Devotees of the New York State Fair were troubled this week to hear our illustrious governor express doubt that the Fair can open this year because of the pandemic. Come on Andy, the classic, traditional State Fair may be a long shot, but there are provisions that could be made to allow some form of the Fair to open and we deserve your best effort to make sure it does. In terms of ideas, the Hound, as always, has some.
First, a limit on attendance could be set by selling tickets that are date-specific, capping the number sold for any given day. That way, you would never have 100,000 people attending on one day. The maximum attendance number would be regulated by the number of tickets sold or distributed for each day of the Fair, thus reducing person-to-person contact to lessen possible virus spread.
Next, take advantage of the outdoor space on the grounds. There is data that shows that outdoor transmission of the virus is much less common than indoor. Thus, limiting or even eliminating much of the indoor activity significantly reduces risk. Some of the indoor exhibits and attractions could be moved outdoors, perhaps under tents. That could include Center of Progress vendors, Horticulture Building displays, Science and Industry Building health agencies, Youth Building exhibitors and others.
What about the enormously popular sand sculpture and butter sculpture? You couldn’t do those outdoors, but how about the wide-open spaces of the Expo Center? Construct the statues in the middle of the building and route one-way traffic lines around them. 
Speaking of lines, there could be traffic control set up throughout the grounds to reduces face-to-face contact. That includes outdoor food vendors. Dining alfresco is allowed in restaurants, so why not the Fair?
Livestock barns would need to be spaced out, with walkers limited to one-way lines around the stalls or cages.
Wades Shows would have a big job to keep rides sanitized, but you have to believe they could do it in order to keep their operation going and make a few bucks.
If absolutely necessary, the Fair could be delayed and held later, say September. But that’s about it, cold weather will be arriving, regardless of everything else changing. 
No doubt, we would miss some of our favorite Fair features, but with planning, and modifications the Fair can be held. It’s worth the effort and sacrifices to make it happen. So save the depressing television interviews and get to work, Gov. There’s a State Fair to run.
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