Progress is coming along for the newest facility on the Guthrie County Fairgrounds ahead of their annual fair on Labor Day weekend.

The Guthrie County Fair Board has committed almost $100,000 for a new static exhibit building, as well as the Guthrie County 4-H Foundation with $50,000, Schildberg Construction Foundation with a $2,000 grant, and Casey’s General Store with a $250 donation. Fair Board President Tyler Carney says so far the frame, roof, and concrete slab have been completed for the structure located west of the Lions Club food stand and American Legion bingo stand, “It does sound on the surface a little odd to be putting up a large exhibit building in a ‘down year’ if you will but the money was raised before COVID actually hit and all parties involved collectively decided it was still the right thing to do to go ahead and proceed. And again it came back to a timing thing that when it was decided to put up the building we were in hopes that the fair on Labor Day weekend may still look exactly like it has in the past.”

Carney adds what’s left of the project is to finish the exterior shell and perform electrical work, with the hope for other amenities to be added in future years. He is optimistic that the building will be completed in time for the county fair, which will be open intermittently for the public to view. He thanks the community for their support of the project and congratulates the local 4-H clubs on their various fundraising efforts to meet the $50,000 challenge.