Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
COLFAX — For the first time since it began in 1998, the Palouse Empire Fair Foundation’s Dinner and Auction has been canceled.
But the foundation is still encouraging charitable giving for others who have been negatively impacted by the events of the year.
“If you have funds on hand that you intended to spend at our annual fundraiser, we encourage you to find a place in our great community that your gift can do some good,” dinner coordinator Toni Jorgensen said in a letter to businesses.
In recent years, the event brought in $42,000-$45,000, which the foundation put toward special projects at the fair. The most recent was seven new metal light standards and LED lights at the 2,483-seat grandstand installed at the fairground last year.
After Whitman County Commissioners freed up $1.5 million for capital improvements, which were used to replace the second-hand bleachers perched on the edge of the rodeo arena for 32 years, Commissioner Art Swannack and Ninth District Representative Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, came up with the idea for a “Burn the Note” campaign, Fair Foundation Treasurer Janet Luft said.
During the last three months of 2019, they solicited businesses for donations to pay off the foundation’s debt for the electrical. They succeeded in collecting $36,000.
That money was used to pay off the first of three payments due for the electrical.
The second payment is due in 2021. The foundation has enough in the bank to make that payment.
The dinner and auction is expected to return next year, provide the funds for the final payment and other fair needs.
“There is no shortage of upgrades needed at the fairgrounds and our final loan payment on the grandstand will be due in 2022,” Jorgensen said in her letter. “However, you may also know of another charitable club or service group that needs support to continue their work. You may recognize a local business that is struggling, or see a way to help some of the recent fire victims. At this time, there may be others that have a serious or immediate need.”
The foundation already has its next project lined up.
After the fair received .09 public economic development money for work at the fair’s RV park, the foundation was asked to subsidize the cost for plans and architectural work, Luft said.
Jana Mathia is a reporter at the Whitman County Gazette.
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