At a board meeting on Monday night, The Kern County Fair Board of Directors unanimously voted to postpone the 2020 Kern County Fair.

The plan is to bring it back in 2021, Sept. 22 – Oct. 3.

“The Kern County Fair exists to strengthen Kern County and bring people together,” said CEO Michael Olcott. “We are dedicated to being part of our collective well-being and look forward to when we can all gather in 2021.”

In the meantime, the fair will use its facility and resources to support and serve the community through the drive-thru COVID-19 testing, isolation units and serving as an alternative care site.

Back in May, the Kern County Fair Board was still planning on holding the fair. However, a recent surge in COVID-19 cases around the state made that difficult.

Last week, Kern County Chief Administrative Officer Ryan Alsop didn't think that the fair would be able to go on.

“I will say that I seriously doubt that the fair, the Kern County Fair as we know it and enjoy it every single year as it is typically put on - seriously doubt that will happen,” said Kern County Chief Administrative Officer Ryan Alsop.

On June 29, the Kern County Fair Board has decided to host virtual livestock shows in the wake of COVID-19. The decision, while hard to make, was decided with the students who participate in mind. Canceling the show would devastate quite a few individuals, something the Kern County Fair Board is trying to avoid.

The virtual show would require students send in a 60-second video showcasing their animal, all required documentation still needs to be submitted by the deadline.

The Kern County Fair is held every year in September and brings in funds for the fairgrounds, local non-profits, small businesses, and even FFA students.

For more information about the postponement, please visit https://www.kerncountyfair.com/p/about/postponement-answers