Grinnell Mutual announces Fairground Facelift finalists

by | Aug 31, 2021 | 5 Ag Stories, News

Fairground improvement projects from 15 county fairgrounds in 10 states are finalists in Grinnell Mutual?s 2021 Fairground Facelift promotion. Grinnell Mutual will distribute a total of $7,500 to six winners to help local fairgrounds bring their improvement projects to life. The winners will be chosen by the public, who will vote for their favorite project on Grinnell Mutual?s website.

“We understand the importance of local fairgrounds in communities. Fairgrounds provide a place for community members to gather,” Grinnell Mutual Director of Advertising and Community Relations Barb Baker said. ?The Fairground Facelift grant is Grinnell Mutual’s way to help local fairgrounds improve and maintain current facilities.”

The finalists are:

  • Boone County Fairgrounds, Boone, Iowa ? Rabbit barn: Improvements to the rabbit barn, including upgrading the electrical and adding insulation. ?The current electrical system trips circuit breakers,? project sponsor Jessi Heyer said.
  • Cass County Fairgrounds, Pine River, Minn. ? Stage and bandshell replacement: Build a new outdoor stage and bandshell for use by the fair and the community. ?The previous stage was removed because it was falling apart,? project sponsor Teri McAllister said. ?The stage is used for the fair as well as for many events in the community, including local festivals, 4-H events, and concerts.?
  • Central Iowa Fairgrounds, Marshalltown, Iowa ? Pavilion repairs: Repaint the pavilion which was damaged in the Aug. 10, 2020, derecho. ?The pavilion is the heart of the fairgrounds,? project sponsor Jodi Breniman said. ?Other repairs are in progress, but repainting the building will make it more attractive.?
  • Cooper County Fairgrounds, Boonville, Mo. ? Pavilion sound system: Purchase equipment for playing music and sharing announcements at events. ?The pavilion does not have a sound system which makes it difficult to communicate with exhibitors and the public,? project sponsor Cindy Imhoff said.
  • Dickey County Fairground, Ellendale, N.D. ? Livestock show ring: Build a show ring with a roof for protection from the elements. ?Youth exhibitors have succumbed to heat stroke while showing livestock,? project sponsor Breana Kiser said. ?Also, some shows have been cancelled or postponed due to rain.?
  • Emmet County Agricultural Show, Estherville, Iowa ? Snack Shack eating area: Build a shaded picnic table area with a back kitchen to replace the current 60-year-old food shed. ?The current shed is old and beyond repair,? project sponsor Jennie Knudson said. ?The floor is warped and uneven, the door opening is not accessible to all, and skunks and other animals have burrowed under the shed.?
  • Grant County Fairgrounds, Herman, Minn. ? Rewire creative arts building: Replace outdated electrical wiring. ?The electrical wiring in the building dates back to the 1950s,? project sponsor Nicole Sumstad said. ?Upgraded electrical could help increase the number of exhibits and exhibitors while keeping the lights on and guests cool.?
  • Judith Basin County Fairgrounds, Stanford, Mont. ? Wash rack for livestock: Build a wash rack for livestock. ?The fairgrounds have approximately twenty feet of concrete with four water outlets for all of the kids and their livestock to share,? project sponsor Heather Dye said.
  • Kiowa County Fairgrounds, Hobart, Okla. ? Install ventilation: The facility has been identified as one that can be used as a dispersal point for emergencies. ?Funds from this program would be used to add ventilation to our fairgrounds. We have been making improvements to our facility, but we have no way to efficiently move air through the area,? project sponsor Michael Dooley said.
  • Lehigh County Agriculture Society, Allentown, Penn. ? Tree beautification: Trim dead and diseased branches from trees on the fairgrounds. ?While the trees beautify the fairgrounds, some branches have fallen onto bleachers and buildings, creating a safety hazard,? project sponsor Daryl Urmy said.
  • Lincoln County Fairgrounds, Lennox, S.D. ? Show-ring bleachers: Purchase two sets of aluminum bleachers for the show ring. ?Bleachers will provide seating for people attending events,? project sponsor Chad Hazel said.
  • McHenry County Fair Association Fairground, Woodstock, Ill. ? ADA-compliant bathrooms: Make the fairgrounds more accessible by installing permanent ADA-compliant bathroom facilities. ?The fairgrounds not only host the county fair, but dozens of other events through the year,? project sponsor Richard Tobiasz said. ?It has no permanent ADA-compliant bathroom facilities.?
  • Miami County Fairgrounds, Troy, Ohio, ? Horse-arena improvements: Repair dilapidated bleacher seating in the horse arena and make repairs to the announcer?s booth, including a sound system. ?The fairgrounds host five horse shows, but the bleachers often sit empty because they are in poor condition,? project sponsor Tracy Andrews said. ?They bounce when you walk on them and every spring, carpenter bees invade the bleachers. The sound system will make it easier to hear the announcer when exhibitors are in the horse barn.?
  • Osage County Fairgrounds, Linn, Mo. ? Lay concrete in the swine/sheep exhibit barn: Install of a drainage system and concrete floor in the barn, which will help the pigs resist the temptation to wallow in the mud. ?Every year, Osage County Fairground exhibitors fight mud and muck in the swine/sheep exhibit barn,? project sponsor Christine Rieke said.
  • Shelby County Fairgrounds, Shelbyville, Ill. ? Bathroom improvements: Replace rotted bathroom walls and floors. ?These are the only permanent bathroom facilities at the fairgrounds,? project sponsor Donald Telgmann said.

Support your favorite fairground improvement project by voting on Grinnell Mutual?s website. Anyone can visit Grinnell Mutual?s Facebook page or website to vote for project finalists. Select the voting link and follow the instructions on screen. People can vote once every 24 hours.

The top vote-getter will receive a $3,000 grant. The two projects with the next-highest votes will each receive a $1,500 grant. The three projects with next-highest votes will receive $500 grants.

Voting ends Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 3 p.m. CT.