The Washington County Commission voted 3-0 on Oct. 20 to award production contracts for the Washington County Fair and the 2027 Washington County Fair Rodeo to Rope Race Ride Productions. Both awards remain pending a standard agreement, according to a meeting video and OpenUtah transcript from the session.
Rope Race Ride's proposal for the fair was the only submission received on time. County staff member Nicholle Felshaw reported the 19-page proposal included four letters of support and was evaluated on organizational capacity, a community advisory board plan, a local talent and vendor plan, an event program, and a financial plan featuring a proposed management fee.
Led by Mike and Raquel Randall, the Southern Utah family business has over three decades of experience producing festivals and rodeos, such as the Iron County Fair, Hurricane Peach Days, and Enterprise Corn Fest. The proposal includes a 14-day local-only application window for performers and vendors, with at least 75 percent of talent slots and vendor spaces reserved for local applicants.
Regarding the rodeo, Felshaw noted that Rope Race Ride's itemized budget projects a modest surplus of approximately $6,800 after costs. The plan includes ranch, youth, and special-needs rodeo events, as well as barrel racing, roping, mutton busting, and dancing following the rodeo. Felshaw stated that utilizing one team for both the fair and rodeo would allow for better coordination of marketing, sponsorships, and scheduling.
The commission also approved Transient Room Tax funding for several marketing agreements in 3-0 votes. The approved amounts include $40,000 for the Seven Elite International Soccer Tournament, $25,000 for the Intermountain Cup mountain bike racing series, $15,000 for the Coral Peak Gymnastics' Zion Invitational, $7,500 for the 2027 Zion Half Marathon, and a total of $5,000 for two Underground Runner races. Funding was also approved for Ride Southern Utah's spring and fall bicycle tours and a memorandum of understanding with marketing firm Kanakawee and Luxury Escapes for an Australian television series sponsorship.
Other actions taken by the commission included the approval of a flood-mitigation construction contract at Legacy Park starting in November and the renewal of a graphic design contract. The commission also adopted a new mining and gravel zone chapter regarding subsurface mining and letters of credit.
A comprehensive rewrite of the county's Title 10 zoning regulations, covering areas such as manufactured housing parks, rural tourism, agritourism, and rural tourism, was also approved. This zoning rewrite is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
The commission tabled consideration of 911 ambulance service contracts for surrounding areas, including Santa Clara and Ivins. Additionally, the commission approved a resolution asking federal legislators to clear regulatory hurdles so that small, landlocked Bureau of Land Management parcels located inside municipalities can be disposed of. Commissioners Victor Iverson and Adam Snow were appointed as the county's representative and alternate for the Utah Counties Indemnity Pool annual meeting.
