NASHVILLE – Construction is currently underway on a 2,500 square foot addition to the county’s fair barn on Highway 371.
According to Don Fletcher, president of the Howard County Fair Board, the extra space is needed to accommodate unprecedented growth in the number of fair participants showing sheep and goats.
“The sheep and goat show has just grown tremendously,” Fletcher said. “That’s where the young kids usually start and we have a whole raft of them coming.”
Funding for the project largely comes from a USDA Rural Development grant the board received last year totaling $12,500. Fletcher said the project as a whole will cost just $1,000 more, with work being done by Fab Tech and Ozan-based welder/builder Bill Jackson.
The new space will accommodate 25 additional pens this year, but includes room to expand in the future if needed. Fletcher said he expects to fill half, if not all, of the new pens at this year’s fair.
