COCHRANE— The COVID-19 pandemic has put the future of the 2020 Cochrane Fair in doubt.
COVID-19 has forced the Cochrane & District Agricultural Society to close their facility and cancel all events that were booked until public health measures are lifted, Justin Burwash Ag Society president said.
“We’ve basically lost all of our revenue,” Burwash said explaining that the society has cancelled all bookings from mid-March and moving forward fears this could be in place until June.
“What we’re really trying to figure out is if we will be able to run our Cochrane Fair,” Burwash said. “That’s the biggest event that we host in the year.”
The Cochrane Fair is set to take place from Aug. 21 to 23 at the Ag Society Park, if public health measures are lifted. Burwash said the Cochrane Fair accounts for a large part of their operations but has been put on pause for now.
The Cochrane & District Agricultural Society recognizes that it is very likely that the provincial legislation will have eased up by August allowing them to host events over the summer like the Cochrane Fair, Burwash said. He added that the event relies largely on sponsorship and community participation.
“It’s going to be tough for businesses for some time after this and we’re trying to learn more and understand what position business will be in to get behind an event like the fair,” Burwash said. “We don’t know what it will mean for the Cochrane Fair, but it will have a significant impact no matter what.”
The Cochrane & District Agricultural Society hosts several events throughout the year including horse shows and the Cochrane Fair, Burwash said. He added that they also provide commercial rental opportunities for different events, shows or clinics.
Cochrane BMX, horse trials, pony club, roping club and Cochrane Search and Rescue use the facility among others.
The only thing operating right now, Burwash said, is a small horse boarding component of the facility. The horses were boarded before changes in operations were implemented due to COVID-19.
Like many in the community, Burwash said they are trying to figure out how to get through the coming weeks of the pandemic and get their feet under themselves to see where everything lands.
“Financial support is what we’re all going to need,” Burwash said. “A lot of community members and business that would be our partners in the past our going to be in the same boat as us. We’re all going to be in it together.”
The Cochrane & District Agricultural Society is more than 100 years old, he said and took a brief break during World War Two.
The COVID-19 pandemic presents new challenges, he said, but the society itself is larger than it has ever been in its history of operations. The Cochrane & District Agricultural Society currently boasts more than 100 members and has more than 65,000 people who access the grounds every year.
“The longer this drags out the bigger impact it will have,” Burwash said.
