Five County Fairgrounds Receive Grinnell Mutual Fairground Facelift Grants
Grinnell, Iowa (PRWEB) September 27, 2017 -- Five county fairgrounds will receive a total of $7,000 in grants through the Fairground Facelift. Grinnell Mutual understands that fairgrounds function like a community family room and is committed to helping those gathering spots be the best they can be.
ADAMS COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, WEST UNION, OHIO
Based on votes from Facebook users, Grinnell Mutual will present the grand prize winner, Adams County Fairgrounds in West Union, Ohio, with a check for $3,000 for upgrades to its Tom White Memorial Dirt Complex. Work will include replacing and repairing worn and damaged seating.
“We have had a full-blown effort to revitalize the fairgrounds and it has really brought the community back together,” said Liz Lafferty, board president of the Adams County Fairgrounds. “We have painted roofs, mended buildings, gotten new fencing. We had touched every part of the fairgrounds except the dirt complex. This grant will get it started.”
Grinnell Mutual received 80 project submissions from 12 states. Facebook users then cast more than 27,000 votes for their favorite projects among the 15 finalists. The five winning recipients shared a total of $7,000 worth of grants and were chosen based on the number of votes received.
We are pleased by the response to this year’s contest,” said Director of Advertising and Community Relations Barb Baker. “We received an excellent array of project submissions and narrowing them down to our 15 finalists was difficult. The record number of votes cast show how overwhelmingly people support their local fairgrounds. Grinnell Mutual is proud to assist each of the winning projects with these grants.”
Four other fairgrounds will each receive $1,000 toward their fairground renovation projects:
DAVIESS COUNTY 4-H GROUNDS, WASHINGTON, IND.
The Daviess County 4-H Grounds will receive $1,000 for Project Rewire, a project to update and replace electrical wiring in the livestock barns.
“We had a couple of gentlemen take the ball and not let it rest. One was a 4-H alumnus who has kids in the program and another was a star volunteer who has championed the efforts of our program,” said Jane Ann Beard, 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator who has worked for Purdue Extension — Daviess County for 38 years.“Thanks also to the whole county — local businesses and government officials — for their support. With all this interest, it’s a huge step to improving the 4-H grounds. We truly made a statement where the support is in our community," Beard said.
FLOYD COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, CHARLES CITY, IOWA
The Floyd County Fairgrounds will receive $1,000 toward a project to upgrade their youth enrichment center with a refrigerator in order to have a fully functioning kitchen.
“Our fair has been growing. We’ve outgrown buildings,” said Amy Staudt, board president of Floyd County Fairground Association. “The Youth Enrichment Center is open to 4-H and FFA free of charge, but we don’t have kitchen appliances and that’s what’s holding us back from making it a year-round facility. Thanks to Grinnell Mutual, now we can.”
KNOX COUNTY 4-H PAVILION, EDINA, MO.
The Knox County 4-H Pavilion will receive $1,000 for a safety improvement project in their barn.
“On behalf of the Knox County 4-H Council, I would like to express our thanks to Grinnell Mutual for awarding these grants,” said Crystal Karhoff, Knox County Youth Program assistant. “We are fortunate to live in a place where we have the overwhelming support of our community. Our first priority in the list of improvements we would like to make is to replace the rotting support posts of the 4-H Pavilion for the safety of our youth.” The Council heard about the contest through their local Grinnell Mutual agent, Hawkins Insurance Group.
GREEN LAKE COUNTY FAIR, GREEN LAKE, WISC.
The Knox County 4-H Pavilion will receive $1,000 toward the replacement the milk pumping equipment in the milk house.
Kim Zills, the fair coordinator for 14 years says the current milking equipment has been in the milk house since the 70s. “Dairy exhibitors have had to dump their milk for the last three years because it was unsellable,” Zills said. “But this year, we got two new dairy superintendents who were former 4-Hers. And they got passionate about fixing the problem. With new equipment, we can sell the milk and the dairy exhibitors will receive payment. Thanks so much to Grinnell Mutual for this great opportunity!”
About Grinnell Mutual
Grinnell Mutual, in business since 1909, is the 109th-largest property casualty insurance company in the United States and the largest primary reinsurer of farm mutual companies in North America. The company provides reinsurance for farm mutual insurance companies as well as property and casualty insurance. Its products are available in 15 states.
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For more information:
Dan McCue
Digital Marketing Strategist
641-269-8289
Dan.McCue(at)grinnellmutual(dot)com
Peggy Tierney, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, +1 (800) 362-2041 Ext: 8329, [email protected]
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