HAMBURG, N.Y. — Erie County Fair officials formally announced on Thursday that the summer tradition will not take place in 2020 at the Hamburg fairgrounds.
In addition to announcing that uncertainties surrounding COVID-19 will prevent the Erie County event from taking place, officials read statements from other WNY fairs announcing they will not take place either.
The 2020 version of the was scheduled to take place at the fairgrounds in Hamburg from August 12-23.
According to fair organizers, the decision to not hold the fair will have an enormous, negative impact on the Western New York economy, which is already reeling from Governor Cuomo's coronavirus related shutdown orders.
Heartbreaking Decision
“Although our Board and staff share a feeling of profound disappointment in making the announcement to cancel the 2020 Erie County Fair, it has become clear that cancelling is the responsible choice for the Fair to do its part to support community health and safety, and to minimize the spread of COVID 19,” said CEO and Fair Manager Jessica Underberg in a statement released on Wednesday night. “We are heartbroken for the small businesses, family farms, competitors and exhibitors impacted in so many ways by this decision.”
Underberg became emotional when she met with reporters on Thursday, and when she was asked by 2 on Your Side to describe the moment when she had to make the decision to call off this year's fair.
"It was tough," she said, before taking a moment to compose herself. "This isn't just a job for us, it's our passion," explained Underberg, before stepping back to wipe a tear from her eye.
Too Many Uncertainties
The fair had reached a point on the calendar for final commitments with vendors for food, rides, and entertainment acts, at a time when it couldn't be certain it could honor them under the Governor's phased in re-opening.
"We (fairs and other large events) won't be allowed until Phase 4 and there's no time line for that. So Phase Four might not start until we would already be into our fair ...we don;t know. And that was just one of the challenges," said Underberg.
Another was the possibility that, even two months from now, there might still be enough people still afraid of catching the virus to the point that fair attendance would be so low that it would have a tough time covering its costs.
"We assume that our attendance will be down, and then when you couple that with extra measures like PPE, and extra staffing needed to do all that stuff it becomes out of balance," Underberg said.
According to Underberg, the decision not to hold a fair in 2020 does not leave the event or the fairgrounds in jeopardy.
However, she is sympathetic to those whose livelihoods are based on this fair and others across the country
"I think about the ribbon company in Ohio that makes ribbons (awarded for prize livestock and other fair competitions ) for all the fairs. If there are no fairs, whose going to buy their products? What about the ticketing company that issues tickets for rides and sets up here every year...the places from which our food vendors buy their stock, and even the neighbors here who park cars on their property, and maybe use that money to pay their taxes or go on vacation. The economic impact has a huge ripple effect and we understand that. "
Hope for 4-H'ers
The fair hopes to be able to preserve at least part of the competition for youth involved in 4-H who spend so many hours raising and tending to their prize animals which they show and, in many cases, sell in order to raise money for their educations.
"It may mean something that is closed to the public, it will definitely mean something with social distancing measures,," said Underberg, who raised the possibility this staple of the fair could even be held virtually.
Although, she hopes it doesn't come to that.
"The virtual options would give the kids an opportunity, but nothing replaces stepping into that show ring with that 12-hundred pound steer," she said.
A Tradition On Pause
It is only the second time in the 181 year history of the the fair that it has been cancelled (the other was in 1943 during World War II).
As such the fair represents the very fabric of Western New York.
"We’ve always said the fair is a fabric of our community so when you can’t have a fair, that feels a little strange because the fair is a celebration...it's where we knit together as a community," said Underbreg.
"This is a place where there’s something for Grandpa and Gramma, there’s something for the little kid, there’s something for the teenagers, there's something for the rock fans there’s something for the country fans. A fair is a place where you can set aside your gadgets and come and live, and breathe it. It impacts so many people's lives."
