Fair board discusses 2021 fair events, welcomes new board members

In addition to welcoming four new board members, the Great Northern Fair Board at its monthly meeting Tuesday discussed proceeding with plans for the 2021 Great Northern Fair.

New members are Bob Kaul, Bob Sivertsen, Lex Kellen, and Daryl Wright, who replace the four members who recently resigned, three of whom resigned at the board’s meeting last month.

Fairgrounds Manager Frank English said the carnival the Great Northern Fair usually employs, Dreamland Carnival, will not be coming to Havre this year, but he’s been in contact with someone from Midway Amusements who said they would be able to provide a carnival with up to 15 rides.

“She said 100 percent she’s coming,” English said.

He said he’s now working on a contract for the board to sign, but otherwise the carnival is a sure thing.

English said the junior rodeo is being planned for July 14, and an adult rodeo is planned for July 15 and 16, with the Demolition Derby set to run the next day, Saturday, July 17, and the Robert Henry Band scheduled to perform the day after that.

Specifics about some events still need to be determined, but plans are being made for the fair’s major events.

Hill County’s new Montana State University Extension Agent Colleen Buck also introduced herself to the board and provided 4-H’s schedule for this year’s fair.

The 4-H Chuckwagon will open Wednesday, July 14, at 3 p.m. and at 11 a.m. July 15-18. The Market Animal Weigh-In is planned for 7 a.m. July 15, and the Horse Show will be at 2 p.m. that day as well.

The Beef Show will be held at 8 a.m. July 16, with the Dog Show planned for 2 p.m. that day. July 17 will have the Pig Show at 8 a.m. the Sheep and Goat Show at 1 p.m. and the Round Robin at 3 p.m. The Small Animal Show will be held July 18 at 10 a.m. with the Livestock Sale beginning at 1 p.m. that day, all to take place in the Bigger Better Barn.

English also provided some details about fairgrounds-related events that will be held in the coming months including the Havre Lions Club Pronto Pup Drive-Thru, an adult Pinewood Derby, the Western Trailer RV Mother’s Day Sale and a concert organized by KNMC, all to take place May 15.

In June, he said, the fairgrounds might host a Circus Funtastic which normally sets up in the Holiday Village Mall parking lot, but this is still a work in progress.

He said he’s also working on another event set for July 9 and 10, but the organizers have requested that information not be made public until the details are ironed out on their end.

The board also discussed projects being worked on at the fairground including one aimed at improving the riding surfaces, fencing, water control, and overall appearance of the lower rodeo arena, a project which nears completion.

Board members also continued discussion of constructing a grandstand, a topic of conversation at board meetings for the past few months.

Sivertsen, who served on the board of the Rocky Mountain Association of Fairs including as its president, said the members of the Great Northern Fair Board may want to reach out to the organization, or to the International Association of Fairs to see what they would recommend for them in terms of a grandstand design.

“Don’t let the engineer tell you what you need,” Sivertsen said.

After some discussion, Josh Heitzenroder was elected as the new board chair and Michelle Burchard was elected vice-chair. Burchard agreed to continue acting as board secretary until that position is filled.

Heitzenroder initially proposed that Sivertsen serve as chair given his experience, but Sivertsen said he didn’t want to take that role, which he believed would be better served by someone who’s been on the board longer.

“I want to stay in the background,” he said, “For now.”

The next regular meeting of the board is set for May 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Great Northern Fairgrounds Community Center.