WY: Bill would allow alcohol sales at Wyoming State Fair
By Ethan Brogan Douglas Budget Via Wyoming News Exchange
January 25, 2018
DOUGLAS — After decades of clear rules against alcohol sales and gambling on the Wyoming State Fair Park, the state Legislature next month will consider allowing both year-round to bring in more cash.
The bill – sponsored by the Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Committee – would remove the stipulation that the Wyoming State Fair not allow any gambling or intoxicating liquors on the grounds, outside of the small beer tent next to the grandstands.
The purpose of allowing broader and year-round alcohol sales and gambling is to increase the overall revenue of the fair and other activities throughout the year, explained Department of Agriculture Public Information Officer Derek Grant.
“As far as alcohol, there would probably be some increase in revenue,” Fair Director James Goodrich predicted, remarking there would be more locations for alcohol consumption at the fair if the bill becomes law. “At fair time with more alcohol available, if that were to happen, it would definitely call for more adequate amount of supervision and security that would go with it.”
Sen. Brian Boner intends to introduce an amendment to the bill, changing the stipulation for gambling and alcohol to not be applicable during State Fair Week.
“That (bill) came out not exactly the way I wanted it,” Boner said. “We’re going to maintain the experience for our 4-H and FFA kids but still utilize the significant assets we have at the fairgrounds year round to bring in additional revenue.”
Last year, the revenue from non-fair activities was about $350,000, with fair activities revenue peaking at $464,971, according to the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. The bill estimates revenues would increase $93,000 the week of the fair and $350,000 during other times during the year. The intent of the bill would be that additional revenues would be used by the fairgrounds.
“I think that we are going to see additional revenue during the off-season especially,” Boner said, “but we have to have events there, and we have to advertise that those fairgrounds exist. It is a competitive world out there, and we haven’t really been selling ourselves.”
Converse County Commissioner Rick Grant pointed use of funds would benefit the repair of buildings on the fairgrounds.
“The buildings are all in dire need of some type of maintenance to them and they just keep putting them off for lack of funding,” he said. “These buildings and everything there are such a seasonal use, that they need to open them up and allow other entities to come in and utilize them at a reasonable rate.”
The Department of Ag has the power to choose where the revenue is spent, but nothing yet has been earmarked to fix the existing buildings on the fairgrounds, according to Boner.
The bill would also create a state fair board to oversee the park and provide $95,000 to pay salaries and travel expenses for the board members. The funds are expected to cover salary and travel costs for six two-day meetings per year.
“We certainly understand this is going to go through the appropriations process, and especially our Appropriations Committee is very tight-fisted when it comes to additional expenditures,” Boner said. “The fair sustained a 30 percent cut last year right about a month before the fair… throwing a little bit more money toward the fair when they sustained such an extreme cut to begin with is more appropriate.”
Board members would be paid a $100 for each meeting day, leaving up to $9,300 per member to pay for travel expenses.
Any leftover expense funds would be reimbursed to the state fair’s general fund, according to Boner.
“I think it’s a solid idea,” Wyoming Republican Party Chairman W. Frank Eathorne said. “We need to make some changes and we need to do it soon because the state fair is struggling.”
Currently, the Wyoming State Fair director makes most decisions concerning the fair and year-round operations – often after consulting with Department of Agriculture staff. If the bill successfully makes its way through the Legislature, the new nine-member board would make the majority of the decisions.
Most members would be appointed by the governor from a variety of departments and institutions around the state. One member would be chosen by the Converse County Commissioners, one would be the dean of the agricultural department at the University of Wyoming and one member would be selected by the Wyoming Vocational Cooperative Extension Service.
Members also would be selected from the state Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, Wyoming Business Council, Wyoming Tourism Board, and the energy industry.
Board members would hold their positions for either four or six years.
“Right now if James (WSF Director James Goodrich) wants to make a change, it has to go before the Board of Ag and get approval through legislation . . . it is a slow process,” Rick Grant said. “By having this board, who would be appointed, they would have some oversight and a budget they can work with and not have to go back for approval on everything.”
In February 2017, the Legislature cut $400,000 from the state fair’s current budget, which left the fair struggling, Eathorne said.