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 a Friday afternoon in Maple, 15-year-old Cory Swanson tended to No. 48, his prize steer. "He's just a big dog, basically," he said.
Mallory Swanson, 13, went 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.
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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," Heidi said.
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," Cory Swanson said. "A lot of people would be sad."
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 Chairman 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 4-H and [Future Farmers of America] 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 said the parking lot across the street is already for sale, but the fairgrounds are not.
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"What's a county without a fair?" Halladay asked.
"No decision has been made," Finn said.
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 everyday," Heidi Halladay said.
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.
