Fair Board ponders final planning, funding for 2024 fair

By Pamela Jansson

pjansson@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood — Funding and task management were the major topics of concern at Monday evening’s meeting of the Gogebic County Fair Board.

Scheduled for Aug. 8-11, this year’s fair is now three months away.

Despite it being a smaller event to be held at Ironwood’s Pat O’Donnell Civic Center, many of the same tasks as in any other year must be addressed.

Fair Board members spent part of the meeting studying a list of nearly 50 responsibilities that must be addressed in the time left.

Prepared by Marlene Saari, former fair coordinator, the list includes such obligations as setting a schedule of events, updating the fair website, ordering brochures, negotiating with vendors. contacting volunteers, training them as needed, preparing a fair report for submission to the state, and many other needs.

Meanwhile, due to the smaller fair planned, the Fair Board also faces less expected revenue this year. Because of the change in location, the fair also will gain no admission or camping fees.

The change in venue was necessary due to last year’s Sept. 26 fire that resulted in the expectation of fairground construction this summer.

Fair Board members also studied budget sheets that compared the 2023 fair budget to that. projected for 2024.

Revenue in 2023, which included entry fees, totaled $173,500, with expenditures listed as the same.

This year’s revenue will include a $17,500 standard appropriation issued from the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners, plus a percentage of carnival fees, along with rental fees, harness racing income, sponsorships and fundraising.

The revenue and expenditures estimated for this year’s fair are each estimated at under $80,000.

The Fair Board is planning a fundraiser for May 19 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Aurora Club in Ironwood. The spaghetti and chicken dinner will include basket/bag raffles.

“I have got absolutely everything paid for,” said board member Linda Nelson, who listed donations of food, cash and services, along with the expectation of volunteer help.

Overall, she said, “I think we’re moving forward.”

In other news, board member Thomas Hampston reported that the city of Ironwood has grant funds to replace galvanized lines with plastic lines in Curry Park, adjacent to the fairgrounds.

He suggested that Gogebic County commissioners should work with the city of Ironwood to see whether some of those grant funds can be used within the fairgrounds.

“All of our water lines need replacing,” said board member Holly Ramme.

“And when the 4-H horse barn goes up, those lines also will need replacing,” added board member Melina Kostak.

Hampston led the meeting in the absence of Chairman James Byrns. James Lorenson also was absent.

The board’s next meeting will be on May 20 at 6 p.m. in the office of the multipurpose building on the fairgrounds.