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Reviving Franklin County Fair a Great Idea - A Franklin County tradition may be returning after an almost 40-year hiatus. Discussions have been under way to revive the agricultural fair, an annual event that was discontinued in the 1970s . . . more -->

Feds Could Help Fund Storm Shelters At Missouri State Fair - Campers at the Missouri State Fairgrounds could get new shower facilities thanks to a federal grant for storm shelters. Gov. Jay Nixon's administration is proposing a $2.3 million project to build four new restrooms and shower facilities at the campground that could double as storm shelters in case of a tornado warning . . . more -->

'Fire in the Sky' to light up La Porte this August - The Pyrotechnics Guild International conference and fireworks show will be in La Porte County this year. The conference and show, dubbed "Fire in the Sky," will be at the La Porte County Fairgrounds from August 12 to 17, with shows being scheduled for the evenings of Aug. 12, 14, 15 and 17 . . . more -->

Buffalo Raceway upgrades show E.C. Agricultural Society's commitment to racing - There has been a lot of activity at the Erie County Fairgrounds this past year and some major improvements have been done for this year's Buffalo Raceway season. Under the direction of the Erie County Agricultural Society, the Buffalo Trotting Association and the WNY Harness Horseman Association, three of the oldest horse barns (13, 14 and 15) were torn down and replaced. Barn 15A had a new roof put on, 11A has improved drainage, several barns had wood replaced, painting done and stall mats installed . . . more -->

Calgarians share memories as show enters 100th year - Celebrating a century of legendary stories this year, the Calgary Stampede is asking its visitors to share their favourite memories as part of its unique, online My Stampede project . . . more -->

Centre upgrade for Ekka showgrounds - The Royal International Convention Centre (RICC) is due to open in March 2013, but the ground floor will be ready for this year's Ekka, the government says. RNA chief executive Jonathan Tunny says the project will cement the RNA as a leading events precinct . . . more -->

Foundation Donates $2,500 for Livestock Pens - More youth can bring more animals to the fair this year. The Bucyrus Community Foundation recently donated $2,500 to the Crawford County fair board to purchase portable livestock pens through America's Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund . . . more -->

SD State Fair To Boost Budgets - Multiple years of increasing attendance and upward revenue numbers is giving the South Dakota State Fair confidence as it prepares for the 2012 event this summer. In his semi-annual update to the Huron City Commission, State Fair Manager Jerome Hertel says he expects to be able to boost some budget areas . . . more -->

Land Swap in the Works for Stark County Fairgrounds - A Utah company may breathe life into a county fairgrounds, officials say. The Stark County Fair Association recently signed a letter of intent to swap land with Five Diamond Fund Managers, LLC. The SCFA has been trying to construct a fairgrounds and multipurpose complex for years but has endured numerous setbacks . . . more -->

Jackson County Donates $25K For Fairgrounds Sign - The Jackson County Board of Supervisors surprised the Jackson County Fair Board by making a large donation to help buy a new digital sign. Supervisors called Lanny Simpson, fair manager, and some board members to Tuesday's meeting without telling them what they wanted to talk about . . . more -->

Renovations to Ashland County Fair Building Include New Floor, New Pens - Goats entered in this year's Ashland County Fair will have a spruced-up barn to stay in after the Goat Building is renovated this summer. The Junior Fair Goat Building, which houses goats for the 4-H and FFA fair participants . . . more -->

Merced County Fair sets $5 admission fee--first time so low since 1992 - At the 2012 Merced County Fair, everybody can get in for $5 -- a 50 percent discount on the 2011 general admission. Kids 5 years and younger will continue to get in free. Kids' Day will still be offered on June 14, when all children 12 and younger get in free . . . more -->

State Fair of Texas to begin construction on new tower ride - The Texas Star ferris wheel, the Midway and the Cotton Bowl are easily recognizable features of Fair Park. But in a month, construction starts on another landmark that'll tower over them all. The Top of Texas Centennial Tower will give people the opportunity to look far and wide around Dallas . . . more -->

KY State Fairgrounds Seeks Hotel - State officials have issued a "request for proposals" for a luxury hotel with at least 600 rooms to be built along Phillips Lane just east of Gate One at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The project is expected to cost more than $100 million, said Harold Workman, president of the Kentucky State Fair Board . . . more -->

Johnson County Fairboard Chooses Projects At Fairgrounds - After Tuesday's Johnson County Commissioner's meeting, the task of choosing which projects to concentrate on at the fairgrounds fell to the Johnson County Fair Board . . . more -->

National Western Stock Show Ends With Top 10 All-time Attendance - The 106th National Western Stock Show ended Sunday, with strong numbers throughout the 16 days. Opening day started with a bang as Colorado Champions faced off against the World Champions in the first ever Colorado vs. The World rodeo . . . more -->

