Auxiliary News By Devin Zarda, vice president, WPGA
Hello, friends! I hope your
summer is going well, you can relax and enjoy, and that the crops are growing like they are supposed to. When I think of summer, I envision heading to the lake, grilling out and nights spent checking irrigation. But there is one event that truly makes me feel like summer—the Wisconsin State Fair! With COVID-19, last year was hard. I am sure that is not news to anyone, but as an organization, it was difficult for us. We tried to do as much as we could while keeping people safe. We had to change plans, have a back-up plan or two, and still had to make a few last-minute decisions. One of those decisions was with the State Fair. We were heartbroken when we heard that the fair would not be happening, but we understood the decision to keep everyone safe. When we were approached to participate in the drive-through version of the fair last year, it was an immediate “yes,” and then we had to figure out how to make it work after that. So, why am I reliving one of the most difficult years of many of our lives? Because this year, the Wisconsin State Fair is happening in its traditional format. Since this situation is still fluid, we will have more updates on health and safety precautions as the time approaches.
Unlike last year’s Wisconsin State Fair, which because of COVID-19 was a drive-through event (shown), the 2021 rendition will be in a traditional format, including the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary baked potato booth.
What can you expect from us? • Frequent handwashing • Hand sanitizer readily available • Frequent sanitization of all areas of the booth • A great time • Amazing baked potatoes
with people ready to get out and mingle. Since guidelines from the State of Wisconsin and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been changing recently, I cannot give you an exact layout of what we will be doing when it comes to safety protocols.
Like I mentioned above, this situation is fluid, so we may see sneeze guards, face masks, and other safety measures to protect both you and the fairgoers that we know will want our baked potatoes.
Please know that our goal is to keep all our volunteers safe and healthy.
We are expecting to have a busy year
Devin
I can’t wait to see all of your photos from the Wisconsin State Fair! Until next time,
BC�T July 53
