Floyd County Fairgrounds Spring Fling aims at funds for bleachers replacement, sidewalk project

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The annual Spring Fling to raise funds for the Floyd County Fairgrounds will be this Saturday, March 4.

Kelsey Uetz, president of the Fair Board, said proceeds this year will go toward a new project and finishing an already started one.

“One of the main things we’re focusing on this year is new bleachers for our show arena. I don’t even know how old those are,” she said. “We have a lot of the sidewalk system done, but also finishing that up so everything’s connected. We’re looking forward to have that wrapped up and just continuing to make improvements around the fairgrounds.”

The meal at this year’s Spring Fling will be provided by the Floyd County Cattlemen and will include a ribeye sandwich. Entertainment will be the Smokin’ Yotes, a country band from Waverly.

“We don’t always have a band and this Saturday we do have one,” Uetz said. “Sometimes we keep it a little low key, but we have a little bit more excitement going on this year, so we’re excited about that.”

The event will be held at the Youth Enrichment Building at the fairgrounds, and will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour, followed by the meal at 6:30 p.m. and entertainment from 7-10 p.m.

“We’ll have our silent auction and live auction as well, which we typically have had in the past,” Uetz said.

An online auction is currently being held by Cedar Valley Iowa Realty & Auction on that company’s website, cedarvalleyauctions.com, under the “auctions” tab. The online auction will continue at the fairgrounds Saturday evening.

“We’re working with Cedar Valley Iowa Realty and they will help us so actually we can take bids online and in person Saturday night,” Uetz said. “So if someone makes a bid in person we’ll go back online and update it. It gets a little interesting, but we make it work.”

Quite a few items have been donated by local businesses and community members, 4-H clubs and others, she said, adding, “There really is something for everyone; we work hard on getting that collected and we did have a lot of success with that this year as well.”

Uetz said tickets are still available from Fair Board members or by calling the fairgrounds at 641-228-1300. Tickets will also be available at the door Saturday evening. Tickets are $30.

The Spring Fling is one of two big fundraisers the Fair Board holds each year, with another event in the fall.