'Fair's going to go on': Jefferson County Fair officials plead for state funds - Jefferson County Fair officials fear the loss of $33,000 from the state Department of Agriculture Ñ a loss anticipated because of state cutbacks in recent years. "If we do lose the income, the fair's going to go on," said Bill McIntire, fair board president . . . more -->

Horse Racing Likely Out of Running for Northwest Montana Fair - The bell lap may have rung for horse racing at the annual Northwest Montana Fair in Kalispell. Without financial help from the Montana Board of Horse Racing, this summer's races have been canceled, Flathead County Fairgrounds manager Mark Campbell said this week . . . more -->

Community Mourns Loss of Long-time Glenn County Fair CEO - The Glenn County Fair community is mourning the loss of long-time CEO Jake Walgenbach. Walgenbach died Jan. 29 at a Gridley hospital from complications with cancer following years of battling the disease. He was 76. He retired from the Glenn County Fair in December 2010 after a decade of running the grounds and the May fair . . . more -->

Koch family forms entity to negotiate possible Kentucky Kingdom lease - Members of the Koch family Ñ owners of Holiday World & SplashinÕ Safari in Santa Claus, Ind. Ñ have put together a new company, Bluegrass Boardwalk Inc., to try to negotiate a lease agreement . . . more -->

South Carolina State Fair Offering $300,000 in Scholarships - The South Carolina State Fair is offering $300,000 in college scholarships to students from across the state. The organization announced Monday it's taking applications for the 2012 Ride of Your Life Scholarship program . . . more -->

New Grandstand Ready By Delaware County Fair Time - TBuilding a new grandstand for the Delaware County Fairgrounds is right on schedule and be ready for the summer Band Day, rodeo and other events. Delaware County Commissioners signed a contract Monday with RK Sports, Columbus, to install a new 2,300 seat grandstand to replace an older structure recently found unsafe with rusted steel beams and broken bleachers . . . more -->

CNE To Split from City of Toronto, Become Independent Fair - The Canadian National Exhibition has struck a deal with its landlord at Exhibition Place that will make it independent of the City of Toronto. The operators of the historic 18-day fair say they reached an agreement Friday with the Board of Governors of the city-owned lakefront property . . . more -->

Kestrel Moves in, Douglas Co. 4-H Adjusts - The City of Superior may still be flying high after the announcement of Kestrel Aircraft's entrance but the future of one group in the city is now unclear. The Douglas County 4-H may now be looking for a new site after losing part of the one they've used for years . . . more -->

Crews Prepare Tri-State Fair Site For New Awning - An official with the group that organizes the Tri-State Fair and Rodeo said a large $500,000 awning will be built over the food court to give fairgoers much-needed shade during lunch hours . . . more -->

Bremer County Fair Board Asks Supervisors for Support - Representatives from the Bremer County Fair Association asked the board of supervisors Wednesday afternoon to invest in the fair's future location. Kevin Rasing, president, Roy Petersen, grounds manager, Danny Buls, treasurer, and Chris Knapp, fair manager, requested $320,000 over the next five years as repayment . . . more -->

TAG Events Will Host This Year's Boone County Fair - The list of changes and improvements continues to grow with a new management team in place at the Boone County Fairgrounds, including the announcement that TAG Events LLC also will run this summer's county fair . . . more -->

Lake County Fair Will Be Shorter But Better, Organizers Say - Waning attendance and plunging revenue over the last five years prompted Lake County Fair organizers to scale back the event this July. The fair, held in Grayslake, will be five days instead of the customary six; cost $2 less during the weekdays; and no longer have the traditional rodeo Friday and Saturday . . . more -->

Curry Event Center and Fairgrounds Show Growth from Volunteerism - Having recently attended the State of Oregon's OFA Convention members from the Curry County Fair's Board of Directors found much reassurance in the fact their small rural summer fair was remaining fixed on sound financial footing . . . more -->

Senior Cooks Up Ambitious Project, Replaces Appliances at Fair Building - The 4-H building at the Union County fair grounds has received a $10,000 kitchen upgrade because of an ambitious senior project by Emilee Patterson of Imbler. Patterson is a senior at Imbler High School and is the daughter of Ken and Aimee Patterson . . . more -->

Phillips County Fair Board Explains New Team, New Ideas and New Fair - For some of you it may seem a little early to start thinking about the fair. But there is so much planning and work to be done that the fair board starts working on the future fair as soon as the current one is over, if not sooner . . . more -->

Alachua County Fairgrounds To Relocate in a Few Years - The Hoggetowne Medieval Faire will be moving, but not for a few years. The Alachua County Fairgrounds will be relocated two miles north of the Gainesville Regional Airport between North 63rd Avenue and North 69th Avenue. The current site will be replaced with a retail shopping area . . . more -->

'Sundaes on Sunday' To Support Hamilton County Fairgrounds - As part of its continuing fund raising effort to erect an all-purpose arena at the fairgrounds, the Hamilton County Fair Foundation will host its annual Sundaes on Sunday event at the Webster City Middle School . . . more -->