|
Murray-Calloway County Fair Association Receives $100,000 Grant from KDA The Murray-Calloway County Fair (MCCF) Association has been awarded a $100,000 matching grant from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Kentucky State Aid to Local Agricultural Fairs Program. MCCF’s development plan includes the renovation and construction of facilities at the public front entrance of the fairgrounds located on 121 North. In order to facilitate the transition, the current merchant barn/meeting room will be converted to an animal pen facility and storage. The new multipurpose facility that will be constructed will include the fair patron entrance, an exhibit area, kitchen and meeting/conference area. Additionally, bleachers and a panel/gate system will be purchased for the livestock arena. Christy Watkins, Murray-Calloway County Fair Association secretary, stated, “The project is estimated to cost around $200,000, so MCCF will match the grant money received from Kentucky Department of Agriculture to complete the project.”
Ben Watkins, vice president of the Murray-Calloway County Fair Association, said “This project will give a “fresh face” to the fair.” It is the second phase of the development plan to improve the grounds.” The first phase of the plan was the construction of the Farmers’ Market of Murray-Calloway County, which was also built through an outside grant and matching funding provided by MCCF. MCCF envisions the new multipurpose facility as a community building that could be used year around by non-profit, educational and community programs. Jerry McCoy, Murray-Calloway County Fair Association treasurer, said “The new facility is needed in the community. It has become increasing difficult for non-profit organizations to find a place to hold seminars and meetings.” The Murray-Calloway County Fair Association (MCCF) is a non-profit community volunteer organization that plans and executes the local county fair, which serves over 10,000 people each year. Entertainment, although important, is only a small portion of the association’s function within the greater Calloway County community. MCCF is instrumental in agricultural education and in supporting local non-profit organizations. Each year a portion of the proceeds from the fair are donated to the community and used for grounds maintenance. Last year MCCF donated to Needline Food Pantry, local churches, The Angel (Health Care) Clinic, Calloway County Santa Project, Calloway County DES Rescue Squad, Calloway County Fire and Rescue, Coats for the Community, Food Baskets for the Elderly, Hooked on Fishing, non-profit sports leagues, individuals that experienced hardship (such as fire, accident, etc.), 4-H, FFA, Calloway County High School Track Team, Farmers’ Market of Murray-Calloway County, and the Kentucky Association of Fairs and Horse Shows Young Adult Scholarship Fund.
|
According
to Trish Parrish, Murray-Calloway County Fair past president and current
board member, this project is necessary for MCCF to continue operations
at their current level. Parrish stated, “With the current available
facilities, the fair does not have potential for growth and will
eventually experience significant losses in the number of patrons due to
the state of the current structures located on the grounds.”