Keep the spirit of the fair

Jana Mathia, Gazette Editor | May 14, 20200

Next week the fair board will make its recommendation and then the county commissioners will decide whether or not there will be a Palouse Empire Fair. The outcome will basically be one of three options: business as normal, cancel or continued in an altered form.

Regardless of the outcome, the community needs to support the people making this decision. Absolutely no one on either board wants to cancel anything. Not a single person agreed to sit on the fair board thinking they would ever be faced with the option or need to cancel the fair--those people are there because they have a passion for the fair and the community and want to serve both to the betterment of all.

But the unthinkable has happened and these people have to make a hard call. More than one of them have probably spent sleepless hours with the choice and all the possible repercussions weighing heavily on them. No one likes this situation.

Instead of letting this issue divide us, the community needs to come together and support each other through this. Support the people who have agonized over this, weighed the pros and cons and finally made the call.

If the fair is canceled, you can be disappointed, sad and upset. But don't be angry or outraged--that doesn't help anyone and that kind of division only undermines the spirit of a county fair.

There is a very real possibility Whitman County will not have its fair. It would not be the first time; during at least one World War the fair had to be canceled or downsized. Fair board and commissioners must decide if keeping the fair is the responsible thing to do. Do they invest taxpayer dollars in an endeavor that can not be guaranteed? What about all the volunteers and superintendents in the 60-plus age range; is it fair to ask them to come, to expect their service at the risk of their well-being? And if all the answers are yes, there is still the question as to whether people will come out with their entries and dollars to support the fair after shutdown orders have put a strain on their finances and time. And what about all those vendors that come from out-of-area, bringing their wares and unknown potential contamination? Will the governor's orders shut things down regardless what locals do? With so many questions, the boards have to decide if the right answer is to cancel the fair or not.

If the fair proceeds, it will most likely be in some altered form. That's when the citizens can really show their support and prove how much this means to them. Perhaps the fair will proceed, but only with in-county vendors and exhibitors. Then we need to step up as in-county vendors and exhibitors. Bring those flowers from the yard or squash from the garden. Make a pie, take a photo, build a shelf, show off that scrapbook. But don't stop there; when the time comes, pay for the admission at the gate for the family, buy the ice cream and cheeseburger. Visit the vendors, take in all the exhibits. If there's a livestock sale, then buy an animal, either by yourself or with a group of family or friends. If the thought of no fair is so disparaging, then show your support whatever form it takes.

The questions is not do you want a fair. Everyone wants a fair. The question facing the fair board and commissioners is should there be a fair; is it socially and economically responsible to do so.

Regardless their answer, our answer needs to be one of community support and unity because that is what a fair is about.

Jana Mathia,

Gazette Editor