Saline County Fair series: It's not just for the fair: Fairground serves as venue for community events year-round

The pens in the hog building at the Saline County Fairground need to be upgraded. The fair board recently voted to add a new wash rack to the back of the building, so that the old drains, which often clog, can be permanently closed.
(Marcia Gorrell/Democrat-News)

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Saline County Fairground is one of the first things people see traveling north on U.S. Highway 65 on their way into Marshall.

"I've often told people, especially people from the city and the Chamber of Commerce, that the (fairground) is part of the face of the city of Marshall," said Sam Igo, president of Saline County Fair Association. "And even though it's the (Saline County) Fairground, I think it's a plus, not just for the county, but our community and our town."

Besides being the permanent site of the Saline County Fair, Igo pointed out, the site is used by many groups, including Missouri Valley College for its annual rodeo, Marshall High School for homecoming float-building and bonfire, a senior citizen's group that holds a weekly dance and more.

"I'll bet there are 15 or 20 people that take their dogs out there and let them run around and let them get some exercise," said Igo.

With so much use, constant upkeep and improvements are necessary. As a private entity, the fair association doesn't receive public funding. Funding comes from a variety of sources, including various fundraisers; donations of money and/or time from private individuals, businesses, clubs and the city of Marshall; building rentals; and grants.

In recent years, grants from Marshall Tourism Commission and money from Kiwanis Club, Cornhusking Association and other groups have helped with several projects.

In part, the fundraising has been helped by the fair board's reputation of finding a way to "squeeze two dollars worth of value out of (every dollar)," said fair board secretary Shelly Arth. "It's because we have these fundraisers -- because we make an attempt to help ourselves."

In the past 10 years, major improvements to the fairground have been made, including the extension and refurbishing of the Multipurpose Building, doubling its size to 50 by 120 feet. The kitchen was also completely rewired and remodeled. Groups using the facility now have access to a 1,000-pound ice machine at no cost.

Other improvements include a refurbished concession stand at the lower arena, a new announcer stand for the upper horse arena, expansion of the asphalt parking lot, a white fence at the fairground entrance, electrical work in the Duncan and cattle barns, new camper outlets, landscaping, expanded storage rooms in the Multipurpose Building and new tables and chairs.

The latest project includes new gutters on the Duncan, hog, cattle and Vanderlinden buildings and drainage tile to take the water away from the buildings and upper arena.

The lower arena, where several events are held each year, was also tiled.

Despite the progress, however, with so many acres and buildings to maintain, there are always things that need improvement.

"It's an ongoing process to have enough in the bank to pay the electricity bill or if the air conditioner quits or the furnace quits," said Igo. "We hope to have a little money in the bank in case something (comes up), in case we had to have sewer line dug up or work in the restrooms. There is always maintenance that goes on."

Recently, the fair board voted to add a new wash rack to the hog building, using memorial money, proceeds from the Saline County Social and money from the fair board general fund.

Currently, pigs are individually washed down in their pens, utilizing floor drains. In recent years, the floor drains often get plugged, causing flooding in the barn.

"Those drains are just so old they clog up, so we can solve one simple problem if we can put those wash racks in. We can basically seal those old drains up and we can go ahead and bed down," said Brent Niemeyer, Sweet Springs FFA advisor.

In recent years, the hog show has been the fastest- growing and most highly attended livestock show at the fair. Niemeyer's chapter had 25 exhibitors showing at least one hog each at this year's show.

Other needs include updating the electrical outlets in the hog and sheep (Duncan) barns.

"It used to be some people had fans, now of course everybody has fans," said Niemeyer. "So I think maybe modernizing that and adding a few more outlets and things probably would be something else we probably should look into."

He said the penning system in the barn also needs an update.

"Some of the gates are starting to get in pretty bad shape. It used to be people would bring eight to 10 pigs to the fair and they would all just throw them in one pen, said Niemeyer. "Now, of course, everybody has less numbers and keeps their pigs separate. Square footage-wise, we have a big enough barn, but penning-wise, we're awful crowded for space."

Niemeyer said he and others are talking to companies about donating materials for that project.

"That's one of the plans we worked on and we've actually talked to Corbin Steel and a couple (of) other people about helping us material-wise, so maybe we can make some adjustments and make some new pens out there so it works a little bit better for everybody," he said.

Neimeyer said he would like to see the show ring expanded, as a long-term goal, allowing it to be used for all the livestock shows, as well as the junior sale.

"I would love for us to be able to expand the front where the show ring is now and make that be bigger so we could push bleachers underneath there, so all the bleachers could be under cover," he said. "If we could make that ring big enough we could show the cattle there and we could have the hog show, the sheep show, the cattle show and the sale all in that ring."

That would allow the possibility of getting permanent pens for the sheep and goats, whose numbers have also gone up in recent years. Now those animals are kept in temporary pens in the Duncan building. Those pens are torn down before the cattle show so a ring can be put in place.

"You could get something more structurally sound if you had a pure show ring and if you didn't have to tear the sheep barn down so you could show the cattle," said Niemeyer.

Of course, finding enough money do all the projects needed at the large fairground is often a problem.

"It gets tough. You try to be fair. You can't slide it all in one direction," said Igo, adding that at times it's even tough to pay needed expenses, such as the janitor.

"It's an asset for our community and that dadgum Saline County Fair is a marvelous experience. I wish more people went out there. I want those fairgrounds to survive," he said. "You get right down to it -- it takes money."

The Saline County Fair Association's next fundraiser will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, when eight woodcarvings made by chainsaw sculptors during the fair are auctioned off at the Lions Shelter during the Marshall Chamber of Commerce Santa Fe Trail Days.

Contact Marcia Gorrell at marshallag@socket.net

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