BonnerSprings.com

The Wyandotte County fair is out a home once again, which means this year’s fair will be almost unrecognizable to some people.

The fair moved to the Woodlands racetrack two years ago after the original fair grounds were relinquished in order to make room for the new Schlitterbahn Vacation Village and Waterpark. While still negotiating agreements for new fairgrounds, hopefully to be located at Kansas Highway 7 and Polfer Road, the fair ran into more problems with its temporary home.

The Woodlands racetrack was closed, which sent the fair committee scrambling for another temporary location.

“We searched all over Wyandotte County trying to find a location that would hold everything,” said Jennifer Hauk, fair director. “There was just no feasible place with barns for the livestock. We tried to work with the Woodlands to still use their site, but it just couldn’t be worked out.”

That’s when the tough decision had to be made.

This year’s fair, Monday, July 28, to Friday, July 31, will only include 4-H livestock and exhibit competitions at the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds in Tonganoxie. There will not be any open class exhibits, booth space for exhibitors and concessions, entertainment or a carnival.

“It was a very hard decision for them to make,” Hauk said of the fair committee. “I think there is going to be some disappointment, but people have been very understanding too. I think a lot of people look forward to the fair, so of course people will be disappointed.”

Bonner Springs resident Tom Cooley, who is the District 7 commissioner for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, agreed with Hauk.

“I’m sure there’s some disappointed because the fair is a very important part of our summer activities,” he said. “The fair has always had a really good program with different entertainment groups and bands and the carnival.”

But Cooley, who is a judge for the 4-H shooting competition, said there was still a lot to look forward to this year that involved supporting the county’s youth. He said he’s already planning to purchase one, if not more, animals from the 4-H livestock auction.

Hauk said even though most of the events were cancelled, the fair committee still wanted to give the Wyandotte County youth involved in 4-H the opportunity to qualify for the State Fair.

“I want people to still understand that everything is open to the public,” Hauk said of the 4-H competitions. “People can come to watch the 4-H show and to see what they’ve done throughout the year. These projects are very important to these kids. They’ve worked for so long and so hard.”

Next year Hauk is hoping the fair will be settled into its new, permanent location and that all of the favorite activities will be restored.

“We hope to be on track next year and we hope to make it bigger and better,” she said.

For information and a schedule for this year’s fair, go online to wycofair.com.

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