By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
With some much-needed improvements taking place within the Youth Building, rates for renting out the facility on the Crawford County Fairgrounds have gone up.
The Senior Fair Board unanimously approved the proposal to renting the facility out on Saturdays for $550 and weekday rentals for $325. For those hosting a Saturday wedding reception the Youth Building will cost $625, however that will include utilizing the building on Friday as well. Increasing the rates will take place on all rentals booked for use after Jan. 1, 2018. Those who have already booked an engagement at the building in 2018 will still be charged the old rates.
Improvements that have already taken place within the Youth Building include the women’s restroom getting a major overhaul with the bowed-out wall being taken out and replaced with a wall from the old horse building, new mirrors were placed into the restroom, and the sinks had wood frames installed around them.
In the main room of the Youth Building, new paint, carpet, and curtains have been installed. Other items that are on the agenda for remodeling within the Youth Building include the roof, lighting, and the floor.
In an effort to streamline presenters of awards to Junior Fair members during the fair, Junior Fair President Kenzie Kent requested that award presenters check in at the announcer’s stand. The rule for the exhibitors to still turn in a thank you note to the award donor is still in effect. If an award presenter wishes to present the award to the exhibitor at the show, they may; however, the award cannot leave the arena until a thank you note has been turned in. The new verbiage will be included with the letters sent to the award presenters.
Also during the Junior Fair Board’s presentation to the Senior Fair Board, Junior Fair Secretary Emily Rudd noted that the March 11 pancake breakfast raised $450. Lynae Rausch noted that the Junior Fair Board was looking to utilize the funds for projects to do on the fairgrounds after school lets out.
During her report to the Fair Board, Secretary Rebecca Starner reported that she had sent the first draw for a grant totaling $34,500. If approved the grant would cover the purchase of a new tractor as well as improvements to the roofs of the Whetstone and Youth buildings.
The 4-H 4-Ever auction and dinner will be coming back. Jen Leopard requested usage of the Youth Building on the first Saturday in November. The event will be for adults only and will feature a regular auction, a raffle ticket auction, a DJ, and dancing. The event will benefit the county’s 4-H program.