■ Nebraska State Fair stages smaller event with pandemic-era protocol
The crowds and list of exhibitors and activities were smaller at this year’s Nebraska State Fair, where the focus in 2020 was on youth and animal shows. News-Register/Kurt Johnson
Judge Paul Hay offers Hampton students some tips during Saturday’s FFA exhibit show. Members pictured from left are Maya Lewis, Kelsey Mersch, Landon Parsley and MaKenna Clinch. News-Register/Kurt Johnson
Claire Frevert of Aurora volunteered to help with this year’s Nebraska State Fair as she has since retiring, and reported hearing lots of positive comments from fairgoers who were glad to have an event to attend, despite the smaller size. News-Register/Kurt Johnson
Brekyn Papineau was one of many local FFA members participating in animal shows this weekend. State Fair organizers scheduled all the 4-H animal shows the first weekend with FFA on center stage the final weekend. News-Register/Kurt Johnson
Though the Nebraska State Fair was limited in size and scope this year by a global pandemic, the sentiment among fairgoers, volunteers and board members was unanimous — having a smaller State Fair was better than having no State Fair at all.
“As a board member, we’ve been hearing every exhibitor come through the barns expressing thanks and gratefulness that we chose to go ahead and have the event,”…
