By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Things are starting to pick up at the Kansas State Fair as officials are now just a few months away from the 107th edition. Non-fair activity is picking up as well, according to General Manager Robin Jennison.
“We’re staying in contact with the health officials here in Reno county,” Jennison said. “If we have something that’s going to be over 100 people, we let them know.”
Jennison says most of the things taking place are private events and events in the livestock area. Social distancing is being practiced. The fair lost about 20 events during the pandemic, but Jennison says he’s confident they will return.
“I think they’ll all be back next year,” Jennison said. “I think everybody realizes that this is a temporary deal.”
Jennison says the fair lost about $200,000 in revenue because of event cancellations and is looking to the state to get some of that money back.
“The money the state's getting is supposed to be used for costs related to COVID-19,” Jennison noted. “Obviously ours was not costs, but it was lost revenue.”
Jennison says that they are also dealing with exhibitors who are still worried about whether the fair will happen or not.
“We’ve set July 15th as when we decide what the fair is going to look like,” Jennison said. “We’re confident we’re going to have a fair. There may be some things we have to do differently.”
Jennison says the fair is also down on sponsorships for the year and has made concessions to exhibitors and others to make it more financially feasible for them to attend.
“We have folks that come to the Kansas State Fair that go to other fairs that had already paid their first deposit, and they’re not going to get that back,” Jennison said. “We would have generally had the first payment. We’ve extended that out for everybody. We’ve extended that out to try and be understanding, you know, we’re all in this together.”
The fair begins Sept. 11.