By Donna Westfall – June 18, 2026
I was sent this by my friend, Lori, a true horse lover and owner of horses.
“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: STARVED HORSE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS. LET’S PACK THE ROOM! 
Our community and our animals deserve so much better, and it’s time we finally hold the Fairgrounds management accountable! 
What happened to Roxy is an absolute, sickening tragedy. Yes, the owner faces charges, but how does a horse slowly starve to death on fairgrounds property without a single staff member noticing? If they are leasing stalls, they need to be doing mandatory daily welfare checks!
But the heartbreaking truth is, this isn’t just one isolated oversight. This current 41st DAA management team has been failing our community for years, and we need entirely NEW leadership:
Taking Our Resources: They completely closed down the ACE HORSE ARENA to the public, stripping away a vital, safe space for us local riders. 
Financial Chaos & Nepotism: Recent state audits exposed gross mismanagement! They violated state nepotism laws, racked up $34,637 in credit card charges with NO receipts (nearly $12k just on food and drinks!), and had over $38,000 in unaccounted fuel purchases. 
The Livestock Auction Fiasco: Remember the Junior Livestock Auction? They chose a processor that let the meat spoil, leaving locals who spent thousands of dollars to support 4H/FFA youth with green, rancid meat. 
Enough is enough. Roxy’s death must be the final straw. We need to demand a complete overhaul of this leadership before anything else goes wrong.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 23rd @ 5:00 PM 
WHERE: Fairgrounds Boardroom (41st DAA Board of Directors Meeting)
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: During the public comment period, every single person gets exactly 3 minutes to speak. Bring these facts, prepare your 3 minutes, and let’s demand mandatory welfare checks and new management! 
If you care about our animals, our youth programs, and our community spaces, please join us. Let’s make our voices heard! Please share this post and bring a friend!”
