News

New buildings welcome exhibitors & fairgoers

Visitors to the Northern Wisconsin State Fair in Chippewa Falls might need to re-learn their way around.  That’s because the animal barns and the show arena buildings are all new.

Rusty Volk is the fair’s Executive Director. He says, “Yes, we had to rebuild barns, replace old barns, and finally after 14 years, we’ve come to the conclusion to get her done.”

The old show barn suffered a roof collapse after more than 130 years in service, and three other livestock barns were in disrepair after more than 100 years in service, so the board decided to build now for the future.

Volk says the new agricultural campus will help more fair visitors better understand where their food comes from. “By having a facility where the public can easily come and easily see the animals, and safely see the animals, and safely see how and why they’re judged, that’s going to help those agricultural businesses, keeping them relevant so they can continue to grow and produce more food.”

The old fair buildings were leveled immediately after last year’s fair so construction could start.  Fundraising efforts are continuing to pay the six million dollar construction cost.

The Northern Wisconsin State Fair runs through Sunday, July 16^th.