The time has come to let go

By Matt Kovar

When the Nebraska State Fair was moved from Lincoln to Grand Island two years ago, many citizens were upset about the decision. There were those in Lincoln that did not want to lose the fair, and those in Grand Island that were concerned about the costs of the new facilities. Over time most people have accepted the fate of the fair, and have begun to move on with their lives as usual.

Many people in eastern parts of the state have voiced their discontent with the move. They have a right to be upset about losing the fair, but there comes a time when complaining becomes unproductive. There have been several attempts to stop the move of the fair through the Nebraska court system. These multiple attempts have been rejected, but this has not stopped opposition groups from talking their case to the Nebraska Supreme Court. The leader of the opposition group has acknowledged that even if the court declares that the law moving the fair to Grand Island unconstitutional the fair will most likely move forward in Grand Island as planned. This is due to the fact that the new facilities are well into construction and most of the equipment at State Fair Park in Lincoln has been sold. Moving the State Fair back to Lincoln would cost such a large amount of money that the fair would most likely be too unstable to survive.

Many of the opposition group members feel that by giving the fair to Grand Island the Legislature gave an unfair advantage to the central part of the state. This may be true, but the fact remains that Lincoln and Omaha have the advantage in almost every situation due to their size and location. Lincoln will certainly not go into a downward spiral because it lost a struggling fair being held in worn-out facilities. The new facilities being built in Grand Island are set to be among the most advanced in the nation, and will bring more attention to the agricultural aspects of the fair, which is what Nebraska is known for. It makes little sense to have an agricultural fair in a predominantly urban area. Relocating the fair to Grand Island is a smart move.

The best bet that Nebraska has at keeping its fair is to support the efforts of Grand Island and the State Fair Board. In order for the fair to survive it is necessary that the public not only support the fair, but attend it. While the people of Grand Island have begun to embrace the fair, the smaller population base in and around the city is not enough to supply the necessary attendance that the fair needs to succeed. People from all parts of the state, including Lincoln and Omaha, need to help Grand Island welcome the fair. If the Nebraska Supreme Court overturns the law moving the fair it may not stop the fair from moving, but it will most lessen public support and cause the fair to struggle from the start.

The people of Nebraska must stop fighting the move of the Nebraska State Fair and start supporting Grand Island in its efforts to bring Nebraska a better fair. To those that support the court case attempting to stop the move we remind you that the State Fair has moved on, and so should you.