Fair Board: Rodeo grant will fund container, mower, ramps and sound upgrades

The Broadwater County Fair Board heard an update on a grant awarded to the local rodeo club that will fund equipment and site improvements ahead of this year’s fair and rodeo.

Denise, a newly seated Fair Board member, said, “We're working on our grant project. The rodeo club applied for a grant through the trust board, and we were granted that.”

The grant will pay for a 40-foot shipping container to store the mower and advertising signs, a new mower that has already arrived, rebuilding the ramp to the handicap grandstands, and a planned outdoor arena sound-system upgrade. Denise said Austin Rath is expected to rebuild the handicap ramp “hopefully, in May.” She also said the club is coordinating signage with “Mr. Heringfeld” and is working with the county and the airport on a fence rebuild for the pasture and possible parking improvements on the west side of the grounds.

Board members discussed the container location. Denise described it as “at the far north end where the big gate is … right there by the blue building,” and said the county approved the location. She added the container “is a 40 footer, but it looks nice” and that the container is intended to hold the mower and signs to make setup less labor-intensive.

Board members also discussed smaller project logistics such as painting and landscaping near the handicap seating area, and expressed support for a future mural on the container, which the trust board encouraged but does not expect to be completed before this rodeo.

Discussion only: members raised logistics and timing but did not take formal action on the grant spending at the meeting. The board noted coordination is ongoing with county staff and the rodeo club to implement the projects before the fair.

The Fair Board plans to continue oversight and coordination; no additional votes or contract approvals were recorded during the meeting.