Fairness of food sales outside of fair questioned

The Hill County Fair Board Tuesday tabled making a ruling on whether 4-H clubs can do exclusive concessions at events outside of the fair. Board members said they want to talk to 4-H representatives before making a decision.

Great Northern Fairgrounds Manager Tim Solomon said a 4-H club sold food during the annual antique show and the Hi-Line Cruz'n Association's annual Rod Run.

Two businesses wanted to sell food as well during the antique show, but were told only the 4-H concessions would be allowed, he said.

Solomon said he wants a decision from the board if exclusive concessions would be allowed. He said that the 4-H groups are not charged a percentage of their sales during the fair, where other groups are.

Solomon said, "4-H … has the corner on the market on our grounds, and we're not collecting a thing, and if we would have let someone else in we would have at least got our (percentage.) We would have made some money for food being sold up here.

"Why are we exempting this? " Solomon added later. "You have other booths asking the same question. It's not just me. "

Board member Alma Seidel said the tradition has been not to charge the 4-H a percentage, as other food vendors are, because of the work the group does in setting up and cleaning up during and after the 4-H events at the fair.

She added that the concessions during the Rod Run and antique show were not something put on or approved by the Hill County 4-H board, but just by an individual club.

Seidel suggested that 4-H clubs be told they would need to pay a percentage, as other groups do, if they operate concessions outside of the fair.

Fair board member Missy Boucher said she believes 4-H groups should not be allowed to be the only concessions at events.

"It should be open for everybody, " she said.

Board member Chad Murnin moved to table the motion until the July meeting, saying he wanted to be able to talk to 4-H representatives before the issue came to a vote.