Thousands of people visiting for the annual Shawano County Fair got to see the changes made this year to the ground’s show space and one of its dairy barns.
Previously, the fairgrounds had its coliseum in between the two main dairy barns, with an arena comprised mainly of sawdust. The fair board switched one of its barns with the coliseum and made significant improvements, which Fair President Scott Breitrick estimates will cost between $80,000 and $100,000 when all is said and done.
Breitrick said the new coliseum was dug out and then filled with concrete. For the new coliseum, synthetic turf and metal pens were installed. New wood displays were set up with some additional windows. New exhaust fans and lighting were also installed.
There is a new set of bleachers that can hold up to 240 people, and the entire coliseum can hold up to almost 1,000 people.
“I just put those bleachers in yesterday, and let me tell you, that was a challenge,” Breitrick said on the opening night of the fair Aug. 27. “It’s a great building and a beautiful building.”
The coliseum changes were needed to help clean things up when 4-H members show their animals and display them during the various auctions held during the fair, according to Breitrick.
“We just wanted it nicer and get rid of the sawdust, just to have a better experience,” he said. “Everybody gets dusty. I just hope it’s a great experience for everyone.”
Breitrick noted that the improvements aren’t just for the 4-H families, noting that plenty of folks like to see the judging and the main livestock auction held on the third night of the fair.
“People come just to watch,” Breitrick said. “They might not even have kids here, but they come to watch. We have one of the best fairs around.”
Fans were added to the shifted dairy barn to allow for better circulation for the animals. Limestone was hauled in to make improvements to that barn, and 123 yards of concrete was poured in over a four-hour period, according to Breitrick.
“We had some guys come in, and they donated all their time,” he said.
The renovated facilities are part of a series of improvements the fair board has done over the years. Last summer, foam was added to the ceiling of the sheep barn after the temperatures at the 2023 fair got so hot that animals had to be removed early. The fair has also built a new bingo building, replacing the tent that previously housed the games, and a new 4-H exhibition building in recent years, along with a new horse barn near the Crawford Center.
Breitrick noted that besides the donation of time, most of the funding for this project came from giving from the community.
“We’ve got people who are excited about the fair and are willing to donate,” Breitrick said. “We need to get a few more donations to finish off the project, but whatever we can do. Hopefully we can do it all on donations.”
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
