No decision reached yet on alcohol at fair

No decision was made about selling alcohol during any parts of the Northwest Montana Fair at Thursday’s Flathead County Fair Board meeting.

About eight people attended the meeting and six of them spoke against allowing alcohol at the fair. No one spoke in favor of alcohol sales. Because two of the five Fair Board members were absent, board member Joy Struble said the board would not vote until its June 9 meeting.

Prior to the meeting, the fair office received one email message opposing alcohol sales, one phone call in support of sales and six calls opposing the idea, board chairman Butch Woolard said.

Sharon Askelson was brief in her opposition: “We don’t need beer and wine at the fair.”

LeAna Sacrison said the county fair is one of few venues in town oriented toward families. The longstanding tradition of no alcohol at the fair should be upheld, she said.

Mel Carr also opposed the idea.

“I’m fully opposed to it,” Carr said. “The fair is a family affair. We don’t need it.”

Gerry Banzet asked Fair Board members why alcohol was needed at the fairgrounds.

He voiced some worry about the potential for trouble requiring law enforcement officers at the grounds if people were able to purchase alcohol.

“I don’t know of a soul who wants it,” Banzet said.

But Struble countered that many people have told her they support the idea.

Sam Nunnally said he spends a lot of time at the fair as a volunteer. While alcohol sales might generate some revenue for the fair, he said the profits wouldn’t be enough to offset the costs that would be incurred. “I’m personally against alcohol sales at the fairgrounds,” he said.

Woolard assured the audience that no decision has been made. That means the board hasn’t discussed locations or hours for any such sales, he said.

Fair Manager Mark Campbell echoed those comments. 

Missy Senner suggested that fair officials promote the fair as a “dry fair,” since not many fairs ban alcohol. She thought that promotion could bring more people to Kalispell for the annual event. This year’s fair is Aug. 17-21.

The topic of alcohol sales has been before the fair board at two meetings because last year alcohol was sold on a limited basis during horse races. Historically, the fair has been dry, with no alcohol sales permitted.

Struble said the people who have spoken to her in support of alcohol sales at the fair want to be able to sit down and visit with friends while drinking a beer. They don’t want an outlet to get drunk at, she said.

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or by email at sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.