By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
The Crawford County Fairgrounds weren’t immune to the rain this week, but if more comes our way during fair week the fair board is prepared.
Like last year, the fair board has purchased rain insurance and will receive compensation if rainfall exceeds a quarter inch from 3 to 7 p.m. any day of the fair. The premium for the rain insurance is $3,000 and it will pay $10,000 should rain exceed the quarter-inch limit on days of the tractor and truck pulls or the demo derby. The rest of the week the policy will pay $5,000. Last year the fair collected $10,000 from the policy.
Fair board Secretary Tom Laughbaum said there were tractors at the ready to help where needed, especially with fair vendors who have to set up on the grass. He said it would just take a little patience.
As far as wet grounds for parking, vendors and fair campers, Laughbaum says it’s a little soggy, but they are ready to go.
“We’re putting campers in the fairgrounds. We’re trying to stall people off as long as we can and let it dry out a little bit,” Laughbaum said. “But as far as the fair parking, the north lot is in pretty good shape. There’s some stone up there. The south lot, the big lot, we’ll just have to go up to higher ground a little bit farther away from the fence is all. “I think we’ll be OK. We’re going to mow lines out there and mark off places that are too wet to get into.”
The 2013 Crawford County Fair officially opens on Sunday although some activities involving judging are already taking place and animals will begin to come into the fair on Saturday.