4-H food stand building to be demolished this week at Floyd County Fairgrounds

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

With only a few weeks until the Floyd County Fair kicks off on July 17, Fair Board President Amy Staudt wants to let people know the schedule has not changed because of the tornado that swept through the fairgrounds on Memorial Day.

“The fair will be a little different, but we’re not compromised in any of our shows,” she said. “Our livestock remains the same. Our grandstand remains the same. We still have our daily entertainment schedule that will be going on — just a lot of it will be outdoors instead of indoors at the brick building at this time.”

The brick building, one of the oldest structures at the fairgrounds, was a total loss after the tornado turned it into a pile of rubble. Three other buildings that were totaled and have since been demolished are the white building that housed the “Little Hands on the Farm” exhibit during the fair; the dairy barn, which housed calves and goats, among other animals; and the hoop building right next to it.

Staudt said the fair board now has a better understanding of what structures that were affected by the tornado will be available to be used at the fair after a structural engineer inspected four other buildings on the fairgrounds.

Those buildings are the ones that house the 4-H food stand and the fair office, the beef and swine barn, the horse arena crow’s nest and the horticulture building.

Staudt said the green building that housed the 4-H food stand will be torn down and food will now be served at the Youth Enrichment Center. The 4-H building could be demolished by as soon as this Friday, weather permitting, she said.

The horticulture building, which is used as a mechanical shed to store items, will be moved to a location near the grandstand.

The beef and swine barn as well as the horse arena crow’s nest were deemed safe and will continue to serve their purpose just like they have at every other fair prior to the devastating tornado touching down.

Staudt said the fair board will hold a meeting sometime in August to discuss the beginning of the rebuilding process for the fairgrounds.

Staudt also wanted to remind folks who will be showing livestock at the fair that the schedule for those events has not changed.

“The rabbits and the poultry will be brought in during their show day and then released after the show. All the other species will stay in the barns for viewing the whole time during our fair,” Staudt said.

Some entertainment acts that normally performed inside the brick building will be relocated to a tent outdoors.

It’s just a matter of it remains indoors or outdoors at this time,” said Staudt.

The fair runs from July 17-21.