ROCK SPRINGS — The recent Sweetwater County Fair, also known as Wyoming’s Big Show, went well according to Sweetwater Events Complex Executive Director Larry Lloyd.

Lloyd gave a brief synopsis of the county’s fair week from July 30 to August 4 to the fair board at its monthly meeting this week.

“People were mellow. There were no major problems in the tents,” Lloyd said. “People drinking beer, people serving beer, had no major problems.”

Lines at the fair gates were shorter due to electronic sales and presold tickets at the Chamber of Commerce, according to Events Manager Kandi Pendleton.

County Commissioners Chairman Reid West said several people mentioned to him they felt there were fewer vendors and exhibitors at the fair this year compared with the past, West said.

He added some fairgoers felt there needed to be more focus on 4-H, and that fair attendees who were not interested in the concerts felt they were having to pay more than otherwise necessary, in order to subsidize the concerts.

Board member Roger Torgersen concurred with the vendor perception.

“There may not have been as much variety among the vendors as in the past,” he said.

But Lloyd said there were more vendors here this year that last year.

“We had more room for people to walk around, rather than packing them (vendors) all in,” he said.

A couple of the regular vendors had to bow out this year due to family emergencies, Lloyd added.

As for separating the concert admissions from the fair, “I don’t know how you would do that,” West said. “You would almost need different venues.”

“If you go to concerts elsewhere, you will have to pay way more,” board member Janet Hartford declared.

“The concerts are part of what you can do at the fair. If you choose not to do it, that’s up to you,” Torgersen said.

Lloyd pointed out that there were other attractions at the fair that went beyond the usual.

“There was a circus at the fair, with gate admission. That’s a big deal. It’s not just for kids, but for adults too. That went over extremely well,” he said.

More 4-H, please

Torgersen also suggested if some fairgoers want to see more of the 4-H at the fair, then perhaps the impetus needs to come directly from 4-H, and that 4-H may need more people to help out with adult leadership.

“If 4-H came to us with ideas, we’d love to listen, but they need leaders or I don’t know what we can do,” Torgersen said.

“We get that comment (about 4-H) every year,” board member Faith Harris said. “Maybe it’s an ongoing perception.”

“We would like to do more with them,” Torgersen added, but he reiterated that the impetus needs to come from the 4-H’ers themselves.

“There’s always an ebb and tide with 4-H,” Lloyd commented. “The kids grow up; they move on. New kids join, and the numbers go back up. I’ve been dealing with 4-H for 40 years and I don’t think it’s ever changed, not that we don’t appreciate the comments.”

Faster liquor license, please

One change that Lloyd wants to see for next year’s fair is a faster response from the City of Rock Springs to the SEC’s request for an alcohol license for the beer tent.

He said the SEC put in its request for a liquor license months before the fair, but the license wasn’t granted until a few days before the fair started.

The SEC will push harder in 2019 to get the liquor license approved well in advance of the start of the fair, Lloyd said.

Harris expressed hope that the city would learn to treat the Events Complex the same way that it treats International Day and other events where beer is served.

Can’t please everybody

Lloyd expressed satisfaction that not only the NHSFR but also other events which the SEC plays host to, such as motor home gatherings and horse shows, help to put the SEC and Sweetwater County on the map.

“People realize that we’re here,” Lloyd said.

Lloyd summed everything up, “No way can we make everybody happy in a given year, but we’re trying our darndest.”