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Agriculture committee recommends Ag Center pricing schedule; youth agricultural events to be free
Summary
Laurens County’s Agriculture Committee recommended a pricing schedule for the new Ag Center that waives fees for agricultural non-profits and youth shows (FFA, 4‑H), sets commercial rates for arenas and tie barns, proposes a $500 alcohol fee if allowed, and suggests a $35 nightly camper hookup fee.
The Laurens County Agriculture Committee presented a recommended pricing sheet for the new Ag Center on April 13, and council discussed and approved the committee’s motion to forward the recommendations for legal review and action.
Committee member Andy Howard reported strong early use of the facility (the committee presented data showing 11,300 visitors in March and 4,500 unique visitors) and argued the center generates spillover economic activity for county businesses. The committee proposed making agricultural nonprofit uses — including youth shows organized by FFA and 4‑H — free of charge to preserve access for students and educational events.
The recommended schedule sets modest fees for non‑agricultural nonprofit use ($50 for a small conference room; $500 for large interior space), commercial rates for arenas and tie barn use (examples: $500 for the horse arena, with added tie‑barn/indoor arena fees for combined use), an out‑of‑county surcharge ($250) and an out‑of‑state surcharge ($500). The committee also recommended a $500 fee for any permitted alcohol service and a $35 nightly campground hookup fee; event insurance and proper state/city permits would be the renter’s responsibility.
Why it matters: committee members said the pricing sheet balances fiscal stewardship with the center’s primary agricultural mission, aiming to keep youth and nonprofit agricultural events accessible while recovering costs for commercial users.
What council did: Council discussed questions about enforcement, permits and staffing for setups; the committee will work with legal staff on reservation agreements and return proposed language for council action.
