Ennis Hunter’s Feed canceled

Madison County Board of Health denied the Ennis Chamber of Commerce’s plans for the 2020 Ennis Hunter’s Feed.

The 35-year-old tradition usually attracts hundreds of people to Ennis’ Main Street. The MCBH has restricted events over 50 people in Madison County due to COVID-19 and its limited resources for contact tracing. The event was planned to be spaced down Main Street, but concerns of large group gathering and the event being centered around sampling food led the MCBH to unanimously deny the plans.

“t’s a logistical nightmare from a contact tracing standpoint,” Madison County Public Health Nurse Melissa Brummell said.

The Ennis Chamber of Commerce argued that large events where social distancing was not being enforced were already happening in Madison County. The ECC felt that they were adhering to the governor’s mandates. But the fluid design of the event did not give the board enough assurance to be able to handle a possible outbreak.

“I don’t see how this can be done safely during this pandemic,” Madison County Board of Health member Dayna Thergensen said. 

Madison County Public Health Department is nearly overwhelmed with contact tracing the county’s current COVID-19 case load. The ability to contact trace within 24 hours of a known positive case is a crucial part to controlling the spread of the virus.

“By official order of the Madison County Public Health Department, the Ennis Chamber of Commerce has no choice but to cancel this year's Hunters Feed,” the ECC said. “We thank the many who were in support of this event. We congratulate our poster contest winner and look forward to next year’s Hunter's Feed.”