HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – The Great Northern Fair Board convened on Tuesday evening for their regular monthly meeting.
Due to the recent appointments of Kaleb Fisher and Ken Erickson to the Board, they had all four members present, meaning they were able to establish a quorum and vote on agenda items for the first time since August.
Among the items the Board approved was dozens of entertainment contracts for the 2022 Fair, scheduled to take place from July 13-17.
English said that 44 events have been scheduled for a total cost of $25,600, compared to 22 events last year for just over $24,000. English says there will be a petting zoo, a magician, several musicians and bands, a carnival, a mechanical bull ride, a two-day NRA Rodeo, a Junior Rodeo, Pippy the Clown, a demolition derby and plenty more.
Acts scheduled include:
- Michael Mezmer
- J’ane Eastman
- Bret Allen & The Northern Rebbels
- Larry Myers
- TJ Broscoff
- Bud Clark Productions
- Blue Tattoo
- Neon Ridge
Fair Manager Frank English says he is also continuing to work with Northern Winz on scheduling a cultural event at the Fair, which could include a Pow Wow. He says he is also working with the Montana National Guard on having their booth and climbing wall back at the 2022 Fair.
Other action taken or items discussed at the meeting:
- Approval of a motion to allow English to purchase a laptop for under $900 for work use.
- Continued discussion from previous meetings on what to do with the bathrooms in the Bigger Better Barn and the bathrooms next to the Community Center. The Fair Foundation has donated $25,000 towards renovating or replacing the bathrooms by the Community Center, and a now-defunct 4-H Club previously donated $3,000 towards renovating the Bigger Better Barn Bathrooms. No action was taken, and the Board says they will continue to look at options in the hope of getting the most for their money.
- Approval of a motion to purchase a new standard hot water heater for the Community Center
- Discussion of ensuring the Fairgrounds has a defibrillator on premises during the Fair. This will continue to be discussed, as the Board could choose to purchase one or end up borrowing one.
- Board member Bob Kaul said he is continuing to review Commission Policy and would like to update it in the near future. Kaul and English said they would be providing copies of the Policy to the rest of the Board.
- Kaul said that rehabilitating the old office building should be a top priority for the Board, as they would be able to open up the trailer home that is currently being used as the office to rent out once that project is done.
- An agenda item titled ‘Building Upgrade Estimates’ was briefly discussed, but the Board said that issue is on hold at the moment as they continue to look into it.
- English said he is looking for people that are interested in working on the cleanup crew for the Fair
- Approval of the September, October and November meeting minutes
