Commissioners speak on new fairgrounds building

On Wednesday morning, after setting the county’s tax levy for this year, the commissioners provided an update on the proposed new building at the Vernon County Fairgrounds.

Said Northern District County Commissioner Cindy Thompson, “This project came about because Farmers’ Market, which had been shuffled all around town, thought the fairgrounds would be a nice place to be and they came and asked the Fair Board and us if they could build down by the road (Centennial).”

Meanwhile, she said, the Fair Board had received donations to expand the diner and they were looking to build a separate home economics building for youth displays during the fair and as an additional space for people to eat in during the fair.

“So instead of two separate buildings, why couldn’t we combine the two into one nice facility which could also be utilized by the community during the rest of the year,” continued Thompson.

The new building is tentatively being referred to as Centennial Hall and Pavilion. To be located 50-feet west of the present swine barn — between the pulling track and Katy Allen Lake — the two portions would be shaped like a T.

The 54 feet by 72 feet Centennial Hall would run north-south and be an enclosed building with handicapped accessible bathrooms and feature a kitchenette and meeting space. This building is intended as an exhibit space for youth projects at the annual fair, as well as a site for 4-H and other groups to conduct meetings and trainings.

“By moving the non-livestock exhibits out of the Home Ec. Building — where they are now — this will free up space there for more diners to eat which is a concern the fair board has had for some time,” said Hardin.

Off the west side of Centennial Hall and aligned east-west would be the 30 feet by 50 feet covered pavilion featuring electrical outlets and outdoor fans. This space is intended to be the permanent home of the Nevada/Vernon County Farmers’ Market although, with approval, it could be used by other groups and used during the youth fair.

This project is the joint effort of the Vernon County Youth Fair Board, the Farmers’ Market Board and the Vernon County Commission.

Hardin quickly interjected, “But really, our three groups couldn’t pull this off without the major help of other groups and generous individuals in the area.”

The presiding county commissioner estimated the project cost to range from $325,000 to $350,000.

And how much has been committed to the project financially as of August 29?

“We are at $313,000,” said Hardin.

The boards for the fair and farmers’ market along with the county are the largest donors to the project but Moss Trust, FCS Financial, MFA and Vernon County 4-H have also donated significant sums.

Recently, two further grant applications were submitted which have the potential to bring in a further $27,500; these funds would be awarded in November.

He added, “That would bring us to just over $340,000 and then we’ll look at how much more we’re actually going to need.”

What then for the project?

“When we opened the bids for the project, none were accepted or rejected; they were tabled,” explained Hardin.

He indicated one firm’s bid was best by far. Since it has been well over six months since the original bids were received, he has contacted the firm to see if any price updating needs to be made.

Said Hardin, “That contractor should be here within the next seven days with a most current updated bid that hopefully we can get to a point of signing a contract within the next couple weeks.”

“We as a commission are now to a point of comfort with the money that has been raised to at least do our in-kind work of building the pad, signing a contract contingent upon receiving the rest of this money and then proceed,” said Hardin.

I know I’d like to see it started in 60-days,” said Hardin, referring to the dirt work to be performed by the county’s road and bridge crew in preparation for the pouring of the building’s concrete pad.

Early November would coincide with the awarding of the grants for which they recently applied.

Hardin said it should not take long to erect the steel structure but the inside finish work will take some time.

“This project is needed and it’s going to happen,” said Hardin. “Vernon County has one of the best county fairs in the state and we as a commission are committed to maintaining that by working with the Vernon County Fair Board and others to maintaining and even improving the fairgrounds.”

While Vernon County’s Youth Fair traces its roots to 1945, records at Nevada’s Bushwhacker Museum show a Vernon County Fair being held in 1865. The museum has a copy of a

“Complimentary Admission” pass to the “Sixth Annual Fair sponsored by the Vernon County Agricultural and Mechanical Association, Oct. 3,4,5, 1871.”

As shown on the Vernon County Plat Map of 1876, the fairgrounds were located on the south side of Austin St., south of Cottey College’s Main Hall. The 1886 plat map shows even larger fairgrounds in the same location but ten years later, the fairgrounds had moved to northeast Nevada, in the area of Washington and Highland Streets.

Those grounds featured a long oval track used for racing — such as a horse and sulky — along with early autos. Some 12,000 people gathered there to view Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show on Sept. 24, 1898; he had a return engagement in 1911.

The present youth fair began as a 4-H fair and was first organized by the Chamber of Commerce and the Nevada Boot and Saddle Club. For the first few years, the youth fair was held in the livestock facilities of Seaton Sales Pavilion, located in east Nevada at the corner of Hickory St. and 54 Highway.

By 1949, the fair was held at Welty Brothers Sales Pavilion — 102-104 W. Hunter St. — and soon spread into the then nearby MFA building as well as into specially raised tents.

In July, 1956, Newton and Esta Hubbs conveyed most of the present fairgrounds to the county; it had a $3,000 mortgage on it, which the county paid off the following year. Surplus funds from the county’s 1955 centennial celebration were used to erect the first structures and pens.