The executive committee of the Arkansas Livestock Show Association board of directors, the organization that produces the annual Arkansas State Fair, voted today to proceed with plans for a junior livestock show in October.
The junior livestock event will take place October 16 – 25, which are the same ten days the fair was to be held.
General Manager Doug White said the executive committee overwhelmingly supported going ahead with a junior livestock show along with a comprehensive plan to mitigate transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
“Our executive committee believes we can host a successful junior livestock show while keeping all participants and their families safe,” stated White. “We’ll use every possible precaution to see that our livestock guests’ health and safety are the priority during the event.”
Board chair Bruce Maloch said all guests entering the fairgrounds during the livestock show will be subject to strictly enforced safety guidelines.
“We will be enforcing social distancing and mandatory mask protocols. Plans are being developed to place hand sanitizing stations throughout the barns and to conduct daily sanitation of all areas,” Maloch said.
The Junior Livestock program includes nearly 4,000 Arkansas 4-H and FFA members who work with their animals all year long to compete for top honors at the annual competition held in Little Rock.