By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
In its second to last meeting before the 2016 Crawford County Fair, the Senior Fair Board spent the evening getting a few to do items taken off their list, while looking towards the future of the fairgrounds.
With the restrooms in the grandstands finished, the fair board is looking into other projects with a possible grant. Quotes for the Whetstone Building, the new Merchants Building, a gazebo to replace the stage in the park, and a replacement tractor for the fairgrounds were included in the grant application.
The fair board is expected to receive an answer about the grant in August.
A purchase order for eight logs for the wood carver to use during the fair were approved. The purchase is for seven logs at 8 x 24 foot, and an 8 x 36 foot log at $80.
In the Livestock Committee report, President Duane Shawk reported that the new scales had come in and were tested at 2,000 pounds. Shawk also noted that the hog scales are ready to go for the fair, the manure pit is in, and the auctioneers for the sale is set.
In her report to the fair board, Allison Cooper reported that there were 19 total applications for the Crawford County Fair Royalty contest. Cooper noted that with no applications for king royalty, they could bump two of the 15-year-old prince applicants into the king contest. Cooper also noted that three ladies applied to be fair queen. Cooper asked with the three running if there should be one runner-up, or two. The Senior Fair Board decided to leave the decisions for the Fair Royalty contest up to the Junior Fair Board members this year.
Members of the Shrine requested a lowering of cost for use of the Youth Building for meetings going forward due to lowered revenue from the group. The Shrine entered a 20-year agreement for $60,000 to cover the cost of a new roof and air conditioning unit. In the past, the Shriners have had use of the building for 20 days out of the year; the proposal would be to use the building 12 times throughout the year for their meetings and to feed out-of-town Shrine members Friday after the Bratwurst Festival parade.
The fair board agreed to consider the Shrine’s proposal.
The fair board approved looking into a three-year contract for billboard advertisements for the annual fair.