By Jyll Phillips
The Lincoln County-Sylvan Grove Fairboard has been busy with more than the planning of events for the annual county fair. They’ve also been delivering some much needed TLC to two of the buildings.
The group received a $1,500 grant from the W.E.B. fund to re-side the beef barn. They expected the grant to cover the cost of tin and supplies on one side of the barn, while they would cover the cost of tin and supplies for the other.
Board members got together and put up red tin on the north and south sides, leaving the east and west sides open except for boarding that resembles corral fencing.
Members of Bullfoot Creek/Sylvan Hustler’s 4-H Club painted the board and the inside of the barn.
Always looking for ways to keep costs in check, the board purchased the tin at an auction of a hardware store in Lucas.
“There was more tin in the lot we purchased than we needed, so we asked the Sylvan Grove City Council if we could also do the Octagon building,” said board member Terri Hiitter. The City of Sylvan owns the fairgrounds.
Hiitter estimates both buildings were constructed around 1948.
The project took several evenings to complete. Ronda Mishler and Hometown Convenience Store donated Hunt Brothers pizza on work nights to keep the crew fueled.
The 2014 fair is set for July 24-26, but events will actually begin July 15 with the 4-H Fashion Revue Judging and Public Fashion Revue at the Finch Theatre in Lincoln. 4-H Foods Judging will take place July 21 at the Lincoln Senior Center, and the 4-H and Open Class Horse Show will be held July 23.
Breakfast has been added to the menu this year, served up by the Sylvan Senior Center July 23-26 beginning at 7 a.m.
Among the events this year are favorites such as old fashioned root beer floats sponsored by Bennington State Bank and the youth pedal pull on Thursday evening; the Cattlemen’s BBQ Supper, BBQ contest and Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening; and archery competitions, the 4-H project sale, and the State Qualifying Demolition Derby on Saturday evening.
In between there will be Bingo by the American Legion stand at 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, lunch each day at the American Legion stand, and inflatables for the kids on Friday and Saturday.
No county fair would be complete, however, without the many and varied 4-H and open class exhibits ranging from photography to livestock, watercolor to needlework, and horticulture to woodworking.
Members of the 2014 Fair board include Tom and Lisa Carney, Emily Carney, Tyler Nelson, Toby and Heather Meyer, Kent Rahmeier, Darrell Mishler, Cody Murray, and Ben and Jenna Kratkey, all of Sylvan Grove; Ron and Jodi Nelson, Ray Withers, Teri Hiitter, Jeff Lyne, Shawn Elder, and Jon Wright, all of Lincoln; and Steve Simmons of Barnard. This group of volunteers takes responsibility for planning the events, coordinating with county 4-H groups, and maintaining the grounds, along with making sure the event is fun and financially stable.
Watch future issues of the Sentinel-Republican for more information about the 2014 Lincoln County/Sylvan Grove Fair.
