New half-million dollar show arena primed to welcome competitors

$.5 million structure mimics Rosebud Mining Complex

Construction of a new half million dollar show arena at the Carroll County Fair Grounds was completed just in time for the 2021 expo.

The new 70×140 foot building is a duplicate of the Rosebud Mining Complex (built in 2012) and is located on the site of the former Metal Barn at the north end of the fair grounds.

Fair Board member Ray Rummell, who heads up Junior Fair activities, noted the building will be used strictly as a show arena.

“There won’t be any livestock housed in the new arena. The steers (which were previously housed in the metal barn) will be moved to the junior fair dairy beef feeder barn and the dairy beef feeders are moving to the shed row of the open class dairy barn,” Rummell explained.

The new structure features handicap accessible restrooms, a small office and utility room, along with seating capacity for five sets of bleachers, and is equipped with a heating system and three large fans to move air during the summer months. The block walls are filled with insulation foam and the upper interior steel walls and ceiling are sealed over a layer of insulation.

Milla Construction of Minerva was awarded the contract for construction with a price tag of $474,635. Rummell noted an additional $35,000 has been spent for storm and sewer drains, cement work and a public address (PA) system.

A cement pad was poured between the Rosebud building and the new barn  that connects the buildings and will make it easier to set up gates to move animals from one building to another.

He called the building a “community project” noting funds for the construction came from a variety of sources and several local contractors donated their time for the site preparation.

The “nest egg’ was provided by American Electric Power when they gave us money to tear down the old race horse barns to clear the right of way for a new power line and to build a new barn,” he explained.

Donations from the Ashton Foundation, Kimble Foundation, Carroll County Energy, Dale and Sue Hamilton and two Gun Bash events hosted by the fair board, along with a donation in memory of Linda Cargill. Other donors (as of July 1) include: Griffith and Sons Trucking, Allicon Energy Service and Construction, J. Green Excavating, Sheckler Excavating, Facilities Improvement Committee (FIC), 3 HM Farms, Dayton Excavating, High Hill Trucking, Ace Roll Off, Burgett Roll Off, B. Green Trucking, Wright Trucking, Carroll County Highway Department, Griffeth and Son Trucking, Countryside Recycling and Razor Rents.

“It’s a longtime goal that came true,” Rummell stated, speaking about the completion of the project. “Our goal is to upgrade the facilities at the fairgrounds so the kids and the community can be proud of what is here.”

The metal barn was sold to Countryside Recycling of Carrollton at public auction for $1,000, torn down and removed for scrap.

Several local contractors donated their time and equipment to prepare the site for the new building.