Livestock barn completed at new county fairgrounds
With the completed construction of the new livestock barn and arena building at the Northeast Kansas Heritage Complex south of Holton, the new fairgrounds are ready to host this year’s Jackson County 4-H Fair.
“All that we’re lacking are some doors for the building, which we hope can be donated,” Jackson County Fair Association board president Aaron Allen said of the structure, which measures 150 feet by 200 feet for a total of 30,000 square-feet.
Allen said there is more square footage in the new building than all the previous livestock barns and the rabbit barn combined.
With portable pens, 4-H animals will be housed on the east, west and south portions of the new building, with a show arena set up for competition in the center with bleacher seating. The show arena will measure 40 feet by 50 feet. Large door openings will make it easy for people to load and unload their animals, Allen said.
When the doors are added, the building will be completely enclosed. Lighting, insulation and fans for the 21-foot ceiling have also be added to the new building, which features dirt floors.
“There will be a lot better air movement,” Allen said. “The board teetered a long time on whether to go fully enclosed with the building or partially enclosed. We decided to go fully enclosed to make it more functional for a lot of different events. I think the insulation will go a long ways in the summertime.”
The building was completed two weeks ago and has already been used to host a dog show and a spring livestock show, Allen said.
“The weather slowed the construction down a little bit,” Allen said. “But getting this building done was our goal in order for us to have a fair at the new location.”
Roger McKinley with Kendall Construction of Topeka served as the project manager for the construction of the building, which cost near $500,000.
Moving the Jackson County Fairgrounds from its location along U.S. Highway 75 in Holton to 214th Road just south of town has been almost a 10-year process for members of the Jackson County Fair Association.
In early 2007, the association finalized the purchase of 48 acres south of Holton for the new fairgrounds. In addition to the livestock building, the new grounds also include the exhibit hall, rodeo arena and the Margaret A. Hund Amphitheater. The exhibit hall was completed in 2012 and includes air conditioning and bathrooms.
“Progress on the amphitheater is going well,” Allen said. “Right now it’s going to be just grass seating, and funds haven’t been available right now to put a covering over it. Other than that, it’s getting there. We were so restricted in town. We’ve wanted to do new things at the fair to keep growing, and the old fairgrounds couldn’t afford that.”
Allen said the midway, which will again be provided by Toby’s Amusements, will be located just northeast of the exhibit hall, between the hall and the amphitheater.
Allen said that gravel and grass parking will be set up at different locations throughout the grounds for fairgoers and that the format of the fair will remain similar to previous years, including the annual 4-H parade.
“I think the parade is going to stay with the same route it always has,” Allen said. “In this first year, we’re going to try things and figure out what works and what doesn’t. It will be a learning experience.”
Three parcels of land at the old fairgrounds are still for sale. Casey’s General Store purchased a portion of the land and built a new store at the intersection of U.S. 75 and Kansas Highway 16.
“We’re still getting some interest on the remaining land, but not anything too serious at the moment,” he said. “Having a portion of that property commercially developed by Casey’s and on the tax roll is a good thing economically for the county.”
Donations are still being sought for the new fairgrounds for smaller projects like landscaping materials, Allen said. To donate, contact a member of the Jackson County Fair Association.
“The sale of some of the former fairgrounds along with a lot of donations has made it possible to build what we have so far out here at the new site,” he said. “It’s nice to see it happening and seeing things finished and that, in and of itself, has been really rewarding for all involved. We still have a lot to do before the fair, and if we can get some dry weather, that would be great.”
