Commissioners to interview for fair manager

During the fair board meeting Tuesday, many topics were discussed in preparation for the upcoming Great Northern Fair.

In addition, members announced that two applications have been turned in for the position of fairgrounds manager, a Hill County government position, and they will be interviewing both candidates Tuesday, May 26.

A new member of the fair board, Ray Kallenberger, was introduced to the rest of the members and board member and county commissioner Jeff LaVoi said the last empty seat on the board will be filled by their next monthly meeting.

Interim fairgrounds manager Mike Sharp spoke about the negotiations with Holly Williams, who they are trying to sign on for the Sunday night entertainment during the fair. The fair board offered Williams, Hank Williams Jr.’s daughter, $6,000 to come to Havre and her team returned with a request of $7,500.

The board was unsure of this price, even with splitting the costs of the show with the carnival. In addition to the half of the $7,500 the fair board would be paying for, they will also be responsible for lights and sound, which could cost them another $4,000 if they went through a company out of Great Falls, Johnson Brothers.

Negotiations will continue.

However, many concerns about getting people to attend the concert were voiced. In the past, despite advertising through newspapers and radios in the area, many of the concerts were ill-attended even on Saturdays. The board discussed ways to remedy this, through pushing the events through social media as well as the usual advertising methods.

Sharp relayed to the fair board that the company in charge of the carnival at the fair said this year’s carnival would be better than last year. This is the last year of the contract the fair board has with the company, Danny Brown Amusements.

The board is also looking for free, family entertainment for the duration of the fair. So far, juggling comedian Paul Isaak and Penelope the Clown will provide entertainment throughout the Great Northern Fair, which will be from June 15 to 19, but nothing else has been booked yet, including the petting zoo of years past.

The rodeos, usual exhibits such as the 4-H show and the Havre Jaycees bump-n-run races and demolition derby will be held, but the fair board is still fleshing out the schedule for the fair.