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Becker County fair board praises volunteers, flags horse‑barn roof as major capital need
Summary
Fair board leaders told county commissioners the 2024 fair exceeded expectations despite road work and venue limits; they paid for new bleachers without dipping into savings but said the horse barn roof likely needs about $400,000 in repairs or replacement. Commissioners thanked volunteers and discussed future facility and revenue options.
County commissioners heard a recap of the 2024 Becker County Fair and a preview of needs for the 2025 fair from fair-board leadership who stressed volunteer support and looming facility repairs.
Travis Shower, speaking for the fair board, said the fair “was way above expectations” despite heavy road construction and constraints around the gymnastics building. He said the fair measures success by grandstand events such as the demo derby, carnival and rodeo — the derby can bring “25 to 28,000 a night” in receipts at peak nights for grandstand events — and that free gate access makes exact attendance counts difficult.
The board highlighted recent capital work: new bleachers installed this year (about $100,000) were paid for without drawing from the board’s certificates of deposit, Shower said, adding that fair revenues and grants covered the project. But he identified the horse barn roof as the fair’s most urgent capital problem, calling it “shot” and saying it may be “probably unsafe now.” He estimated a complete rebuild could cost in the neighborhood of $400,000 and said the fair board is exploring phased or partner‑funding options rather than asking the county to cover the full cost immediately.
Commissioners and fair representatives also discussed accessibility and crowd flow. Commissioners praised recent ADA improvements — including accessible bleacher seating and accessible restroom renovations — and encouraged the fair board to continue exploring ways to generate off‑season revenue for fairgrounds buildings. One commissioner noted the county has provided mowing and a law‑enforcement presence during events to improve safety and deter problems.
The fair board said Grandstand ticket sales and sponsorships remain the primary revenue sources; they reported splitting larger projects across fiscal years when possible and relying heavily on volunteers to staff events. Board members asked commissioners to remain open to future conversations about targeted capital requests as the fair board refines project costs and funding options.
The commissioners did not take any formal funding action during the presentation; fair‑board leaders said they will return with more concrete proposals if they pursue a county contribution or formal partnership for a building project.
