More than fair

Page 12 - Agriculture Magazine, June 2020

Joy Mc Clure Superintendent for Canned and Preserved Foods, Beer and Wine

When anyone thinks of the Fairgrounds, they think Ravalli County Fair. But it is so much more.

The Fairgrounds has an open gate policy and is a peaceful place to bring the family to enjoy the outdoors. Pack up the kids, bring a picnic lunch and use our picnic tables. It’s a perfect safe place for your child to learn to ride that first bicycle or walk the dog or let him play fetch until he’s worn out. Make sure that you take advantage of the pet waste stations that are placed around the grounds.

The First Interstate Center is available for those that want to walk in the winter for a small fee. The arena is available for riding, but that does require a paid permit for use and a hold harmless form registered with the Fair Office. The fees are necessary for maintenance and pay the electric/heating bills.

Most of you are probably not aware that there is the Ravalli County Fairgrounds Foundation. This foundation was started in 2008 under the umbrella of RC&D and became a 501(c) (3) in 2020. It was formed to make sure that the Fairgrounds would be a great community asset for generations to come. Our mission is to provide a continuing program of preservation, facility, and grounds improvement and expansion and to provide a program venue that encourages agricultural, social, educational, and cultural opportunities for the enrichment of the community. These objectives

will be funded through public contributions, which will provide a continuing program of expansion and facility/ grounds improvements. Long story short, there is never enough money to cover everything that needs to be addressed. Past RCFF funded projects have included purchasing trees to replace the century old damaged and dying cottonwoods, help replace the rotting fascia on all of the barns and buildings, expanding the Memorial Garden on the south fence line of the Fairgrounds with plantings and trees, MI CHELLE MCCONNAHA and help in expanding a much needed irrigation system. Over the years monetary donations have been received in someone’s name for a specific purpose. There have been funds for the Floral Department and funds for added premiums in Natural Fibers. Still more funds that were designated for flowers for the many planters and gardens on the Fairgrounds.

The one consistent revenue stream for RCFF has been the Commemorative Paver Program. When you arrive at the South Gate to the Fairgrounds you notice the multicolored brick like pavers laid out in the walkway. If you look a little closer, you’ll see that a lot of them are engraved. They are engraved with business names, family names, or In Memoria for a family member. If your family was ever “The Fair Family” of the year, they all have pavers, too. These pavers are available for purchase in the Fair Office. Once purchased, they will be engraved and placed in the walkway on your Fairgrounds.

We’ll see you at the Ravalli County Fair 2020!