TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD THE FUTURE

Our covered grandstands were built in the 1950s by community members when the fairgrounds were relocated to their current site.  In the 1980s a tornado, which had hit several homes in St. Paul, also hit the fairgrounds resulting in fairground buildings being  damaged or destroyed.  Included in this damage, was the west 1/3 of the grandstands which had to be removed.  The remaining Grandstand structure has been reinforced numerous times, but is showing it's age.   Our grandstands have been used for community events, such as tractor pulls, demolition derby, horse events, 4-H events, concerts, stage shows, bull riding, and many more.

Estimates to replace this structure with a metal handicapped assessable structure is approximately $300,000.00.  In the last year, the Howard County Fairgrounds Foundation has been able to raise over 20% of this goal, but your help is needed to move the completion forward.  

Improvements to the Grandstands would not only allow more attendance during the County Fair, but would provide an avenue for community groups to rent to host their own fundraising events.

Plans have also been discussed to replace the fairgrounds' office and concession stand located behind the Grandstands with a building which would serve as a community tornado shelter in addition to providing space for the fairgrounds' office, concession stand, public bathrooms closer to the Grandstands and possibly exhibit space for open class exhibits.  

The fairgrounds' office and concession stand were hastily rebuilt after the 1980s tornado and are in a state of disrepair at this time.  In addition, in July, 2022, the fairgrounds was asked to evacuate the grounds due to an approaching storm during a 4-H event.  Having an onsite tornado shelter could have provided a safe place for the youth to go during the fair and would allow a public shelter year round for the community.