During a meeting in which a full board was not in attendance the Lincoln County Fair Board has passed a rule that no one under the age of 5 can exhibit anything in the Lincoln County Free Fair in 2024.
This goes for all species of livestock (Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Rabbits, and Chickens). The fair board made this vote during the time most Ag teachers, 4-H leaders, and show families where in attendance at the Tulsa State Fair. Therefore, they had no rebuttal and the board left it off the meeting agenda, so no one knew this was a rule they were wanting to pass. That is a violation of the Open Meetings Act. This new rule was called to vote by District 1 member Chad Imhoff and seconded by District 3 member Mitchell Armitage.
At Tulsa and OKC state fair and all national shows, if the parents of a 0 to 4 year old exhibiter wanted to enter their animal in the open division and show it, they would be allowed, but now at a county level they are telling parents that they are disqualified. Let that sink in, kids can represent our county at a state and national level but not at our county fair due to this decision.
Their justification was safety during the peewee show, but all peewee shows have adults or older member in the ring with them to help except the hog shows, which they should have help.
There is also an open fair board seat in District 2 due to a recent resignation on the board. Even though there where 3 individuals who spoke up wanting to be appointed, District 2 County Commissioner Marlon Miller told me that, under the advisement of District 3 County Commissioner Lee Doolen, he is refusing to appoint and fill the open position. With the open position, if the fair board can bring the issue back up at the November 7th meeting and it is a tie vote, the rule change will stand. We need Marlon to fill the district 2 position for this not to happen.
I am requesting the public’s help in getting this rule change overruled at the next meeting on November 7th at 6 pm. Please call your district fair board members and Commissioners and let them know we should not be excluding kids from our local county fair.
Sincerely, Lauralee Prough , Chandler