Organizers present three‑day fair plan; commission hears budget request

Organizers of the Utah County Fair presented plans for a scaled, three‑day event that emphasizes family activities, 4‑H programming, monster trucks, motocross and a demolition derby.

Craig Conover and Mike Duffin described a plan to reduce the vendor footprint in favor of local sellers, relocate some activities indoors to reduce heat exposure, and concentrate major arena events (monster trucks and a demolition derby) to maximize attendance. They said they will offer lower‑cost vendor booths to encourage local participation and are negotiating sponsorships to offset costs.

Organizers asked the commission to consider a county contribution smaller than prior years (the presentation referenced a requested $1.80 figure compared with a prior $2.50 allotment, per their preliminary budget). They noted work to finalize vendors, insurer and contractor arrangements and said they will comply with county purchasing and contracting processes.

Commissioners thanked the volunteers and asked staff to coordinate budgeting and contracting steps as the fair planning continues. The board emphasized safety, volunteer support and the importance of the event as a community recovery activity after pandemic disruptions.