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 Up until the last few years, the Fair Association has relied on
profits from various sources during and after the annual fair to
provide money for the upkeep and needed improvements at the
fairgrounds. The annual fair provides money to the association
through gate fees, entry fees of certain events, and grandstand
ticket sales for certain events. In addition there are several
livestock associations that rent the fairgrounds for their shows and
miscellaneous other events throughout the year that pay to use the
fairgrounds.
However, in the past few years, that income has not been sufficient
to take care of all the needs of the property. In addition, cuts on
the state level have made operating every county fair a challenge.
In 2012, the Fair Association took steps to help keep the local
fairgrounds afloat by forming a foundation to accept charitable
donations from the public. The foundation was established for the
sole purpose of maintaining the fairgrounds, and allowing those who
give generously to explore the option of using their donation as a
tax deduction.
The foundation has worked out pretty well for the fairgrounds, and
one can see improvements that have been made, such as the new safety
fencing around the race track.
This year the Association came to realize that the bathroom
facilities at the north end of the property were in need of
replacements. The Association Board decided that would be a new
project financed through the Foundation.
However, what they soon came to realize was that the new facility
was going to be much more costly than one would expect. Mike Maske,
the Secretary for the Association explained recently that the
project became complicated very soon. “We have to tap into a sewer
line that is out in the middle of a road, and buried eight-feet
deep. That alone is going to cost a lot of money,” Maske said.
The Association Board decided they would have to hold a special
fundraiser to reach their goal of $64,000 in order to build the new
bathrooms. Maske said that the Logan County Fair Association and the
annual fair have always received great support from local businesses
and organizations which they appreciate greatly. For this fundraiser
the board decided that instead of first calling on those local folks
for help, they should start with the ones who would actually benefit
from the new facility, the exhibitors.
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Maske said the board sent out letters explaining the need and asking
for financial support. “We were surprised by the response. There
were some who sent back thousand-dollar checks.”
To date, the Foundation has collected about half of what is needed
for the project, and are hopeful that more donations will be coming
in so as to make the new bathrooms a reality within the next year.
Anyone who would like to support this project may do so this week at
the fair or at any time during the year. To make a donation in
person, visit the fair office located on the Midway this week and
just tell the staff that you wish to give to the Logan County Fair
Foundation. After the fair, donations may be made by mail to The
Logan County Fair Association, P.O. Box 424, Lincoln, IL 62656.
Donations may also be handed to any member of the Fair Association.
Those members are: President Dean Bruns; Kevin Kurtz,
vice-president; Mike Maske, secretary; Rod Conklen, Darrell
Evversten, John Fulton, Wayne Hanner, David Irwin, Herman Schwantz;
and Robert Thomas, grounds manager.
[Nila Smith]
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