By Heather Clower
The Parsons Advocate
With potential new members present, Tucker County Fair Board President Daniele Wilfong recapped the minutes from the last meeting on September 23. The treasurer’s balance was reported at $95,391.25 with an overall mud bog contribution of $1,150 from the tip board, $100 from vendors, $885 from shirt sales, and $1,505 made from concessions.
The bi-laws for the Tucker County Fair Board state that a Board of Directors with no less than 10 and no more than 20 members must be selected in October. Those expressing interest in joining, by verbal, written, or in person, include Stephanie Burns, Heather Paul, Elizabeth Smith, Heather Eye, Courtney White, Amanda Mullenax, Cody Pennington, Lydia Burns, Eric Mullenax, Marcy Williams, Kristen Pennington, Heather Knotts, Daniele Wilfong, Ashlea Wolfe, and Joe Owens. With only 15 showing interest, a vote did not need to be taken since it fell within the bi-law requirements. The next meeting must be held within 30 days to elect officers and positions.
Other agenda topics from the previous meeting included seeking quotes for portable pens and performing the needed scale maintenance. “One corner of our scale was out, we had that inspected and we’re going to have that fixed for the fair next year,” said Wilfong. Additional conversations also included proposed rule changes that will again be discussed.
The current treasurer’s report was offered by Kristen Pennington, stating the total is currently $76,288.84, however, this contains several exhibitor checks that have yet to be deposited and some outstanding bills.
The proposed fair rule changes were reviewed once more, serving as the second reading of the changes. The changes include the livestock weight requirements for hogs being between 200 and 300 pounds, goats 50 to 115 pounds, lambs 90 to 160 pounds, feeder calves 350 to 900 pounds, and market steers 900 pounds with no maximum. The over and under five-pound rule has been eliminated and there will only be one re-weigh permitted between the first registered weight and 8 p.m. The tail docking rule for lambs is no longer relevant and needs to be removed.
Within showmanship, if the participant wins in their class, they can choose to stay for a total of two years in that class or they can choose to move up a class. If the exhibitor wins two consecutive years, they must move up to the next level. It will also be added that in case of an emergency, the FFA Advisor, WVU Extension Agent, and Barn Chairman will meet to discuss the temporary change of rule on that specific event. An example of this would be if a child would get kicked or injured while in the ring. To change the rules, it must be read and voted on three times, and with Board Members Eric Mullunax and Ashlea Owens voting for the changes, this fulfills the second reading.
The portable pens used in the show ring for the last several years are from Tri-County Fair. TCFA received quotes from multiple sources to find the best deal on a set of pens. After much discussion, BFS in Eglon had the best deal and it was agreed upon unanimously to purchase the pens from them. Initially, it was discussed to allow $3,000 for the purchase of the pens, which is approximately the amount of the 5% seller’s fee that was made from the 2020 Livestock Show. A motion was made to purchase as many pens as $3,000 would buy and all were in favor.
The discussion shifted to the scale with Wilfong stating it was out of calibration in one corner and is being corrected. Before the next fair the entry gate is going to be narrowed to aid in the weighing progress. All payments and premium checks have been cut and have either been delivered or are ready for pickup at the Extension Office. It was said that the option for buyers to pay by a card made the paying process significantly easier and look forward to offering that option in the future.
The purse tip-board fundraiser is not going well with only about nine tickets sold to date. It was suggested to postpone the event until a later date. The tractor that was being used to level the mud bog pit has been sold and more work needs to be done. Jeff Keiss is donating additional dirt that will be delivered and leveled before reseeding the plot.
The W.Va. Association of Fairs and Festivals Pageant, for queens to compete upon qualification, has been canceled due to COVID-19. Wilfong stated most pageants in general for 2020 were canceled with the understanding that the 2019 queen would reign again in 2020. The queens of 2019 competed last January in this pageant; therefore they didn’t lose their qualifications to compete. Since Tucker County had their pageant and crowned a new queen this year, with the pageant canceled she will not be able to compete at the next level. Typically once an individual wins Queen Daphne they are not permitted to compete again; however, given the circumstances, it was suggested she be allowed. Though this does not guarantee she will win the pageant again and earn a spot at the Fairs and Festival Pageant next year, it does give that opportunity. Pennington made a motion to allow the 2020 Queen Daphne permission to run again in 2021 with a second from Board Member Marcy Williams. All were in favor.
The queens also have not been paid for their achievements. With the mini category added, it had to be voted on what the monetary prize should be. Board Member Lydia Burns suggested $500 to Queen Daphne, $100 to the Teen Queen, $50 for Junior Queen, and $25 for Mini. Board Member Heather Knotts second the motion and all were in favor.
The next meeting will be held on November 11, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. at Camp Kidd.
