Fair Board Minutes – September 15th 2025

PRESENT: Derrick DeHaan, Wendy Wagner, Justin Koenigsfeld Vice Chairperson, Jennefer Wheeler Fairgrounds Manager
ABSENT: Leighton Bilbrey
GUESTS: Gary Irgens

6:29PM CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Justin Koenigsfeld called the meeting to order.

6:30PM APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Derrick DeHaan motioned to approve September 15, 2025, Fair Board Agenda. Wendy Wagner seconded the motion. The motion carried. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent.

6:30 PM APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Wendy Wagner motioned to approve August 25, 2025, minutes with correction. Derrick DeHaan seconded the motion. The motion carried. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent.

6:31 PM MANAGERS REPORT
Jennefer gave them a list of the events present and past that have happened at the Fairgrounds since the previous meeting. Wendy Wagner asked how the Collins wedding went. Jennefer reported that they said it went well. The new Board members appointed by Commission today were Derrick DeHaan, Dale Butori and Gary Irgens. Commission would like us to have a plan in place for all the new Board members of duties and things that need to be done for the Fair. Jennefer asked if we have all the information needed to the Sheriff for the Barn hit. No one had received anything back so Jennefer will reach out to Chuck Graham again.

6:35 PM EXTENSION REPORT
No one attended from Extension.

6:37 PM PUBLIC COMMENT
Gary Irgens came in to ask the Board what we are doing about the sound in the Grandstands. Wendy explained that we are working on it. The guy and we do know that it sounded horrible. He is working on the speakers relay so that it isn’t echoing and it’s very hard to get it all fixed as it sounds great while he works on it before the event and then with all the activity outside and inside and people it makes way different. They did get the speakers shut off on Crow’s Nest during the derby and it wasn’t as bad. But we acknowledge there is a problem and Sound Guy, Commission and the Board are working on it.

7:00 PM OLD BUSINESS
Jennefer presented the hours that the Beer Booth was given, and it was discussed that they were not open those hours. We will probably make them come in and discuss it for the next year. We had to let the workers in to open as the Chair for them wasn’t there yet. Wendy Wagner discussed with the Board that she feels we need to look at ticket pricing for the Night Show. Every venue around us is charging double or more than we do. We don’t even come close to breaking even. Everyone agreed that the rates aren’t what they should be. We discussed the neighboring towns ticket prices and decided to table and discuss more next month. We talked about the Family night on Saturday again and how we will look at IAFE and Jennefer will get the LOL Productions information ready for the next meeting.

7:15 PM NEW BUSINESS
Conventions-who’s going so we can get registered and hotels.
RMAF-Justin, Derrick, Jen, and Gary will be 1 of our new members he thought he could go. This will be in Billings MT November 12-14. The Board let Gary know how Conventions work and what the Boards role at them is. Jennefer will get rooms booked and then our next meeting we will narrow it down more with our other new Board member present.
IAFE-Wendy, Derrick, Justin, Gary. With the pending new board member. This one will be from Nov 30th to
Dec4th in Denver, CO. We couldn’t see that we needed to stay until Friday, and everyone was good with flying home on Thursday. Jennefer will book rooms for all of us again and we can cancel if not all can attend. Jennefer will do registration for both after our next meeting when everyone is present.
PRCA-We aren’t probably going to win any awards, so everyone felt we didn’t need to go. Jennefer will call Dennis Halstead and if that doesn’t work out Justin stated that Sylan LaCross will be able to help us hopefully find one.
RKZ LIVE contract: Jennefer presented Ward’s contract for 3 years. There was some discussion on what we want to spend again and what we are looking for. It was decided that we would like to table this topic until our next meeting with all the Board members there to agree on it.
Derrick DeHaan motioned to table the RKZ Live contract until our next meeting. Wendy Wagner
seconded the motion. The motion carried. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent.

Vice Chairman Koenigsfeld asked if there was any other business we needed to discuss.
Derrick DeHaan feels we need to take down the tent right away at the Rodeo Office after the Fair. There was discussion with our winds, etc. It doesn’t need to be left up and is taking its toll on it. The Board agreed.
Wendy Wagner wants Jen to contact a band for the Patio called Pumping Ethyl. Jennefer will reach out to them and see what she can do. Also, with our other new Board members we will need to change our meeting dates. We will schedule our next meeting to Tuesday the 21st of October and then we can discuss it more at the next meeting to see what works best as a Board.

7:50PM Adjourn
Vice Chairman Justin Koenigsfeld asked for a motion to adjourn.
Derrick DeHaan motioned to adjourn the meeting. Derrick DeHaan seconded the motion. The motion carried. The motion carried. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent.
Next Meeting:
Regular meeting October 21st, 2025, 6:30 pm at the Fair Office
ADJOURN:
s/ Justin Koenigsfeld, Vice Chairman
ATTEST:
s/Jennefer Wheeler, Fairgrounds Manager