By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
Jill York wasn’t expecting to leave the Carter County Tourism meeting on Monday night with news that tourism was fully funding plans to bring a rodeo to the Carter County Fair, but that’s where the fair board member found herself at the end of the meeting.
York, who also serves on the county tourism board and as president of the Grayson Area Chamber of Commerce, was presenting an update on improvements to the fairgrounds and potential plans for the coming year. She noted that one item the fair board was considering was bringing the rodeo back in some form. The only drawback with that, she said, was the cost. The board has, in the past, kept the entertainment part of the admission price. They haven’t charged an additional fee to enjoy those events. But, she said, that might have to be a consideration unless they could secure enough sponsorship to offset the costs.
She said she wasn’t asking tourism to commit to anything immediately, but it was something she wanted them to consider helping with if possible. Her hope was to have it put on the agenda for discussion at a future meeting. Instead she found herself completely gobsmacked when board chair Chris Perry said the tourism board had the money available to sponsor the entire event, if the rest of the board wanted to do so.
Perry said that not only did the board have the money available now, but that with fees collected on campground and lodge rentals at the park alone, in addition to other transient taxes collected for the county, he didn’t see a problem with the board being able to replace the funds.
The point of the tourism board, he noted, is to bring people into Carter County to spend money in the county. With the large draw of the rodeo in Morehead recently, Perry said, he felt a rodeo at the fair could have the same impact in Carter County. If it meant that local residents could enjoy the rodeo without paying an upcharge on fair admission as well, he said, that was even better.
“Why not give something back to the county?” Perry asked. “I think it’s a good investment.”
Carl Burton made a motion to fund the entire $12,000 price tag for the rodeo, second by Von Perry. York abstained from the vote, with Chris Perry and Jonathon Lewis joining Burton and Von Perry in voting aye to pass the motion.
“I think it’s money well spent,” Perry reiterated after the vote. “It’s something for kids and families to do… and it brings people into the county.”
The motion to support the rodeo came after a motion to fund printing costs to cover banners and promotional materials for the Carter County Shrine Club Horse Show. The first show of the season, a one-off event for mountain horse breeds, is scheduled for June 3. The full, two-day horse show is scheduled for August 4-5; one week before the Carter County Fair which is scheduled to run August 9-12.
The proximity of these two events prompted discussion of creating a Carter County Horse Week event, with trail rides, a possible horse parade, or other events taking place in the days between the Shrine Club Horse Show and the rodeo at the county fair.
In old business the board discussed plans for a farm to table event, with funds raised used to support Project Merry Christmas and the Bethany House, and the payment of bills related to the promotion of Carter Caves Winter Adventure Weekend.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
