Volunteers revitalize static building at fairgrounds

The static building at the Union County Fairgrounds will appear far less static by next week once volunteers finish painting and renovating the building.

Volunteers from Americorps, the Union County Extension of Iowa State University, 4-H and other organizations have been working in shifts to make the building look brand new.

“We want to try and get our facilities top notch. And that means making this place look a little better,” said Douglass 4-H Club Boosters leader Sally Johnston. “That’s our goal.”

The boosters received grants to hire contractors for renovating the exterior of the building. The grants were provided by Casey’s for $2,500, the Southern Central Community Foundation for $10,000, and an unspecified amount from the Friends of 4-H.

Adelyda Ebersole is the youth coordinator for the Union County Extension, and just finished her junior year at Iowa State studying agriculture. She grew up in Ringgold County and was a 4-H member.

“So all the non-livestock crop projects are up here [in the Static Building],” Ebersole said. “Some of them are just leadership projects. So if they go out and do community service, they can write their report about it and present it.”

The Static Building also hosts 4-H members competing in baking, photography, painting, and other activities.

“There was a cattle show here yesterday. There’s a fun run Sunday. There’s a horse show Saturday. I mean, we’re really trying to make this a place where things come in,” Johnston said, explaining the fairgrounds are used for much more than just the county fair in July.

Union County Fairgrounds board member Sharon Gardener said the static building was constructed in 1958 and was overdue for a fresh coat of paint.

1 of 3

Sandy Seals of Creston uses caulk to fix cracks in the wall. (Jason O'Day)

“2021 is going to be a bigger and better fair. We were able to have one last year. In this building we couldn’t have face to face judging. It was pretty sad… and this building was pretty empty. So we want to bring it back with gusto,” Johnston said.

This year’s County Fair will take place from July 22-27.

Sandy Seals of Creston is the office assistant at the Union County Extension. She was using caulk to fix cracks in the wall. Her daughter Brittany Seals was in another room helping Americorps members paint.

Seals is a senior at Creston High School and a member of the 4-H club. Although the fair was much more limited last year, she said she still had fun.

“I really enjoyed helping the younger kids show their animals,” she said.

This year Seals will enter some of her paintings and photography in the 4-H contests. After high school she plans to attend SWCC to study physics, then Purdue University. Eventually she would like to work for NASA or SpaceX.

“4-H is good. It’s good for our kids,” Johnston said.

Johnston said anyone is welcome to sign up and volunteer to help paint the inside of the building. Shifts are available for Saturday between 9 a.m. and 3p.m., as well as June 15 and 16 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. She said they can message the “Douglass Boosters 4H Club” Facebook page or call the Union County Extension office for more information.