FRIEDENSBURG — Those wondering if the Schuylkill County Fair will happen this year can breathe a sigh of relief.
“As long as there is breath left in all of our bodies, there will be a 2016 fair,” Paul Kennedy, president of the Schuylkill County Fair, said Thursday during the monthly meeting of the Schuylkill County Fair Association. A meeting was also held for the Foundation For Agriculture and Resource Management, the parent organization of the fair.
The fair is set for Aug. 1 through Aug. 6 at the fairgrounds in Summit Station. Cost for entrance will remain $5, while children 12 and under are free.
Kennedy said he realizes this is a trying time for all with the lack of a finalized state budget, but the fair is important to the community.
“The worry is out there,” he said.
Kennedy and members of the Schuylkill County Fair Association met for their monthly meeting, which was held at the Friedensburg Fire Company. There was discussion about Gov. Tom Wolf’s line item veto of the Land Scrip Fund, which goes to provide funding for such things as 4-H programs, Master Gardener and extension programs and routine fair business.
“If 4-H is not in there, who runs all these livestock shows?” Kim Morgan, board secretary for the Schuylkill County Fair and 4-H leader, asked.
Kennedy said he does not have the answers.
She said if 4-H is not there to run the shows, it is an open youth show where 4-H is not involved.
“It all comes down to no state budget,” she said.
“Every fair is vital to Pennsylvania. Agriculture is vital to Pennsylvania,” Morgan said.
She said there are 10 fairs that will not be held this year, including one in Kempton.
“There will be 10 more fairs that go down this year,” Morgan said.
In other news, the Foundation for Agriculture and Resource Management has to pay more money in its premium for the 2016 coverage. Both Kennedy and Morgan said they did not have all the answers they want as to why that is. They have made efforts to try to get more answers.
Documents provided by Morgan show an increase of $10,275 from the 2015-16 term of $23,472. The increase is due to what is term as an “increased loss ratio” on the plan and a difference in amount of acreage.
Next time they will shop around for insurance that is less expensive.
“It is a challenge for us to continue to be fiscally responsible while continuing to offer a value driven event to our patrons and our community,” Kennedy said.