Ag Society prepares for Winter Ball

BROKEN BOW - As long as COVID numbers do not increase dramatically in the next two weeks, one of the first large community indoor events will be held in Custer County. The Custer County Ag Society is proceeding with plans to host the 5th Annual Winter Ball Jan. 30.

Custer County Ag Society administration Michelle Nelson reported at the Jan. 14 Ag Society meeting that ten out of 27 tables have already sold. There will be both live auction items and silent auction items. Money raised will be used for updates and improvements at the Custer County Fairgrounds.

Tickets are $40 individually or a table of ten for $360. The meal will feature New York Strip steak. See the ad at the bottom of this page for more information.

Also at last Thursday’s meeting, board members talked with Eric Smith of Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroads about drainage coming from Hwy 2 and the railroad on the south that flows into the Fairgrounds, especially into Building 18, and culverts that run under the tracks and through the fairgrounds.

Smith said he will see what he can do with clearing the ditch between the railroad and the Fairgrounds. There was brief discussion on whether or not the fence would need to be removed, albeit temporarily, and if a berm should be built.

Troy Walz with Custer County Extension reported that ribbons have been ordered for the 2021 Custer County Fair. He said it is time to discuss material for the Fair premium book and added that the book will be 4-H only, with FFA deciding to print their own book this year.

A topic that the 4-H Council will discuss at their Jan. 25 meeting is whether or not to have all entries for the fair to be submitted online.

Walz also reported that the market beef weighin is scheduled for Feb. 6, providing it can be held. “If it (the phase for COVID-19) goes to red,” Walz said, “Everything for 4-H has to be done virtually and we’ll probably have to reschedule.”

The Ag Society Board approved taking control of monetary incentives offered to entrants of the 4-H beef carcass competition. Last year only 8 percent of beef entries were in carcass competition and monetary donations were made to increase interest. In order to avoid any look of impropriety in the event a family member of a donor received an incentive, the board agreed to control the donations.

The board went into closed session to discuss employee annual raises.