FRIENDS OF THE DICKINSON COUNTY FAIR

Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you about the Friends of the Dickinson County Fair 501c3 group. Our goal is to preserve, improve, promote and protect the Dickinson County Fair and its historic grounds for the use and benefit of the general public. In January 2019, a group of dedicated volunteers formed this nonprofit public benefit corporation. Our goals include raising funds and writing grants To improve and expand year-round opportunities for facility usage for not only Dickinson County…but also the surrounding rural communities.

You might be thinking,… well what have you accomplished since forming?. Despite Covid. We have raised and given money to improve the caretakers cottage, received grants for a 72' zero turn mower and a 10 ft box plow, created a Facebook page advertising for events at the fair (please check out our group page if you haven't), procured flower donations from Chenier's and other greenhouses, in addition, the FDCF Facilitated major improvements to the horticulture building this past year (re-anchored the building, put in all new doors, all new LED lighting, and poured cement for better handicapped access…all this from a Directed donation from a generous community member. Lastly, we collected new front gate materials and labor donations, sponsored a large pumpkin contest, donated money and labor for updating the Midway bathrooms and showers, and worked with TV 6 on matching advertising for the fair. To name just a few…

Did you know that in 2023, there were approximately 60,000 people at the Dickinson County Fair? It is one of the largest parks in Dickinson county …and the most visited. The fair board works diligently to update and maintain the grounds, pay the bills, and pay out premium money, but the profit only goes so far.
Our list of projects is long, including a new sound system for the barns and midway(if you were at one of the shows you might have heard Tricia yelling out classes for the lamb show when the speaker went out), we need a new roof for concession row, we need a smaller lawn mower, more power to the barns, LED lights for the Horse arena, and paint for the Beef barn, also , we’d like to hold a “how to enter and exhibit at the fair”, as well as sponsoring youth animal clinics. We’d like to add more handicap accessibility, including continuing to support having a” quiet time” during the fair for individuals that have sensory deficit disorders or PTSD.

In 1910, 60 farmers and businesses donated teams of draft horses and wagons to haul clay from the river to build the dirt race track. 15 teams a day. It took 4 days to complete the project. In the early 1930’s men worked for the WPA (living in bunkhouses on the grounds) to work and build the historic buildings still in use today. Did you know that they used the Timbers they harvested from the flooded local mines.

This year, 2024, will mark the 114th year of the Fair. Please know that every dollar raised is accounted for, and used, to help us reach our goals. The 40 acre park has a dirt and a paved track as well as an attached campground. It is used for: weddings, graduations, reunions, Halloween Spook House, Educational Youth 4H Animal Clinics and numerous other community events!

How wonderful would it be if the people of our generous communities also donated to… and helped to preserve our historic county park and Fairgrounds like our ancestors did?