Left to right, front row: Melissa Short holding Jonathan Bregar, Dean Bruns, Keri Anne Short holding Mason Short, and Marcia Bregar. Back row: Mike Maske, Marcia Short, Herman Schwantz, Marc Short, Cole Baker, and Kevin Kurtz.
 

Volunteers and local donors provide a fresh look at the Logan County Fairground

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[July 03, 2017]   LINCOLN - Last weekend, beginning on Friday morning, volunteers that included Logan County 4-H members, and several local businesses and organizations, teamed up to spend three days working on cosmetic improvements needed at the Livestock Show Barn on the Logan County Fairgrounds in Lincoln.

According to information from Carissa Akpore, those who volunteered or donated to the project included Monsanto, Farm Credit Illinois, Logan County Fair Foundation, 4 Corners 4-H Clovers, Mike and Lori Word, State Bank of Lincoln, Topper 4-H Club, Hollanders 4-H Club, Lula & Lace-Esther Farmer, Naughton Auction Service, Central IL Feed & Supply and Croft Fertilizer.

Thursday evening some of those involved gathered at the show barn, joined by Logan County Fair Board members to do a walk about and talk about the work that was done.

According to Cole Baker, who was part of the project, volunteers began on Friday morning, continued their work on Saturday, and wrapped up on Sunday evening.




The biggest chore they accomplished was possibly the removal of all the wood shavings on the floor of the barn, and the spreading of new crushed limestone and wood shavings. Baker said they had learned that it had been decades since the existing wood shavings and lime were completely removed. Each year before the fair, new wood shavings are spread lightly on top of what exists, but taking it all out and starting fresh doesn’t happen all that often.

To complete that part of the project, the volunteers secured and spread 55 tons of limestone and topped it off with 315 bags of wood shavings.



The bleachers where parents and grandparents excitedly sit and watched the kids show their animals also got some attention. Baker said the bleachers were tipped out and fresh wood bark mulch was laid underneath and new limestone was laid in the walkways.

The interior walls of the building were peeling and dirty, so the group set to painting all the block walls inside the building along with the baseboards where the cattle panels and other fencing is set up to separate animals from audience.

Baker said that Ace Hardware in Lincoln had helped out by connecting the group with Valspar Paints. Valspar in turn donated ten gallons of white paint for the project. Baker said that was more than the group had asked for, and more than was needed for the interior work planned.



So, the group expanded their work project to include painting the exterior block walls on the north side of the building and cleaning up the entrance on that side that is where the swine show participants exit their animals after showing, and also where the business office is located for the livestock shows.

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Baker said new wood shavings and limestone was added to the sheep show barn as well.

On hand on Thursday evening from the Logan County Fair Board were President Dean Bruns, along with Vice-President Kevin Kurtz, and Board Secretary Mike Maske. Herman Schwantz is also on the Fair Board, as well as being an active member of the Heartland Beef Association, and a fully involved 4-H parent. On this evening he was present as one of the volunteers who did the make-over of the barn.

As the group gathered for a picture, Maske and the others took the opportunity to speak to the volunteers and express appreciation for their hard work.

Maske talked about the many visitors who come to the Logan County Fair and those who claim ownership of the fair and the fairgrounds. He noted their value, but said that the real value came in those who are the “care takers.” He said he was addressing this group as care takers who invest their time and efforts into the fair and the fairgrounds each year. He said they were valuable to the fair and to the community.

Maske went on to talk about the success of the Logan County Fair, and how our fair and fairgrounds are one of, if not the nicest and cleanest fairs in the state. He said that while the visitors, and sometimes even those who claim ownership, are the ones who will drop their trash on the ground fair week, it is the care takers who will walk by and stop and pick it up, because they care and want our fair to be the cleanest and nicest in the state.

It was also mentioned that having the building kept in good order is particularly important when the fairground is located right in town. Many people live around the fairground, thousands drive past it, and the impression left with those folks needs to be a positive one.

Maske concluded saying that the Logan County Fair is strong and successful, and it will be for years to come. He said that he wanted to see the Logan County Fair and the fairgrounds in place for future generations so that those there on Thursday would be able to enjoy seeing their grandchildren participate in fair events.

Kurtz also spoke, talking about the financial benefit of the work that had been done. He noted that like many other entities within Logan County, the fair has been negatively impacted by the State of Illinois financial woes and budget crisis. He said that dollars the fair should have received were not, and the likelihood that the money will ever be recovered from the past is next to none. He said that the fair and the fairground needs people like this group who give, and give time and again, and he wanted them to know that it is greatly appreciated and never goes unnoticed.

Bruns was the last to speak, “How great is it that everyone helps!” Bruns went on to say that the fair cannot keep on going without the people who invest their time and volunteer to do anything that is needed. Bruns talked about when he was younger, when someone would say something needed done at the fairgrounds, he would gather up people and materials and get it done. He said that the volunteers had a heart for the fair, and that people love to come because it is such a great fair, and it is thanks to the people who work to keep it nice. He ended saying, “Thank you all…and keep paintin’!”

Maske and Kurtz also had additional comments after the photo. The men talked about the work that is being done by the fair board. Painting is going to be done in the exhibit barns behind the grandstand. Some new asphalt has been added, and of course, the new shower house and restrooms were constructed last year by the livestock barns. Much of what the fair board is able to accomplish comes from funds earned through the Logan County Fair Foundation. Maske told the group that every year, the board spends that money for fairground improvements. He said he wanted everyone to know their donations to the foundation are not sitting in a bank account; the money is being put to work, to make our Logan County Fairgrounds a well-kept facility.

Those on hand Thursday evening included Cole Baker, Marcia Bregar, Keri Anne Short, Marc Short, Marcia Short, Melissa Short and Herman Schwantz. Other volunteers not available for the evening included Dan, Amy, and Reed Naughton, Bruce Davis and Carissa Akpore.

The 81st Annual Logan County Fair opens on Sunday, July 30th with the Downstate Classic Harness Racing and will run through Sunday, August 6th.

[Nila Smith]

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