Montgomery County rolling ahead with rodeo
While the coronavirus has caused the cancellation of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the fair and rodeo will go on in Montgomery County.
The Montgomery County Fair Association confirmed Friday that it still plans to move forward with all events and activities scheduled for April 9-18, except for the annual Senior Citizens Day assembly.
This includes all competitions, adult shows, AG Knowledge Barn, barbecue cookoff, carnival, concerts, rodeo, youth rodeo and special fair days such as Dia de la Familia and Sunshine Day.
Fair tickets will be available online for $10 and at the gate for $15.
“Our mission and our focus is youth and education,” Montgomery County Fair President Cody Bartlett said. “We want to make sure that we have programs put in place to support that mission and our focus this year is doing just that. After having to sit last year out, it is still very important to us that those opportunities still exist today. And those will be done and carried out with safety precautions.”
Montgomery County’s fair and rodeo is held at 9333 Airport Road in Conroe. Each year the event draws more than 2,300 livestock and nonlivestock show exhibitors from the area’s school districts, over 50,000 spectators, 75 committees and 1,300 committee members.
The annual event typically sees nearly 150 barbecue cookoff teams, a carnival, numerous vendors and an entertainment lineup.
Last year, the 63rd annual event was shut down by county officials due to health and safety concerns as COVID-19 cases began to be confirmed in the area. Despite the cancellation, the fair officials said that it was able to contribute nearly $500,000 toward its mission to support youth and education, including by hosting a smaller fair queen ceremony and awarding 50 scholarships for students who were entered in the 2020 Junior Livestock and NonLivestock Show.
Bartlett and the fair’s new Executive Director Brian Hayes said they are still finalizing the details for the 2021 event, but they said some changes will be implemented, including social distancing, reduced capacity, possible virtual options and livestock show modifications.
The fair officials noted that the event contributes to the economy with attendees, including travelers, eating at local restaurants, shopping at local businesses, and purchasing from other local vendors.
“We have a very supportive community and we feel confident that the folks in Montgomery County will join us in supporting our mission, safely,” Hayes said.
The fair officials said they are continuing to communicate with public health officials and school districts to still be able to host the collaborative effort this year, including to guide them on the circumstances under which to cancel the event.
“Not being a public health expert myself, I think that is something that we have to rely on those officials for and while we’re working closely with them to make sure that we can carry out a safe event,” Bartlett said.
While the fair will not feature senior day, which has seen up to 1,200 attendees over the age of 65, the officials are looking at alternative ways to involve and engage the senior community, such as by having projects dropped off by an assisted living facility representative.
“If a group is unable to be here on the grounds, or we have to reduce capacity or something like that and so we’re not providing that opportunity for somebody to be here and experience something that would have traditionally, we’re trying to find ways to reach out to them,” Hayes said.
The fair officials said they are planning to announce artists for the entertainment lineup in the coming weeks. They also expect a similar carnival experience this year.
“You will see things that you are used to nowadays — fortunately or unfortunately — whether it be increased focus on masks, gloves, and sanitation and things like,” Hayes said. “But as far as the carnival itself, it will be just like we all know, remember and love.”