(Riverton, WY) – The Fremont County Fair Board convened for a regular meeting last night, January 8, in Riverton, where the Board unanimously voted to terminate Fair Director Pat Hart from the position.
The Board went into a 20-minute executive session at the start of the meeting, along with its legal counsel, Aaron Vincent from the Vincent Davey Law firm, and then proceeded with the agenda as scheduled. About two minutes before the meeting adjourned, Board member and Secretary Alexandria Eckhardt made the motion that led to the decision.
“I move to terminate the Fair Board Director effective today, January 8, 2026, and to give Vincent Davey Law the authority to contact her attorney regarding the Board’s decision,” Eckhardt stated. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously, without any further discussion.
County 10 reached out to Hart earlier today to inquire as to possible reasons for the decision, with Hart stating, “I’ve been advised by counsel not to say anything at this point.”
Hart has served as Fair Director since 2020, after previously working as the Office Manager for 10 years.
County 10’s questions to the Fair Board were also directed to its counsel, Vincent, who echoed Board Chair Trevor Bekken’s earlier statements that the Board is not at liberty to discuss personnel matters.
Vincent was able to confirm that the termination decision came after Hart was placed on administrative leave during a December 9 special meeting, one of three special meetings that were held following the December 4 regular meeting last month.
At that regular meeting, dozens of community members showed up to speak out against the Fremont County Commissioners’ decision to reduce the Board from seven to five seats, a decision that was ultimately rescinded the following week at the December 9 Commission meeting, which would have occurred the same day the special meeting was held where Hart was placed on administrative leave.
Following the Commission’s decision to rescind the seat reduction, the Board is now in the process of filling the two vacant seats (Those interested in applying can reach out to County Clerk Julie Freese by calling (307) 332-1122 or emailing julie.freese@fremontcountywy.gov).
The five current Board members include Chairman Trevor Bekken, Vice Chair Nikki Horton, Secretary Alexandria Eckhardt, Rob Dolcater, and Jeremy Vukich. The election/selection of Board officers was also conducted at last night’s meeting, with all positions remaining the same, save for Vukich, who was named Treasurer.
County 10 will continue monitoring the situation as it progresses.