Mountain Community Fair cancelled due to low funds

No horse show, no ribbons awarded to meticulously crafted leatherworks, no prize zucchinis, no rodeo.

These are the consequences of the end of the Mountain Community Fair, which due to low funds will not celebrate its 27th year this summer.

“I grew up here, and I’ve been going to the fair my whole life, and it’s a huge disappointment” said Valerie Long Connelly, vice-president of the board of directors.

“My mom would send my sisters and me with $20 a piece and we would live at the fair for three days. It’s a non-threatening environment for kids to hang out at, to get them out of their parents’ hair.”

Lower attendance last year resulting in fewer funds for this year’s fair — about $20,000 short — have made putting on the fair impossible, said Connelly, one of only three remaining members of the fair board.

“It’s never been profitable,” said former director Kevin Faulkner. “A few years we’ve lost a few thousand, up to $7,000. I think the fair can happen next year. Someone just needs to go do some fundraising.”

In addition, the fair does not have its own land and leases property from the county.

“The overall picture is we need to look for a permanent home,” Faulkner said.

Fairs with permanent facilities can rent them out during the year to bolster their bottom lines.

Connelly said it may be possible to bring the fair back if there’s enough interest, or the board may explore hosting just a rodeo.

“I’ve always liked having it around and being able to ride and have a lot of fun,” said Erin Goodell, who is president of the TROTS (The Riders of the Summit) 4-H horse club. “People come out and see us and how much we’ve worked throughout the year.”

Zach Herwehe participates in arguably the most dangerous sport in the world: bull riding. He has ridden in a number of rodeos in the area, including Clear Creek, Granby and Eagle County. He wishes he could, like past years, have a home-turf rodeo to compete in.

“I think in our community, there’s so many people involved here with rodeo and equestrian sports,” Herwehe said. “All the surrounding communities have [rodeos]. There’s tons of good riders out here. Colorado is cowboy country, a rodeo state. I don’t see why we shouldn’t have one.”

Despite the end of the fair, the Summit County 4-H clubs, which have a membership of more than 200 children, still will be holding their exhibit days on June 27 and 28 at the Frisco Community Center.

Additionally, the horse clubs will host 10 open shows, beginning with a gymkhana on June 28.

“Our focus is what we’re teaching the kids year-round, not just the three days at the fair,” said Kathie Kralik, the county 4-H director. “The fair was a bigger deal and made it a little more special. We’ll miss the fair, yes, but it’s not our priority. We’d certainly love for it to come back. The fair was like an end-all, what the kids were working toward all year.”

Still, many fair-goers say, it won’t be the same without the fair this summer and the social event it provides.

For Erin Goodell, it is the end of a life-long tradition.

“I’ve always gone to the rodeos — every one — no matter what.”

K.J. Hascall can be contacted at (970) 668-4653, or at khascall@summitdaily.com.