Groups raise concerns about Douglas County Fair's future

SUPERIOR - A decades-old tradition in Douglas County that celebrates animals is facing an uncertain future. County officials are in talks over whether they should sell the Douglas County Fairgrounds, and what would happen to the Douglas County Fair. 

FOX 21 News tracked down reaction from both sides of the issue, including some high schoolers who love showing their farm animals.

On Friday afternoon in Maple, 15-year-old Cory Swanson tends to No. 48, his prize steer.  "He's just a big dog basically," he said.

13-year-old Mallory Swanson goes through her daily routine for Oscar, a yearling.

"I have to take care of him like he's a younger brother or sister," she said.

And 14-year-old Heidi Halladay is responsible for Henry. The work on the farm is a labor of love for them and a strategy for success in life. 

"It gives us more work ethic when we get older," said Heidi.

They are all members of 4–H, animal lovers, and excited to show off their animals at the Douglas County Fair in July.  But they worry about the future of the fair.

"If they were to get rid of it, it would be bad," said Cory Swanson.  "A lot of people would be sad."

Right now, Douglas County officials, looking to operate more efficiently and save money any way they can, are discussing selling the fairgrounds and doing away with the fair.

"It's declined a lot," said Douglas County Board Chair Doug Finn.

Last year, Finn brought up the idea to take a closer look at the fairgrounds and the $75,000 a year the county has to spend to maintain them. He posed the questions: "Should we continue to do a fair as we know it, basically, and would there be better uses for the grounds than a fair?"

That panicked those involved in 4–H and agriculture programs.

 "Where will these 4H and FFA kids go?" asked Lesley Halladay, mother of Cory, Heidi and Mallory.  "What's going to happen to them? These projects mean so much to these kids and they put so much time and effort into it. I hate to see it being lost."

Finn said that is one of the county's main concerns as they discuss selling portions of the fairgrounds. He says the parking lot across the street is already for sale, but the fairgrounds are not.

"What's a county without a fair?" asked Halladay.

"No decision has been made," said Finn.

But while the county officials talk, there's work to be done to get Henry, Oscar and No. 48 ready for their public debut.

"A lot of city people come and enjoy and just like to see animals they don't live around every day," said Heidi Halladay.

The county doesn't have a timeline for action on the fairgrounds. A task force made up of community leaders and residents is studying the issue.