Within a matter of hours late last week, state officials went from saying there shouldn't be any hayrides because of COVID-19 concerns to allowing some hayrides with restrictions. A state Representative says the change seems arbitrary.
State Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville, is a hay farmer. He said hayrides are a big fall tradition. He’s also in Region 4 where the governor for weeks has had mitigation measures in place limiting business operations. To the change of guidelines that eventually allowed hayrides late last week with certain restrictions, Meier said it doesn’t seem to be based on science and data as the governor insists.
“We’ve seen a lot of changes in the past, and they’re not always science and data,” Meier said. “After Region 4 was given that one week extension to try to get things under control, that wasn’t science and data, that was because a lot of people from his same [Democratic] party were asking him.”
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity did not immediately respond to why the change in guidelines for hayrides.
Meier said the change from first saying hayrides shouldn’t operate to then saying they can operate with restrictions is more of the same.
“We’ve watched him change things back and forth before,” Meier said. “Maybe his daughter wants to go on hayrides and that’s what’s happened. She’s been allowed to go out of state and go to her horse competitions, so maybe she wants to go on a hayride in Illinois and that’s why we’re going to have them, but at least some people are going to enjoy hayrides and for that I’m happy.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently criticized people bringing his daughter into the situation, saying she’s competing in approved sporting events.
The updated guidance the state posted for hayrides includes allowing haunted hayrides, but haunted houses are to remain closed. Many haunted houses across the state are limiting their operations to outdoor events only.
HauntedIllinois.com has a list of more than 80 so-called home haunts in the Chicagoland area with elaborate yard displays and other attractions. Though, even many of those are scaled back because of COVID-19 concerns.