Fairgrounds horse arena receives $100k local business sponsorship

After a huge turnout Wednesday for the Union County Fairgrounds’ annual dinner, the fair board unveiled their title sponsor for a planned covered horse arena and that they are $155,000 closer to making it a reality.

More than 200 tickets were sold for the annual dinner and fundraiser, the time of the year where the fair fulfills a promise to exhibitors of financial transparency and unveils new projects. This year, a covered horse arena, which will protect riding events from poor weather, was officially revealed.

“We want to add a cover to the existing 4-H horse arena right outside the horse barn out there,” Fair Board President Chad Rieck said. “That project will allow us to have horse races, shows, riding, mounted shooting, all the different events we like to happen, whether it’s raining or not.”

The next step of the fairgrounds’ development plan, the horse arena is where generations of equine events have been held for all ages and skill levels. Whether showing a horse or performing in a rodeo, these events have been a staple.

This covered horse arena will be bolstered through a title sponsor, with Hometown Insurance and Auto-Owners Insurance partnering together to donate $100,000 to the project in exchange for the naming rights.

The official name of the new arena will be the Hometown Insurance and Auto-Owners Insurance Horse Arena. Championing the donation is Jamie Travis, owner of Hometown Insurance, who reached out to Auto-Owners for the partnership.

The Travis family has several generations present who have made horse-riding a yearly staple. Helping out the fairgrounds is a matter of encouraging the next generation.

“My dad, he’s 70 now, rode horses here,” Travis said. “I did, so did my son and my daughter. I have grandsons now that will be showing. This has been a part of my family that they will see continue on. It’s a neat thing to be a part of.”

The cover will allow for weather to no longer limit any proceedings at the horse arena. The fairgrounds hopes that, with the security provided with the cover, the new arena will attract people from farther away.

Expansions in the fairgrounds have helped make the Afton location a destination for traveling Iowans and beyond. Travis predicted mounted shooting events at the new covered arena will draw people from surrounding states from Nebraska to as far as Wisconsin.

Yet, as shown in the dedication of those who support the annual dinner, the county fair has been the greatest show of support for Union County events.

“The week of the county fair is a special week for many, many people in the county. To be a part of that is indescribable,” Travis said. “How that community comes together for the shows, or working in the cook shack, even the cleanup. It’s a really neat strengthening the community type week.”

As the fairgrounds looks to complete the covered arena project through other funding sources, such as Dekko grants, Prairie Meadows or appealing to Union County, the future of these events in Union County is looking bright.

“We want to see this be the best thing we can possibly make it,” Rieck said. “We want to make this space for future generations.”

For those interested in donating to the project, the fairgrounds recommends reaching out to Chad Rieck at 641-202-2360 or Mallory Lents at 641-344-1716.