CUSTER COUNTY – The Custer County Ag Society is taking steps to develop a long term vision for the fairgrounds, while also reviewing the recent county fair and open class events.
During Thursday’s meeting, the board established a strategic planning committee to develop one, three and ten year goals for the Ag Society. The Ag Society President, Brian Palmer said the fairgrounds have many possibilities, but a clear plan is needed before moving forward with large projects.
The strategic planning discussion came as the board considered the future of several aging fairgrounds buildings, including unused concession stands and bathrooms, as well as Building 13.
The newly formed Strategic Planning Committee will include board members Scotti Ross, Caleb TenBensel, and Jake Rosentreader. These committee members will be used as a resource in forming a plan of action on how various goals can be met on the fairgrounds.
Review of County Fair
The board also reviewed the recently completed Custer County Fair.
Board member, Mark Cardoza shared a report from open class during the Custer County fair. Cardoza reported that 326 exhibits were entered by 98 residents, with 57 new participants taking part this year.
The board discussed comments mentioned during the fair about possible improvements for the open class, including repainting older display backdrops and addressing leaks underneath the grandstands that resulted in some exhibits getting wet.
The open class program paid $475 in premiums, while the board also discussed judging and other expenses associated with the program.
Custer County Fairgrounds General Manager Clay Hayes said the fair went well overall, despite some issues that can be improved next year. Hayes said having one fair under his belt will allow him to be more proactive and make adjustments in areas he noted during this year’s fair. He also credited board members and community members for stepping in to help when issues arose.
Troy Walz with the Custer County Extension office shared comments left online during the county fair. He also reported that the fair ran smoothly through the auction and credited the board and Hayes for their work.
Future Plans
The meeting also included discussion about the role of committees now that the Ag Society has a general manager. Cardoza noted that Hayes now handles much of the day to day work at the fairgrounds, questioning if there still needs to be a buildings and grounds committee.
Throughout the conversation, board members discussed how responsibilities should be divided between Hayes, committees and the full board, particularly when larger purchases or capital expenses are involved. Board member Scotti Ross said committees provide a valuable resource for conducting research, addressing problems and resolving issues in real time.
After a lengthy discussion, the board decided to continue using committees, with minor adjustments to committee chairs and board members serving on each committee. The committee assignments will be reassessed following the Custer County Ag Society’s annual meeting in November. The recently approved committee assignments along with the Strategic Planning Committee include:
Buildings and Grounds Committee: Mark Cardoza, Jake Rosentreader and Clint Lambrecht. Andy Gibbons is no longer on the committee, with Brian Palmer newly added.
Events Committee: Cardoza, Gibbons, Desirei Cook and Caleb TenBensel.
Budget and Finance Committee: Rosentreader, Palmer, Cook and Shelby Spanel.
Arena Committee: Dissolved due to the overlap in responsibilities with the buildings and grounds committee
Fair Committee: TenBensel, Rosentreader, Cook and Spanel
HR/Bylaws Committee: Ross, Lambrecht, Palmer, and Spanel
Other
The board also approved a new conflict of interest and procurement policy designed to establish procedures for financial conflicts, purchasing and contracts involving board members. The proposal calls for board members to disclose conflicts and in certain situations abstain from discussions and votes. The policy is intended to protect the integrity of the Ag Society, promote public confidence and ensure public funds are spent prudently.
The next meeting of the Custer County Ag Society is scheduled for September 10, 2026 at 7:00pm at the west end of the Custer County Fairgrounds in the shooting sports building.
