Fair Board elects 2023 officers

SIDNEY -- The Cheyenne County Fair Board Monday elected officers for the 2023 year.

Troy Kurz retains his office as board president. Vice-President is Pat Finney. Kip Miller will continue as treasurer. The board OK'd Shelby Roelle's appointment as secretary from outside of the board.

Board member Tyler Bailey is stepping down as secretary, but will remain on the board.

Other members of the board include Ryan Filsinger, Zack Oliverius, Natasha Haupt, Tyler Bailey, Shelly Sutherland and Jason Juracek. Juracek was also nominated as Board President but did not gain enough votes to take the seat. 

The board also confirmed Todd Thomas as an alternate member of the board. Thomas is an agriculture teacher at Caliche Schools and a former Logan County Fair manager.

He said he lives near Caliche School.

Prior to the election of the new board, County Commissioner Randy Miller, County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh and County Treasure Shelly Bowlin were in attendance to assist in explaining the county budget process. The 2018-2019 fiscal year was called the worst year in recent time, resulting in a deficit that was covered by moving funds from the Inheritance Tax fund, because the budgeted donations did not reach the projected amount. 

"You can't end a year in the negative," she said.

Commissioner Randy Miller said the Fair Board has its own mil levy supporting the fair. He added that part of the reason the Fair recovered from deficit is the fair was suspended during COVID. He and Fiegenschuh encouraged the Fair Board to budget in a given year to pay for the next year's Fair expenses, because of when the Fair is scheduled compared to the fiscal year.

The Fair is usually in the end of July and the fiscal year is July 1 to June 30. 

Fiegenschuh explained the importance of not spending more than is budgeted and the difference between actual versus estimated costs and revenue.