Valley County approves using fairgrounds facility fund for temporary swine stalls and concrete pads

A fairgrounds staff member told the Valley County Board of Commissioners on March 23 that swine enrollment is at record levels and the fairgrounds lack enough stalls to accommodate participating youth.

"We have 46 kids doing swine projects this year," the staff member said, describing options to add portable stalls adjacent to the existing barn and asking for county support for concrete floor work so the temporary stalls could be installed equitably.

Staff described potential donated labor and materials from local contractors and volunteers and estimated about nine cubic yards of concrete would be needed for the immediate pads. Commissioners asked about layout, alley width and semi-truck access and reiterated a prior decision not to install any permanent infrastructure while a fairgrounds master plan is pending. Staff said the proposed stalls and concrete pads would be removable and would not include permanent roofing or pen construction.

A commissioner moved that the board approve spending from the fairgrounds facility fund for the swine facility work; another commissioner seconded. The chair clarified the appropriate fund name on the record as the "fairgrounds facility fund." Commissioners approved the motion and asked staff to return with a full proposal detailing costs and scope before work begins.

The board noted that about $88,000 remains in the fund for fairground improvements and encouraged staff to pursue donated labor and materials while preparing a formal request.

The vote approved expenditure authorization to proceed to a detailed plan stage; the transcript does not show a line-item budget or specific contractor commitments.