Clark County Fair ‘worth the wait’

Handling the pandemic

Despite nationwide inflation, admission will cost the same as in 2019.

“One of the things that I’m proud about for this fair is that when you come on the grounds, you can do everything that’s on these grounds for free, unless you eat it or ride it,” Morrison said.

Because of the significant amount of scheduling and preparation required in advance, the fair shut down all operations in May 2020. It was canceled again for the 2021 fair, instead holding a “Family Fun Series,” a variety of smaller, separate fair events split over multiple days.

Now that the threat of COVID-19 has lessened, prices are a problem.

“Inflation has really, really had an effect on us,” Morrison said. “We’ll know a lot better at the end of the fair. Then we’ll have a much better idea of what inflation has done for us.”

Staffing this year’s event crew has proven difficult. Morrison said that there have been multiple cases where those who applied to work at the fair have backed out, causing staff numbers to fall behind. Usually a combination of volunteers and hired staff takes care of projects like cleaning the Event Center each evening after the fair closes. This year Morrison has had to come up with another solution.

“In a couple cases we have substituted what we would normally have for staff by hiring an agency to do it,” Morrison said.

The fair has also increased attention to safety procedures in the continued presence of COVID-19. Additional cleaning stations, coupled with signage, will be prevalent throughout the grounds. Proof of vaccination will not be required for entry and masks will be optional per current state guidelines.

“We certainly have a heightened awareness to public health aspects,” Morrison said. “You’re going to see a lot more attention given to hand-washing stations, to being, you know, safe around animals, around foods or things like that.”

Hungry for business

John Sullivan has overseen Sullivan’s Burger Buggy at the fair since 1973. The family-operated stand opens only for the fair and is widely known for its fresh ling cod fish and chips and “Man Burger” sandwich, comprised of two meat patties, ham, cheese and fresh condiments served on a Franz bun.

Sullivan said the increased cost of fish and meat have forced their hand in raising prices. He recalls buying fish for 79 cents a pound when the stand first opened in 1973. Now, a pound of ling cod costs more than $11.

“I hate raising them,” Sullivan said. “I’ve held the prices a long time, and I just couldn’t do it this year.”

This year the Burger Buggy installed a new employee hand-washing sink to reinforce cleaning procedures. Sullivan said the structural change was the only addition to the stand’s preexisting cleaning regulations.

Staffed by family members and close friends, the Burger Buggy has become part of the Sullivan family fabric. Sullivan said he eagerly anticipates the community the fair brings together.

“Seeing my family and all our friends,” Sullivan said. “Same as every year. It makes us do it.”

Mary Meyers, superintendent for the fair’s open class baking and food preservation competitions, has been involved with the fair for the past 20 years. She said she is most excited about reuniting with friends she hasn’t seen since 2019.

“I missed the people,” Meyers said. “I missed everything about it. I’ve got people that have always brought things in since I started 20 years ago.”

The fair has added entertainment to the west end of the grounds, historically known for its housing of agriculture and 4-H competitions. Exhibits include a new, informative pirate-theme parrot show and the return of Brad’s World of Reptiles and Butterfly Adventures, one of the few interactive butterfly exhibits on the West Coast.

“I’ve always said I want to keep the fair agricultural, but I’ve always said I understand I have got to keep it relevant,” Morrison said.