You can now add the Gage County Fair and Expo to the list of summer events that have become a victim of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gage County Fair officials announced today that the 2020 Fair has been postponed until next summer. President of the Gage County Ag Society Steve Whittwer says current guidelines and restrictions made it difficult to have the annual event.

" We have to be able to financially make the fair a go. And the restrictions that were being placed upon us made that very tough this year. And so if we can't make it a go, we might ruin fairs down the road...so we have to look forward to 2021 and making sure we are putting all our emphasis now once we get passed this pandemic, and offer our public the same kinds of quality things we have done in the past. We are looking forward to 2021 and having a fair like we normally know it".

Despite having to postpone the five day event, fairboard members are working on plans to still have judging of livestock and non-livestock exhibits.

"Unfortunately we will be canceling all of our entertainment, our carnival will be canceled, and those types of ground acts. But we are going to be able to offer and we have worked really hard in coming up with plans on getting our 4-Hers and FFAers to show their live animals plus their static things like LEGOs and those projects the young people have been working on".

Whittwer says the staff of the Gage County Extension office are currently working on the times and days for the livestock shows. A final schedule is expected to be completed by the end of this week.

"As for the shows they hope to have up on their website at Gage.unl.edu by this Friday"

Unfortunately, those who participate in the open class division at the county fair will have to wait until next year. Whittwer says it just wasn’t possible to include open class in July’s activities.

Whittwer says camping will not be allowed on the fairgrounds during the week of the livestock shows. Fair officials are looking into the possibility of having some food vendors on the grounds during that week.

Whittwer says the Ag Society is moving forward on starting the racing program later this month on the fairgrounds.

"We think we are going to be able to go thru with our program and we are going to start racing in June 19th. We have to get the track ready and prep and ready to go."

Dates for this year's activities will be July 21st thru the 26th.

Dates for next year’s county fair have not yet been determined as fair officials need to look at the available dates for the midway.