Fair board considers new carnival vendor

New Sanders County Fair Manager Kristy Sheehan, a resident of Plains since 2001, attended her first board meeting after having been hired for the position just six days prior to the meeting.

She brings to the job years of equestrian experience. Sheehan and her husband, Jason, own a horse breeding business called Sheehan Quarter Horses that they started in 2008. 

One of the first items Sheehan will be working on is finding a new carnival vendor. She has contacted a vendor called Midway West Amusements out of Arizona, who does fairs in several towns in Montana and Idaho. 

Quotes for the carnival are forthcoming. 

“They were about number 17 of 20 I have called during the past week, and everyone said no,” Sheehan said. “You have got to move the fair date.” 

She said Midway had the fair date open, adding that the carnival would include rides, games and food and that the employees are clean cut.

An extensive list of new business items to be considered during the evening’s meeting brought to the forefront the incredible amount of planning that goes into each year’s fair. 

First on the new business agenda, board members discussed the need to hire full- and part-time ground and maintenance people, as well as an administrative assistant. 

Fair Board Chair Randy Woods said the board should start advertising for the administrative assistant position in March in order to bring that person on by June or July. 

The fair groundskeepers in the past have been high school students who were brought on as soon as the ground thawed to help mow and keep the area clean. Two positions would be part-time after school lets out. 

A maintenance person will also be needed, and that position will average about 20 hours per week throughout the year. The position could be part-time during non-fair time periods. 

The fair board will be looking at purchasing a new zero-turn mower for the upcoming season. 

Next on the agenda was a discussion on public participation during board meetings. The board proposed a new policy concerning public comments during meetings. 

In the past, some public comments were lengthy and took up most of the meetings. The proposal would require meeting participants to sign in at the beginning of the meeting and write down the topic of discussion. A time limitation of three minutes per individual would be mandated, which is typical of most board meetings. Time limitations will be at the board chair’s discretion.

Board members voted to proceed with the arena’s new lighting project. The existing light poles will be inspected for the upgraded LED lighting. 

Board members next discussed who on the board were going to attend this year’s Montana Circuit Finals meeting, scheduled for Jan. 11-13 in Great Falls. Fair Board members Woods, Sheehan and Kim McMahn will be attending the event. 

Board discussion next proceeded to review a program called Battle of the Scholars. The program is sponsored by Powder River Rodeo and was formed to teach prospective rodeo entries the ins and outs of the industry. They supply young horses and expert volunteers to help train the upcoming generation, as well as the young horses.

4-H representative Juli Thurston, the Sanders County Extension Agent, asked the board about upgrading the electrical system and several other projects in a couple of barns at the fairgrounds. She was instructed to assemble bids and how the projects were to be funded for the next board meeting.

    Fair Board chair Randy Woods. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
  

    Fair board member Ted Forkum. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
  

    Kim McMahon at the January Sanders County Fair Board meeting. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)