The Jackson County Fairgrounds will take on a new look when its eight-day run begins July 22 thanks to some construction projects in the works or already underway.
“We’ve built a new livestock barn, which is 164-by-72 foot,” said John Schafstall, president of the Jackson County Fair Board. “Also, we’ll have a new show arena and goat barn. Plus, the Immanuel Lutheran Church stand has been torn down and is being replaced with a new modern stand.”
Construction has begun on that new food stand, which is going right back where the old one stood, but it will be just a little bit bigger, Schafstall said.
The church is financing the project, he said.
“We tore down the old horse and goat barn and the chicken and rabbit area for the new livestock barn and show arena, which is already up,” Schafstall said. “It goes up to the FFA building where they had their golf course and goes all the way back to the old horse barn.”
Over the past few years, tents had to be put up for the goats, and there just wasn’t enough room, and the horse and goat barn was about 75 years old, Schafstall said.
“This new building is going to be nice,” he said. “We’ve made it big enough so we can use it for storage for SUVs and things during the winter.”
The new livestock barn is completed, but the show arena, which will be located in the barn, is not done. The chicken and rabbit barn isn’t done yet, either, he said.
“The new structures should be completed before the fair, hopefully way before that,” Schafstall said. “At least that’s the plan.”
Some donations have been made for the goat barn, and more donations are needed for the livestock barn and show arena.
Schafstall said there are a lot of people who support the fair with donations, and most of the money has been raised, but more is needed to complete the construction.
“If people have extra money to donate to help the 4-H and FFA kids, that’s what makes our fair great,” Schafstall said. “Our fair is a free fair. It’s not just a carnival, and everybody can go there with 4-H and FFA, and we want to keep it that way.”
The mission of the Jackson County Fair is to be a scientific, educational and charitable effort to cultivate and promote interest in agriculture, horticulture and the improvement of breeding stock.
The goal is to encourage 4-H and FFA members to participate in such pursuits, learn new skills and gain valuable experience from their fair activities, exhibits and achievements.
“The fair gives kids a place they can go and learn things in a world that is getting away from basics,” Schafstall said. “Through 4-H and FFA, the kids can learn leadership and character building.”
On the Web
For information about the Jackson County Fair, visit jacksoncountyfair.org.
How to help
Contact:
Jackson County Fair Board President John Schafstall, 812-525-2237
Jackson County Fair Board member James Thompson, 812-528-0472
Mail checks to:
Jackson County Fair, 905 E. Tipton St., Seymour, IN 47274
Include “building fund” on the check