By MINDY KEPFIELD

Staff writer

Organizers of Marion County Fair have aimed for a compromise between continued COVID-19 caution and relaxed state mandates as they try to plan a safe event.

But finding one is like hitting a moving target, extension agent Rickey Roberts said this past week.

“It’s been crazy this year trying to plan this,” he said. “It’s a wild deal.”

A rodeo and carnival have both been canceled.

An annual 4-H project auction will be 7:30 p.m. July 22 in the commercial building to allow participants room to spread out. Projects will be released that night.

“It will not be under the pavilion this year,” Roberts said. “That’s how we will be able to socially distance.”

There still will be a pedal pull, petting zoo, cornhole tournament, an ATV rodeo, a hot dog and watermelon feed and food trucks, he said.

A demolition derby also is still scheduled for 6 p.m. July 25.

4-H judging will be “condensed.” Livestock will check in July 21 and be released the next day.

Masks and hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the fairgrounds.

Roberts said organizers were remaining alert as new cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in the county. And they are aware the rules could change despite careful planning.

“This is our best-made plan at this point and time, and I hope we are able to pull this all off,” he said.