By Ron VandenBoom
The Great Northern Fair Board discussed lawn mower races, wagon rides, and up-coming events during its monthly meeting Tuesday on the Hill County Fairgrounds.
Mike Spencer, manager of the Great Northern Fair, told the board he had been approached about the idea of hosting lawn mower races on the fairgrounds during this year's fair.
The board discussed the possibility of holding the races in the arena prior to the start of the annual Jaycees' demolition derby, but no decision on whether to include the races was reached.
Spencer said he will hold further discussions on the issue at a later date and report to the board next month.
Concerns over insurance also caused the board squelch an earlier idea the board had of offering wagon rides during the fair.
"The insurance people said no go,'" Spencer told the board, while at the same time raising the possibility the train rides offered last year to seniors might also have to be ended.
The problem, Spencer explained, was in the use of volunteer labor to operate the rides.
He noted that the only way they might be able to continue would be if the board was actually to hire an employee to operate the equipment.
The board noted that a lot of people appreciated the train at last year's fair and suggested the board might be able to rent the train to an organization as a fund raising concession.
Spencer said he would contact the insurance company and find out what the could be worked out.
Spencer also announced to the board that the recent foundation carnival had managed to raise more than $4,000 that will be applied toward completion of the bathrooms in the Bigger Better Barn.
He also announced the annual Micro-Brew held in April on the fairgrounds is expected to raise about $1,600 that will be applied to the on-going remodeling project in the fairground's office building.
Spencer said he hoped that by this time next year they should have the office portion of the building complete and fair board meetings could then be held in the office meeting room.
Spencer told the board the month of June would feature the annual Shrine Circus on June 28 and also a concert on June 21.
He told the board that he had agreed to rent the Bigger Better Barn for an impending concert that would feature a big name performer. He also announced that details on concessions and a 50/50 raffle had been worked out with various nonprofit groups and organizations in Havre.
The Havre Daily News contacted the Havre business Wednesday morning and learned that final details on a concert had not yet been worked out and the business would not speculate on who the entertainer might be, saying only that they should know in a few days and would make an announcement then.
