OSBERVER File Photos Things like the 4-H Sheep Show and the Tractor Pull will not return to the County Fair in 2021.

Even though Gov. Andrew Cuomo has provided guidance for county fairs, it’s “too little, too late” as far as Chautauqua County is concerned.

On May 4, the local County Fair Board of Directors posted on its website that it was canceling this year’s event due to a lack of guidance from the state. Two weeks later, Cuomo issued guidance for what county fairs must do in order to open.

Fair Board President Dave Wilson said he’s glad for other county fairs that they are given information, but for Chautauqua County, it’s too late. “The reason being is there is just not enough time to put everything together. A lot of times we go out for major sponsors in January and February. All those sponsorship dollars that we bring in have already been allocated,” he said.

The fair board felt they didn’t have enough time to land entertainment acts, hire employees and get enough vendors. “We’d be so far behind the 8 ball, we’re not sure we’d have enough money and then we’d go in the hole,” he said.

Wilson said the fair board doesn’t want to cripple next year’s event by taking on debt in 2021. He said they’re looking forward to next year when they can do the kind of fair that everyone expects.

The Cattaraugus County Fair, meanwhile, is planning is taking place. According to an individual with the fair, it is scheduled for Aug. 2-8. The Board of Directors is currently reviewing the state guidelines and they’re making plans accordingly. The person who provided the information answered the phone listed on the fair’s website. She was not a board member but was able to confirm that the board is working on this summer’s event.