CONRAD — The Black Dirt Days Committee has canceled the annual Conrad event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Committee chairperson Ann Rogers said the final decision to cancel was made on Monday.

“It was something we were talking about in late March,” she said. “But we wanted to wait until the end of April.”

The annual event was scheduled for June 12-13, during the second weekend of that month. Reaching the decision was not an easy one, either.

“A lot of people wanted maybe the truck pull or the ‘Dash and Splash’ in August, but we have a responsibility if things get better, to not bring 200 people together right away.”

There is a possibility the truck pull could occur in September when it is still warm, but Rogers is not making a guarantee. She said it all depends on how the COVID-19 pandemic plays out.

Black Dirt Days is certainly a large event for Conrad. Roughly 200 people attend during the days and at nights, another 200 show up. With the featured line-up this year, there would have been no reduction in attendance.

Rogers said the committee booked the band Standing Hampton as the headliner on Saturday.

“They are really big in this part of Iowa,” she said.

Also on the docket was a parade, a dead lift competition, face painting, inflatables, vendors, a dog show and more.

This is also Rogers final year serving as the chairperson of the committee. She has no reason to believe the 2021 Black Dirt Days event will not happen, but she hopes someone will sit in the chairman’s seat.

“I made that decision before COVID,” Rogers said.

She wanted to thank everyone who contributed time or money toward the event during her years on the committee.

“I appreciate everybody who has supported us,” Rogers said.