YORK COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

MINUTES of May 19, 2020

The Board of Directors of the York County Agricultural Society met Tuesday May 19, 2020 at 8:00 p.m., via ZOOM, due to the covid-19 situation, for the regular monthly meeting. The Meeting Notice was published May 12, 2020 in the York News Times.

Fourteen (14) Directors were present; Barrett, Chrisman, Gloystein, Heine, Heskett, Hoffschneider, Jackson, Johnson, Quiring, Woodruff, Ziegler, Ziemke and Zoubek. Rathjen was detained and joined the meeting while in progress. Director Hoffman was absent. Associate director Placzek was present.

Guests: Tanya Crawford UNL York County Extension Youth Educator, Jenny Rees UNL Extension Educator and Dana Hall McCool Junction FFA Instructor.

The Monthly Meeting was called to order by President Gloystein at 8:08 p.m.

Additional items to be added to the agenda: Toombs Family was placed under Building Committee Reports.

Minutes of the April 21, 2020 York County Agricultural Society meeting were reviewed. The minutes were approved with no additions or corrections, as printed.

The Board reviewed the April 2020, Financial Reports. After some discussion on items: McCormick’s Heating & Air Conditioning $1,120.00 Cornerstone Ag & Event Center Thermostats; Protex Central $360.00 and Water & sewer $1,315.00 billing for two (2) months. Motion #1 was duly made by Barrett, seconded by Ziegler: To approve the March 2020 Financial Report. No further discussion. Motion carried 13 - 0.

Under old business:

Memorial money to date: Gene Bergen $4,000.00; Dale Moore $2,800.00; Richard Hankel $800.00 and Charles Kaliff $3,050.00 along with the High Lopers $2,300 Donation. The Memorial Committee has not gotten together do to the covid-19 situation. Heskett has talked with the families to see if they had certain projects they wanted the memorials directed toward. As of now the families are leaving the decision up to the Agricultural Society. Directors discussed that the High Lopers and Gene Bergen monies could be used for the restoration of the Horse Arena Crows Nest, Hankel Memorial possibly towards the electronics project in the Cornerstone Ag & Event Center, The Kaliff Memorial to be used to purchase a photo backdrop for the Pioneer Awards and other awards that are given under the tent during the County Fair and or upgrades to the Antique Tractor Barn.

Quad County Figure 8 and End of Year Figure 8 Race will be looked at later in the meeting as Rathjen has the latest information on these issues.

Ziemke stated that he has given Gloystein copies of the overhead pictorial map of the Fairgrounds that have been returned. Ziemke will resend maps to the Directors who requested another map. Discussion on placement of the nine (9) County Benches will resume next

- 1 - meeting after more maps have been returned.

Barrett will look into getting Fair Grounds keys from the Bergen and Moore Families.

Under the Building Committee Report:

Cornerstone Ag & Event Center HVAC noise levels - Ziegler has been in the field and has not had time to address the modifications he will making to the ductwork and will work on the project as time permits.

Cornerstone Ag & Event Center Video & Audio Project – Rees is looking into the company that installed Seward County Fair Grounds audio and video system to see if we can receive an additional quote from their business. Zoubek is looking into the application for possible funds from the Visitors Committee to help with the project.

Barrett is working on getting quotes for beverages from Pepsi and Coke.

Yard lights are still sitting in the York County Extension Office waiting to be installed by NPPD. Gloystein has been in contact with Dennis Ditloff who said that NPPD is running short staffed and will get them installed between projects.

Toombs Family Reunion – Several Directors received calls from Toombs family members with concerns about covid-19 and their upcoming June weekend family reunion. Motion #2 was duly made by Ziegler, seconded by Chrisman: No York County Fair Ground building rentals will be allowed until July 1, 2020. No further discussion. Motion carried 12 - 1.

Dave Peters has contacted Gloystein and Ziegler that the pull behind mower is having issues with 2/3 of the mower blades turning but not cutting the grass. Ziegler will look into the issue this week.

Gloystein had no updates on Display cases.

2020 Fair Plans:

Gloystein talked with Laura from Four Corners Health Department on Friday. Laura was in hopes that the Governor’s Fair Task Force would possibly have some guidelines by the end of the week. Laura also kept bringing up “events with 100 or less attendees”.

Crawford announced that she has accepted the York Educator position for York County.

Crawford added to Four Corners Health Department’s comments that it maybe the end of the month before we hear any guidelines from the Governor’s Fair Task Force team. The University of Nebraska is asking that Fairs make no decisions until at least six (6) weeks prior to their Fair and that they keep talking with their local Health Department. The University is still saying that every Fair is it’s own, case by case. University of Nebraska’s current options for Fairs at this time: #1 – Each animal to have it’s own day, face to face event #2 – Blended Fair, some face to face and some virtual, such, but not limited to: culinary, static exhibits and speech. #3 – Completely all virtual – This would require the most work of the three (3) options. There are very strict rules of how animals are to be shown in videos with a 90 second

- 2 - time limit and three different walk patterns. Fair Vault is used for online virtual entries, it costs up to $0.80 per entry. We possibly would have to pick and choose classes if this format option is used.

