Blaine County 4-H Gathers Community Support for an Improved Show Arena at the Fairgrounds

Published: 2022
By Julianne Snedigar

The number of livestock projects exhibited by youth at the Blaine County Fair continues to grow yearly. With that, the space used in the past for livestock shows and the market sale was no longer large enough to accommodate the number of projects. For the past two years, livestock shows have been outside in a gravel arena. The location was very hot and the gravel was very hard on the youth and the livestock. MSU Extension Blaine County agents proposed the idea of planting grass and installing shade at the outdoor show location to the Blaine County Fairboard. MSU Extension worked with the Fairboard, 4-H Council, 4-H Foundation, and many other partner businesses and individuals to raise funds to install sod and purchase shade structures for the arena. The North Chinook Boosters 4-H Club applied for and received a Montana 4-H Foundation $500 People Partner Grant. Through contributions from more than 50 donors, funds were raised to complete the project. Over 20 4-H members, leaders, parents, and community members worked together to install sod the month before the fair. During the fair, countless youth, parents, and community members commented on how the grass and shade were very appreciated. The livestock judge gave high praise for the efforts. One of the main benefits was the lack of animal stress during the swine show. In previous years without grass, the pigs became tired and sore feet caused them to fight with other animals. This year with grass, there were no pig fights during the show. The newly improved area greatly reduced the stress on the animals, youth, and adult volunteers, and will be an asset to the Blaine County Fairgrounds for years to come.