WSF explores exciting potential project to enclose Silver Arena

The Wyoming State Fair (WSF) is currently exploring an exciting potential project to enclose the Silver Arena – one of its key facilities.

According to WSF General Manager Courtny Conkle, the goal of this project is to enhance the fairgrounds’ capabilities and offer a versatile, year-round event space for visitors and the community.

Following a series of public meetings, held at the Wyoming State Fairgrounds in May, initial imagery and concepts were shared, generating widespread anticipation and interest.

Public discussion

Courtny notes a series of public meetings were held at WSF fairgrounds throughout the month of May, and during these meetings, fairgrounds officials, architects and project planners engaged with the community to present initial imagery and concepts for the enclosure of the Silver Arena.

“The presentations generated excitement among attendees, who were impressed by the possibilities and potential of the project,” she says. “Public feedback and input were sought, demonstrating the fairgrounds’ commitment to stakeholder communication and collaboration.”

Kota Provence, WSF marketing and communication liaison, notes the Silver Arena enclosure proposal will go before the State Building Commission on Aug. 21, and if approved, it will go to the legislature during their 2024 general session.

“In the event they approve it, we will go out to bid in fall of 2024, with an anticipated project start date of spring or summer 2025,” Kota says.

Project benefits

“The Wyoming State Fairgrounds is a cherished institution which showcases Wyoming’s rich agricultural heritage and provides a platform for over 400 event days annually,” Courtny states. “The potential project to enclose the Silver Arena represents a significant opportunity to expand the fairgrounds’ offerings and maximize its impact throughout the year.”

She further explains enclosing the Silver Arena will provide a fully indoor environment, ensuring event organizers and attendees can enjoy a comfortable and adaptable space, regardless of weather conditions.

The project envisions state-of-the-art facilities, flexible seating arrangements and modern infrastructure, allowing for a wide range of events such as horse shows, rodeos, barrel race futurities, team ropings and various Western lifestyle events.

The potential project to enclose the Silver Arena represents a significant investment in the Wyoming State Fairgrounds and the surrounding community. It would create new opportunities for event organizers, attract a diverse range of events throughout the year and significantly boost the economic impact on local businesses and the state.

“We are thrilled about the potential of enclosing the Silver Arena and the positive impact it will have on the Wyoming State Fairgrounds. The initial public meetings allowed us to share our vision with the community and gather valuable feedback. We look forward to progressing with the project and continuing to engage with the public throughout the process,” Courtny concludes.

Updates and opportunities for feedback will be shared through the Wyoming State Fairgrounds’ website, social media channels and future public meetings.

Rotary Club serves up great eats at WSF for over 40 years

Rotary International is an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect people, transform communities through volunteer work and help fund sustainable projects.

The Douglas Rotary Club, which was chartered 43 years ago, has been helping at Wyoming State Fair (WSF) since 1981.

Rick Hollon has been a charter member since the Rotary Club was established in Douglas in 1980. He is one of two remaining charter members from the original 26.

Rick notes during the summer following the chapter’s establishment, the club was looking for a way to raise funds while also becoming more involved in the community and WSF.

“The state had just finished the new grandstands at the arena, and they were looking for someone to run one of the two concession stands there,” he shares. “In 1986, we moved to our present location, which is the Rotary Building at the end of the Midway. It not only has the food concession part of it, but we also have a covered sit-down dining area.”

All-dayeats

“We run four shifts a day,” Rick explains. “We open at 7 a.m. with breakfast, which is served until around 10:45 a.m. Then, we switch over to lunch, followed by dinner, and we’re open until shortly after 10 p.m. We open Monday morning through Sunday night.”

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The majority of the food the Rotary Club uses for the event is purchased locally – in either Douglas or Casper – or from U.S. Foods, a supplier that sells to many restaurants in the area.

The Rotary Club is known for making the best nacho plate this side of the Rio Grande.

“We make our own nacho cheese, which has a secret recipe. We also make our own breakfast burritos in advance,” he shares. “We prepare all of those items at the state fair cafeteria on Saturday morning before the fair starts, then we freeze all of it.”

“This part of the project starts around 6 a.m., and we usually get done around 2-3 p.m. We’ll make around 600 breakfast burritos and pans of nacho cheese and about 180 pounds of taco meat,” he adds.

Worthavisit

The Rotary Club is very involved with middle school and high school students throughout the year, and they have a significant amount of student volunteers who help with their food booth at the state fair.

“We have Rotarians, Rotarian family members and volunteers help with the food booth. So, I would say, we probably have around 50 or 60 people,” Rick says. “Of course there are three or four days before the fair that we spend setting up and preparing. We have a state fair committee that works on the project.

They start meeting the first week in July and meet every week following to plan for the event.”

The Rotary food booth offers an opportunity for fair guests and vendors to enjoy a meal together, and everyone is encouraged to stop by.

“We’ve been doing this for so long, we’ve formed relationships, not just with local people but with people from around the state who have been coming to the state fair with their families all of these years,” shares Rick.

“And, we’ve been doing it long enough now we have adults who were little kids when they first started coming – many of them just keep coming back to the Rotary booth,” he adds.

Be sure to include the Rotary Club food booth on the list of places to eat at this year’s state fair! It will not disappoint.