Show ring gets a makeover

Just in time to welcome the kids and their animals, the Crook County fairgrounds are ready to unveil a new look. The renovation includes a new show ring and tie-outs to replace the barns that were demolished earlier this year.

“It’s beautiful, everything looks so professional and tidy. I’m so pleased with it,” says Sara Fleenor, Extension Educator and Crook County 4-H.

“We have one show ring for all species, we’ll have bleachers under cover for some protection if it rains. One central show ring will make it easier for kids and guests to find where they’re going.”

The show ring was set up on Monday evening to preview its design. A tent will be placed over the top before fair week events begin, Fleenor says.

The upgrades are a collaborative effort between the Crook County Fair Board, the county’s facilities department and 4-H and FFA, Fleenor says. This began with demolishing the cattle and horse barns, which were in bad condition due to age; said Fair Board President Terri Johnson at the time, there was fear the 50-year-old structures could even fall down.

The goal was to complete the new look in time for this year’s fair. To design the layout, Fleenor says she looked to other Wyoming fairgrounds to find the best ideas.

“I have gone to a couple of different shows around the area, took pictures and brought that back,” she says. The central location for the show ring and the designs for such things as the panels and beef tie-outs came from this research – the latter, for example, is based on the tie-outs used at State Fair.

“We incorporated a lot of different ideas by going and observing what works well in other places,” she says.

Fleenor hopes the renovation will encourage people to meet up and enjoy fair week the way it’s supposed to be.

“Sponsored by the alumni groups and 4-H, we’re going to have pie and sweetrolls and coffee at each of the shows so it is a community event – a time for people to sit, visit, eat pie, drink coffee and catch up with their neighbors, like county fair is intended,” she says.

Final touches are now underway in time to welcome fairgoers next week. The tie-outs were completed last week, but efforts are still underway for the grass in this difficult growing year.

Fortunately, she says, “It’s still coming up and it still looks very nice. And the potential for next year is even better.”

Fleenor says she’s thrilled with the results of the project and can’t wait for the community to take a look.

“Everything is going to be a much more professional look, be much more user-friendly and will hopefully draw more people to come down and see what’s going on,” she says. “I think there’s a lot to be excited about.”