Fears that the coronavirus pandemic may cancel the Big Butler Fair and the Butler Farm Show this summer surfaced Friday during a teleconference on agriculture.

Farmers and local agriculture officials shared their concerns with Russell Redding, state Secretary of Agriculture, that the two beloved and longtime events could be scuttled because they constitute a large gathering.

William Thiele, who is on the Butler County Farm Bureau's board of directors and serves as the co-chairman of the government relations committee, said canceling July's county fair and August's farm show would have a devastating effect on farmers and their families.

“The farm show is a great way to get the word of agriculture out to the public,” Thiele said. “You can go see the animals and equipment and interact with the farmers one-on-one.”

Ben Roenigk, vice president of the fair board of directors, said while he agrees the issue is up in the air, he has confidence the fair will occur.

“I think it's going to work out just about right and be the first thing everyone can come to, and we'll have a fair that's out of this world,” Roenigk said.

He said the situation is helped by the event's July 3 start, which is later than normal.

The board has paid deposits for all the entertainment at the 2020 fair, which he is confident will be refunded should the fair be canceled.

Roenigk said that a cancellation would be devastating not only for the fair's board, but for the entertainers, youth showing animals, local hotels and all the people who are hired to work at the fair each year.

Thiele agreed and said youths raising animals and livestock to show and sell at the farm show and fair practice for months with their animals.

“It's a long, drawn-out process,” Thiele said. “It's not something that happens in a week.”

With his dairy cows, Thiele enjoys educating those attending the farm show on milk, the different breeds of cattle, the process of raising his dairy cows and other subjects.

“It's something people look forward to,” Thiele said.

He said there would be domino effect should the farm show and fair be canceled — from losses for vendors, equipment dealers and farmers who produce milk for the events to truck drivers hauling items to the grounds.

“That's one less place our milk would be going to,” Thiele said. “It could put people out of work.”

Roenigk also agreed the economic hit with a shutdown would be hard.

“There's a lot of money that goes through that fair,” Roenigk said. “That would be horrible.”

Thiele said he feels that because both events are held outside, those attending could socially distance.

Roenigk said the board secretary is in regular talks with Redding on the matter. Roenigk expects a decision at the end of May, but remains optimistic.

“We're going to have it,” Roenigk said. “You can put that in the paper.”

During the teleconference, Redding said one fair scheduled for June in eastern Pennsylvania has already been canceled.

“He said we'll have to play it by ear because he honestly doesn't know (what will happen),” Thiele said. “I mean, who does?”

He hopes for the sake of farmers and those who attend the farm show and fair that the shows will go on.

“It seems like a long way off, but there are already people preparing for something like that, and are hoping and praying doesn't get canceled,” Thiele said.

State Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, also feels for the youths who show the animals they have spent a year raising and training.

“We sure hope that continues,” Mustello said of the farm show and fair.

She said Redding is open to any and all suggestions that would help keep the events going this summer, including the mitigation of some requirements for 4-H competitors.

Redding said agriculture would be affected if farm events were to be canceled due to the coronavirus because average residents need to know the importance of farming.

“The pandemic has revealed to others what we already knew about ourselves, that agriculture is life-sustaining,” Redding said. “As difficult as things are right now, we take a long view in agriculture. We plan not just for this season but to sustain us all in the future.”

Mustello appreciated the range of questions received during the teleconference, which included how to improve the struggling Butler County Farm Tour, the fate of the meat supply from farmers during the pandemic, food safety, and the availability of financial support for farmers who are struggling during the pandemic.