the night of the meeting; voting for Fair Board members happens at the meeting at the Shooting Sports Building. All interested Custer County residents registered to vote are invited to the meeting to help select Board Members.
Financial and GM Reports Wrap Up Summer Events
Palmer provided a brief overview of the Society’s financial report, noting that Fair bills were essentially all settled at this point, leading to a balance in the Fair account that was low, but expected to increase through the year leading up to next year’s event.
General Manager Clay Hayes reported the High School Rodeo event held in September brought in $12,000 in revenue for the grounds, as well as additional sales for merchants throughout Broken Bow. Hayes noted he was pleased with how the competitors cleaned up after themselves, stating he was only able to fill a small shopping bag with trash after the event.
The more recently wrapped Junk Jaunt event received mixed reviews, with weather dampening sales for merchants set up in outdoor locations. Sellers with their wares laid out in the buildings around the Fairgrounds reported better sales, however, with decent Jaunter attendance and fewer merchants set up this year overall.
Hayes stated the plan is to continue placing vendors in the lower area of the Fairgrounds in future years, allowing for more parking inside the grounds, and no parking allowed along Memorial Drive for safety reasons.
Starting in November, look for a barrel racing series in the Indoor Arena. Sponsored by the Nebraska 4D Barrel Racing Association, the series is expected to host one or two events a month through March. More information will be posted on the Ag Society’s Facebook page, as well as the NE4D website as the events approach.
Other Committee Reports
Board Member Scotti Ross reported for both the Bylaws Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee. Updated bylaws and articles of incorporation that had not seen updates in decades are now with the Custer County Attorney for review. Ross plans to have a draft of the new bylaws available for the Ag Society’s Annual Meeting.
The Strategic Planning Committee is planning on bringing in an outside consultant to assist with community surveys to discover both what the area ag community is looking for from the Society, as well as where financial support is available.
Ross noted state and federal grants are difficult to obtain for fairgrounds improvements, given the Fair’s location well within the Mud Creek flood plain. This makes community support critical for ongoing improvements and any potential new construction.
4-H Committee Chair Rosentreader reported on the recent meeting of the Custer County 4-H Council. Also wrapping up fair-time activities, the Council disucssed moving up the livestock sale by an hour next year to help finish the event earlier. Restrooms on the fairgrounds are an ongoing concern for many groups using the facilities.
Rosentreader told the Board that the annual 4-H Recognition Program is scheduled for Sunday, November 12 at 2:00 PM. Awards to outstanding 4-Hers will be handed out in the 4-H Building on the Custer County Fairgrounds.
To wrap up the meeting, the Board began discussion of the Ag Society Winter Ball, scheduled for January 23. A committee for the Ball will be formally established after the November 15 Fair Board elections. The group discussed continuing to hold a gun raffle as a fund raiser, as well as other options for raffle prizes.
With no further business to address, the Custer County Ag Society adjourned at 7:43 PM. As noted, the next meeting of the Custer County Ag Society is the Annual Meeting and Fair Board Elections, scheduled for Thursday, November 12 at 7:00 PM in the Shooting Sports Building on the Custer County Fairgrounds.
