Parent addresses her concerns regarding fair

At its Sept. 2 meeting, the Big Horn County Commission heard concerns about the recent fair from Riley Edelman, who was joined by her husband Nick Edelman.

Edelman provided a copy of the letter she received from the fair board regarding “inappropriate conduct” at the fair. She also provided a copy of an anonymous letter she received from “a fellow fair mom,” a copy of a signed support letter from another fair mom who wrote her observations of the situation, her rebuttal to the letter she received from the fair board, call log and screenshots of text conversations. 

Commission chair Deb Craft told Edelman the commission is willing to hear her concerns, but recommended she discuss with the fair board. Edelman said she understood but felt that once she presented her information, it would be clear as to why she came to the commission first. 

In her letter, Edelman said she was writing as a rebuttal to the letter she received from the fair board. The fair board letter stated that she “was given a formal warning of misconduct I supposedly performed at the 2025 Bighorn County Fair. It states in this letter that I verbally harassed a minor, challenged authority of vet staff and superintendents and had unauthorized video of this sick goat and child.” 

She said none of these things happened, that she was slandered at a fair board meeting, was mailed this letter without the opportunity to tell her side, and that there was a story in the newspaper. (NOTE: Edelman’s name was not mentioned at the fair board meeting or in the story.) 

Edelman continued to read her letter in which she expressed her concern for the sick goat, said the only video taken was of the goat not the child, that she contacted the fair manager, goat superintendent, 4H leader, a fair board member and the father of the youth with the sick goat with concerns about the goat. At one point she asked for the goat to be quarantined versus sent home.  

In the letter and verbally in this discussion with the commissioners she stated that her goal in the situation was not to get a child kicked out of fair. 

Edelman explained that some of her goals for coming before the commission is to clear her name about bullying or harassing a minor, to push bio security, to have all animals checked by a vet before getting off a trailer and to have a non-biased vet walking through the barns morning and evening. She asked the commissioners to “look at the current fair board members and manager as new ones come on, that they can look at things with open and honest eyes. And just not write a letter based off feelings, not facts. “This particular situation should have been tabled until my side of the situation was heard. Being fair is important if you are going to serve on a board.” 

She and her 11-year-old son have received anonymous hate mail, nasty comments in public and unnecessary drama. She noted that while the commissioners could do nothing about that, she would like them to look at where the drama started and who the real bullies are. 

Commissioner Dave Neves asked if other fairs have a veterinarian   walk around the grounds. Edelman said absolutely, then gave an example of when she lived and showed in Crook County.  The animals were not allowed off the trailer without a vet looking at them. There was also a quarantine area. 

She said the Wyoming State Fair used to do this as well. At this year’s state fair, two hogs died. A letter from Wyoming State Fair to swine exhibitors noted that tests be administered on the deceased swine. The Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory determined “The condition has an unknown etiology and is likely noninfectious.” The same letter gave the option of early release of swine exhibits.  

During the discussion Edelman said she believed it may have been the water that caused the goat at this fair to get sick. It is not potable water. No matter what caused the sickness, she was concerned as a breeder and fair mom that it could affect other exhibitor’s animals and be brought home to the breeding stock. She believes that having a quarantine area at the fair is important just in case. 

Edelman also told the commission she had spoken with fair board chair Rebecca Bates. According to Edelman, Bates suggested Edelman write a letter to the board then come to the fair board for an executive session where the board could apologize to her. Commissioner Bruce Jolley stated that it was not an executive session item. 

Edelman was undecided at that time if she would attend the next fair board meeting. 

ROAD/BRIDGE

South End County Road and Bridge Supervisor Shannan Hovey gave the Road and Bridge report. One item he discussed was the traffic counters the county is placing around the county for vehicle counts. Commissioner Bruce Jolley asked if the counters would be placed on Sandhill Road to help determine the truck traffic. The county is likely to put weight limit signs for said road. Hovey indicated that would be a part of it. Later in the discussion it was mentioned that county engineer Willie Bridges may already have enough data to put up the weight signs without having to do counters. 

Jolley continued Bridges had sent an estimate to repair about a mile on the Sandhill Road. Jolley said the county realizes the road needs to be fixed and that the heavy truck traffic is detrimental to the road. He wondered about repairing the road prior to figuring out how to limit overweight vehicles and a plan in place to stop them. Otherwise, the county may be fixing the road over and over at cost to the taxpayers in the meantime. The exception would be if there is a safety issue with that part of the road.  The estimated price was $39,000.  

Craft asked Hovey if he and North End Road and Bridge Supervisor Eric Mann were in favor of doing the repair now.  The commission voted to do the repair work now contingent on weight limit signs being placed on the road. 

OTHER BUSINESS 

• Payton Gambill, North Big Horn Hospital Foundation asked for a letter of support for a grant the foundation is applying for. 

• Emergency Management Coordinator LaRae Dobbs discussed the EMPG grant. 

• Maintenance Supervisor Jeremy Pouska gave the commission updates. The new road and bridge/search and rescue building in Basin is up and continues towards completion. He is working with Dobbs to get a grant for a replacement generator for the jail. They are hoping the new generator will be powerful enough to power the entire building should power go out. 

Pouska reminded the commissioner the maintenance department has been operating a person down. He stated he knows there is a hiring freeze. However, he has an idea that could help. He suggested two shifts. One would be a 10-hour shift Monday-Thursday. The second shift would be 10 hours Tuesday-Friday.  

The commissioners asked a few questions including if this would create overtime and if all the duties could be done within those shift hours. The commission agreed to give the adjusted hours a try to see how it works.