Grants will fund infrastructure improvements for county fairgrounds

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 13, 2024) – A record-breaking amount of nearly $750,000 was recently awarded to nine Kentucky county fairs boards from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) for new construction and renovation projects, Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell has announced.

"County fairs lie at the core of our agricultural communities," Commissioner Shell said. "I’m thrilled to announce a record-setting year for grant awards and to provide funding to nine local county fair boards for vital infrastructure improvements. These grants will allow county fair boards to enrich the fair experience for both their communities and agricultural partners."

The amount and the recipient of each grant include:

• Anderson County (Lawrenceburg Fair and Horse Show) – $33,750 for paving around the horse arena and clubhouse; 

• Barren County – $100,000 for a speaker system, LED signs, walk-in freezer and cooler, ice machine, and building construction; 

• Butler County (Green River Catfish Festival) – $100,000 for site work for drainage and power distribution; 

• Edmonson County – $100,000 for a building renovation; 

• Estill County – $81,966 for a new building, electric and water, building and parking lot excavation, arena fence, drainage work, and rock/sand; 

• Grayson County – $96,960.80 for electrical system for midway and arena, and installation of waterline components; 

• Fayette County (Lexington Bluegrass Fair) – $36,375 for new electric; 

• Spencer County – $100,000 for renovations to the concession building and livestock barn; 

• Union County – $100,000 for bleachers, concrete and installation. 

Any incorporated fair board in Kentucky may apply with the State Aid to Local Agricultural Fairs Program for grants in the amount of $10,000-$100,000. Each grant will fund 75 percent of the total cost of the project, with the local fair board matching the other 25 percent. Each project must be started within 90 days of the date the project was awarded and must be completed within nine months.

Grants may be used for infrastructure or facility improvements, capital construction, or purchase of non-permanent tangible items such as bleachers or restaurant equipment.

Applications must be submitted to the KDA’s Shows and Fairs Division and postmarked no later than Oct. 1 of each year. The Kentucky County Fair Council reviews the applications and selects the winning proposals.

For more information about the State Aid to Local Agricultural Fairs Program, go to kyagr.com/marketing/county-fair-program.html.