Trying to raise $750K to pay for new show arena, livestock building

The Lincoln County Fair Board recently launched a fundraising campaign with a $750,000 goal as part of a two-phase project project that will replace the original show arena and buildings at the 40-plus year old fairgrounds.

Back in December, demolition began on the existing sale arena and sheep/goat barn. Once demolition is completed, construction will begin, likely in February. The new metal building will be 80’x275’x16’ in size, and fair officials expect it to be ready in time for the 2025 fair.

It will be used as a show arena and building for sheep, goats, chickens and rabbits.

The existing chicken and rabbit building be utilized for swing overflow.

Phase two of the project begins at the conclusion of next year’s fair and will provide a new “lean-to” 40’x200’12’8” cattle structure that will be an extension of the show arena.

Fair Board Treasurer Dalton Gilbert said the $750,000 will cover construction costs for both phases and also includes new bleachers and a sound system.

Including an extension to the swine barn in 2022 and improvements to the horse arena, once Phase Two is complete, all animals will be shown in upgraded facilities.

“We are trying to improve the fairgrounds but not do it without overstepping our financial boundaries,” Board Chairman Tim Schroer said. “That’s part of the reasoning for the all metal construction. We also expect it to last longer than the previous buildings.”

The Fair moved in 1982 to its current location from Fairgrounds Park inside the Troy city limits.

Since that time, the number of exhibitors and money raised through the annual livestock auction has skyrocketed.

In 1982, there were 149 exhibitors raising $72,046. By 2002, 20 years later, those numbers grew to 246 exhibitors and $195,295. But in 2024, 22 years later, there were nearly twice as many exhibitors as in 1982 at 371 with nearly six times as much money raised through the auction from 20 years ago at $1.17 million.

While the fair board will accept donations of any size, they do have various sponsorship tiers from $2,500-$20,000 that will include various levels of pub- licity including at a minimum a name listing on the sponsor board in the show arena and as much as a 4’8’ banner hung in the arena.

To make a donation or for more information, contact Schroer (636-299-6279), Gilbert (636-262-8461), Board Co-Chairman Matt Eggring (314-713-2158) or Project Coordinator Kyle Allen (636-2362344).

“We need the help of everyone to make this succeed,” Gilbert said.

The board has a March 1 deadline to reach their $750K goal.