A fair weathered fair?

I was there. Mark Lowry was ready to perform. But dark clouds on the horizon had everyone feeling a little uneasy.

As it turned out, no super severe storms passed through the area on Wednesday night, but I believe fair officials made the right choice in closing the Rock County 4-H Fair just as the grandstand show was to get underway.

The grandstand is a huge structure in the midst of a largely wide-open space in the center of town. During fair week, it is surrounded by countless other additional "conductors" that could attract lightning: tent poles, carnival rides and more.

I watched as members of the board and Fair Board President, Bob Arndt, tried to digest the data they had and make the best decision they could. No one wanted to disappoint the people on the grounds. But certainly no one wanted to take a chance on anyone being injured. So the ultimate decision was made just as a tornado watch was issued for the area: the fair would close early.

I know that was a tough decision. I know that it impacts all kinds of things including revenue at the carnival and vendor spaces, overall attendance and a crowd who didn't get to see the show (although Mark Lowry did squeeze in a couple of minutes in thankful appreciation to those in the stands).

But I also know this: the board made the right decision for the safety of the families and children on the grounds. Predicting the weather is still very difficult when it comes to what exact conditions will impact a certain area and when. With the information in hand, erring on the side of safety was the best choice. And now, thankfully, without a wind or hail event to recover from, the fair will rebound quickly and be open and ready to enjoy again today.

I hope to see you out there for Your Talk Show on Thursday and Friday morning.