Fair board mulls pig barn options
The Big Horn County Fair Board met Jan. 8. Board members in attendance were Tracy Haley, Kelli Mercer, Tucker McKim, Tim Allen, Austin Layne and Luke Foss.
Also in attendance were Fair Manager Cash Duncan, UW Educator Gretty Gasvoda, Big Horn County Commissioner Deb Craft and FFA advisors Ashley Spatz and Jenna Schultz.
PIG BARN
Kade Ames of North Industries LLC spoke to the board about plans for a new pig barn.
At this meeting, he discussed a preconstruction service he offers through his dealership. “You guys would pay a fee to get the entire building designed, rendered. We are talking floor plans. They will estimate the cost of the entire project for budget feasibility. Everything is engineered.”
Ames continued, “I’m partially doing this because I’m a builder. Secondly, I think it’s an important thing for the fair to have.” He added he is a huge trade/ag advocate.
He distributed a plan for the pig barn. He said it was everything you would get from an architect except mechanical. The plan would cost $9,000. That cost would go directly toward the cost of the building if the county chooses his company to build it.
Ames believes having a hard copy of the plans will help with fundraising. He left a copy of another project so the board could see first-hand the kind of detail in the plan for the pig barn.
Duncan agreed and added that if there were companies that wanted to donate things like dirt work and/or concrete, they would have a better understanding how much time/money that donation would require.
The current pig building is 60 x 100. Duncan asked Ames to draw up a building that is 70 x 120. Ames estimated the building would be around $400,000 including concrete, installed garage doors, windows, doors exhaust fans, etc.
Haley said she will be working on the second annual Squeal Your Thirst fundraiser for the pig barn. It will likely be in March. The board will hold a work meeting for the barn on Jan. 28 at 1:30 p.m.
COMMITTEE UPDATE
Gasvoda told the board that the committee reviewed two proposals that Duncan had sent them. One was for stand-alone panels; the other was for concrete blocks for the wood shavings storage area. The committee will pay for the projects.
Gasvoda said a few kids say they will have dairy cows at the next fair. She also noted that the pig weight has been updated to 225 – 320 pounds. If the pigs are over or under those limits, they can’t be sold at the livestock auction.
MANAGER REPORT
Duncan explained that Big Horn Co-op is almost done with the new auctioneer booth. The Co-op is in the process of getting bids for new pens in the goat barn. They are seeking bids from two vendors.
He will talk to the commissioners on Jan. 16 about upgrading the advertising banners to an Aluminum Composite Material (ACM). The cost will be more, but they should last years longer.
Duncan is still working with Pepsi to get signage for them throughout the grounds. They made a significant donation towards the cost of the indoor arena and never got signage.
OTHER BUSINESS
• Inflatables will be at the 2024 fair.
• Ad sales for the fair will start after the carnival.
• There is one open seat for the seven-member fair board.
• The board reviewed the logos submitted for the contest. The winner will be announced at the Feb. 5 meeting.