The Mighty Howard County Fair Cancelled for 2020

Posted: May 11, 2020

Website: www.mhcfair.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/MHCFair
HOWARD COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
THOMAS V. BARNES, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Post Office Box 83, Cresco, Iowa 52136
Home Phone: 563.547.4996 Fax: 563.547.4355 E-mail: tbarnes@mhcfair.com
2020 Mighty Howard County Fair Postponed to 2021
Cresco, Iowa – May 10, 2020: The Howard County Fair Board has announced that the 2020 Mighty Howard County Fair
will not be held this year. Events and entertainment will be postponed until June 22 to 27, 2021.
“To say we’re disappointed is an understatement.” said Tom Barnes, Executive Secretary of the Board. “But the
health and safety of our community is our top priority. Taking into consideration all of the factors the Board had
to look at in dealing with the COVID 19 pandemic, this is the right decision.”
The decision by the Fair Board was made after much time and effort was spent consulting with the Association of
Iowa Fairs (AIF), the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE), the State of Iowa and Howard
County Public Health and Emergency Services.
“The Fair should be a time for celebrating the accomplishments of our area 4-H and FFA exhibitors, highlighting
the ethnic and cultural diversity of our Howard County community and a time when fairgoers can get together in
a family atmosphere to enjoy all of the sites, tastes and sounds of a great county fair.” Barnes said. “The last thing
the Board wants to do is to create an atmosphere of concern and anxiety.”
The decision was not made lightly, not only taking into consideration of the safety of those directly involved with
the Fair, but also realizing the impact the Fair has on the community and county. “The Board does understand this
decision could have a negative economic impact on our Fair vendors and local businesses who depend on the Fair
for their livelihood,” Barnes noted. “However, the safety of our community is our first and foremost concern.”
The Fair typically draws fairgoers and vendors from Iowa and several other states, with roughly 60 percent of the
fairgoers are coming from outside of the community. Current safety guidelines relating to the COVID 19 pandemic
that are in place by the State of Iowa and Howard County Community Health makes it an overwhelming task for
the Fair Board to ensure the Fair would be a safe and positive event for the community. “The guidelines in place at
this time put a great deal of risk on the Fair Board,” Barnes added.
“This pandemic is an unprecedented event for our generations. By working together, we will get through it. We
need to use what we have learned from this pandemic to better our lives.” Barnes said. “The Fair will back in
2021, stronger than ever.”

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