Ziegler’s view as how he sees the Fair: Ran like Jackpot shows; no animals kept on grounds overnight; we may possibly be able to utilize the Cornerstone Ag & Event Center for our show arena; small animal showing will still take some thought and organization; static exhibits will probably not have Exhibitor/Judge interviews; spread out the static exhibits by utilizing Ag Hall, Home Economics Building and Mercantile with viewing hours from Noon until 8:00 p.m. He sees the Pork and Beef Producers having a drive thru meal if they would be open to the idea.

The Grandstand and track area were brought up for building a make shift show arena. Problem would be the heat and no shade for animals, exhibitors or spectators.

Dana Hall added that if we were to set up a make shift outside arena the shaded area where 4H campers normally set up would work well.

Crawford commented that Award Sponsorships are very close to the level of other years.

Fairbooks – Gloystein reported that to have 100 copies printed it will cost between $7.00 and $8.00 per book depending on type of binding. Should we spend the money on books if we don’t know, at this time, what format style of Fair we are having? It was decided that there were very few changes made to the 2020 Fairbooks, that it will be placed on our website and exhibitors can utilize the website and their 2019 Fairbooks. Rees added that the Extension Office Staff can print off copies for Open Class exhibitors of the categories and classes they are interested in participating.

Mercantile Building Merchants – Woodruff has sent out over 60 letters to possible merchants for booths in the Mercantile Building and grounds areas. None of the letters have been returned at this time. Woodruff also announced that we have three (3) food vendors signed up and her question is, “do we need a fourth (4th) food vendor?”. It was decided that three (3) would suffice for 2020.

Machinery Line-up – Johnson reported that all the equipment dealers have been contacted and are willing to fill their areas.

4H Food Stand – Crawford has been talking with Janet McClean, food stand manager and they are going to do what they can, depending on what type of Fair that we have.

Tent, Chairs and Tables – Woodruff - Lincoln Tent Inc. will give us a full refund if we decide that we will not be using a tent this year. AAA Rents normally will only return 50% of the payment but due to the covid-19 issues this year will return 90% if we decide not to use the tables and chairs. Both parties would like as much notice as possible of our plans.

Carnival – Ziemke has spoken with Mike Lynch about their concerns and issues with the covid- 19 situation. At this time, they are in contact with the Governor’s office staff and Task Forces along with several other Carnivals as well as Amusement Park owners and operators as to how sanitization and operations will take place if they are allowed to do their business this summer and fall.

Exhibitor Tee Shirts – Crawford stated “Thanks to Lana Hoffschneider, Cornerstone Bank will

- 3 - provide the Exhibitor Tee shirts for 2020”.

Crawford stated that we should do a Facebook post to let the Exhibitors, Families and Spectators know that, at the present time we are going to showcase their exhibits but what style of format we will be using is yet to be decided.

University of Nebraska is providing County Fairs with free Hand Sanitizer for use at our County Fairs. Crawford has already set up for us to receive 50 gallons and she will drive to Lincoln to pick it up. We can request more if needed, up to 100 gallons total. It is not the jell type that most people are associated with, this is a liquid that can be squirted or misted on your hands. Johnson had a picture of the bottle that her work place utilizes for applying the liquid hand sanitizer and will send it to Crawford.

Woodruff voiced a concern of hers, “What if we have a Fair and a covid-19 breakout occurs shortly after? With school starting soon after Fair, is that fair to the kids?”

Woodruffs concern brought up Gloystein and Ziemke’s same type of concern which they emailed the Nebraska Association of Fair Manager’s Attorney Alan Wood, “What would be our liability if such a breakout event would happen shortly after Fair?”. His end point was, which was concerning to all the Directors, “In the end, the only way to keep our liability low, is to not hold a Fair”

It was discussed that we could possibly have a meeting before our scheduled June 16, 2020 meeting if more covid-19 guidelines and information is released. Meetings could also be held bi-monthly to stay on top of guidelines as they are released and keep Fair plans rolling as smooth as possible.

Back To Old Business Rathjen joined us and these items needed his presence:

USDA CARES Loans and Grants – Rathjen will look further into the specifics and deadlines of the CARES Program and report back to us at the next meeting.

Quad County Figure 8 Championship & Mike Wise – Everyone involved has been emailing each other. They are waiting to see what directives the Governor and his Fair Task Force will be concerning gatherings.

Other Items

Roy Tucker Paintings – Decisions will be put on hold until the 2021 Fair.

Live Foosball Tournament – Ziegler has figured out how to set up the boundaries and other items that are involved. Dana Hall mentioned that if Ziegler had any further questions, he could contact Ken Real who was in charge of the Live Foosball events during the Mustang Roundup.

Putt Putt Golf – With all that is still undecided with the 2020 Fair, we are placing it on hold until the 2021.

Ziemke has been contacted by Aksarben, we have one (1) York County Pioneer Award this year, Scott Gonnerman.

- 4 - Ziemke received paperwork from the State Fair for entering the County Fair Celebration Parade at 1:30 p.m. and/or if anyone wants to attend the State Fair County Fair Day Hospitality Suite Reception 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Both events are on Friday September 4, 2020. All Directors are asked to think about these items and we will discuss them at our next meeting.

There being no further business to come before the meeting of the Directors, the meeting was adjourned 9:34 p.m.

Douglas Ziemke Secretary

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