Still no new beef complex at Lisbon

SALEM, Ohio – There will be no new beef show barn at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds in Lisbon next week, but that doesn’t mean progress isn’t being made.
In fact, a steering committee still hopes to have the facility in place before the 2006 fair.
Intentions. A committee of cattlemen gathered at the close of the 2003 fair and announced plans to build an 80-by-260 foot clear span steel building featuring a 40-by-60 foot showring.
It will sit on the current site of 76-year-old 4-H beef and open class sheep barns on the northeast corner of the fairgrounds. Both facilities need repairs.
“We’ve got 90-some steers coming to the fair this year. The capacity just isn’t enough; we need new facilities,” said Lynnelle Thompson, a steering committee member.
The proposed structure will include restrooms, office and storage space and wash facilities, and bring all the fair’s beef cattle – 4-H projects and open exhibitions – together under one roof, according to Thompson.
More uses. The multipurpose building is also suitable for farmers’ markets, car shows, horse riding clinics and other events throughout the year.
The complex would also add a second show and sale ring to the fairgrounds.
“We want this for the beef projects, but it will be nice to have something that will let the fairgrounds be used more than just one week a year,” Thompson said.
Monetary issues. The steering committee has raised about $25,000 of the needed $150,000 for the project, according to Thompson.
That money has come from exhibitors, 4-H alumni and local businesses.
She said the committee is “still very interested in building” the structure, but needs help in raising funds to start the ball rolling.
The committee said they would destroy the current facility to make way for the new building only when $75,000 had been raised.
Thompson said the committee has also secured someone to help search for grant money to fund the project.
Donations will be accepted during the Columbiana County Fair, which runs Aug. 1-7.
See any steer committee or fair board member for details, or call Thompson at 330-424-5484.
(Reporter Andrea Myers welcomes reader feedback by phone at 1-800-837-3419, ext. 22, or by e-mail at amyers@farmanddairy.com.)