Dodge County Free Fair for 2020 Cancelled But Some Events for Youth Will be Held
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At their meeting May 26, the Dodge County Commissioners decided unanimously to accept the County Fair Board’s decision to cancel the main events for the Dodge County Fair because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fair was scheduled for July 15-19. However, the commissioners were strongly in favor of hosting events for students who have raised animals for the fair or completed other projects for judging. The group discussed ways the judging could be handled to minimize contact between participants including using different buildings for different types of livestock; scheduling appointments for showing and then the immediate removal of the animals or other projects.

They also discussed the possibility of local vendors setting up food trucks during the judging times.

The possibility of having the events later in the summer was also discussed since the state fair has been cancelled and the pressure to have projects ready to transport and show there has been removed.

The commissioners thanked the members of the Fair Board for all their work in the past and in the future for organizing what will be a unique experience for participants this year.

Of note, the Dodge County Free Fair has been cancelled only one other time since its inception 163 years ago. That was during the polio epidemic of 1946. The Fair is the oldest county fair in Minnesota.