DOUGLAS — The efforts of the state Legislature in Phoenix to balance the budget have had far-reaching effects, including impacting country fairs statewide.

On April 17, the Legislature passed a bill that eliminated $300 million worth of funds in what is called a sweep. One fund, totaling $2 million, was identified as the Livestock/Breeders Award Fund. In actuality, it was the County Fairs, Livestock & Agricultural Promotion Fund as titled under Arizona Revised Statutes.

Translation: Fairs now have no  state funding available to them to put on their annual events.

For Cochise County, it’s a loss of $85,000.

Karen Strongin, Cochise County Fair general manager, said she found out on April 25 that the funds were gone.

“I was shocked,” she said.

But the fair will go on as planned. The Cochise County Fair Association Board has been working to determine how the event would still happen. They never considered canceling it, Strongin said.

“There are too many kids out there that have their animals, have their projects ... and we couldn’t let down those people, and we wouldn’t,” Strongin said.

Some changes had to be made in order to keep the fair running. Scheduled for Sept. 25-28 at the county fairgrounds in Douglas, the fair will present all local Cochise County talent to reduce entertainment costs.   

Danny Brown, owner of Brown’s Amusement, has offered to pay the costs of the lighting and sound systems used for the live entertainment, livestock auctions and the intercollegiate rodeo along with the other public events, Strongin said.

To further keep costs down, the prize money awarded to the top entries in each exhibit were eliminated. While first place only received $4, the amount paid each year totaled about $7,000. The winners will still receive ribbons though.

Looking for the premium books listing all the exhibit categories?

They will no longer be printed, saving approximately $4,000. The information for each exhibit along with all the rules and regulations and entry procedures can be found online at cochisefair.org. Strongin said those without access to the Internet can request the information be mailed to them by calling the fair’s office at (520) 364-3819.

Without these changes, Strongin said they would have had to charge participants to enter the exhibits.

“We are one of the few fairs left in the state that doesn’t charge entry fees, and we want to keep it that way,” she said.

The board is still looking into fundraising options and will discuss them at its next meeting. Strongin said the nonprofit, privately owned organization is able to receive  donations.

The Cochise County Fair Association exists from event to event, Strongin said. The money made on one event will usually last until the next event.

“We are adamant about not raising the price of the fair,” she said.

These changes along with a possible fundraiser should keep the Cochise County Fair running this year.