Mercer County Fairgrounds’ Activities To Continue As Planned
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The events at the Mercer County Fairgrounds in Harrodsburg will go on as scheduled despite the damage suffered during the recent tornados in the area. The storms that hit Harrodsburg on Feb. 5 destroyed one section of the grandstand, including the restrooms. There also was minor damage to the other two grandstand sections, which are already in the process of being repaired. However, the remainder of the grounds remains undamaged. There was no damage to any of the horse barns, cattle barns or the motorsports track.
The first equine activity on the grounds this year is the Spring Jubilee Charity Horse Show, a mixed breed event scheduled for April 17-19. A truck pull is scheduled April 12 on the motorsports track.
According to Fair Board President Dr. LeMayne Ellis, “The first order of business will be to replace the restrooms. This will be done as quickly as possible since there are events in the horse show ring in April, May and June ahead of our Mercer County Fair & Horse Show the last week in July.”
The fair board has scheduled its second “Raising the Roof Gala” fundraising event for March 1. Invitations were in the mail prior to the storm. “This fundraising event takes on new meaning with the loss of this section of grandstand,” Dr. Ellis said. “The property was insured and there ultimately may be additional funds coming in as a results of federal and state disaster declarations. But we cannot afford to wait for the possibility before we start making the necessary repairs.”
Current plans are to add box seats to the eastern side of the grandstand, replacing those that were in the destroyed section. “The board is discussing some exciting new possibilities for the space above the restrooms beyond just seating.” Dr. Ellis said. “Those will be announced at a later date.”
Contributions to the rebuilding of this section of grandstand, or any other project on the fairgrounds, are tax deductible as the Mercer County Fair & Horse Show is a 501(c)(3) entity. For more information on the project or for an invitation to the gala, contact Dr. Ellis at 859-734-5546.
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