Scott Williams swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader File Photo The new Junior Fair Building, shown in an artist’s rendering, will be renamed the “Huntington Family 4-H Youth Building” to honor the family’s financial support.
One of the busiest places at the Shawano County Fair is getting busier with a facelift that should be complete before the 2017 county fair.
Crews have started work on a long-awaited effort to overhaul the Junior Fair Building, which is home to 4-H Club members and their families throughout the fair.
Dale Hodkiewicz, president of the group that organizes the county fair, said patrons will see a dramatic transformation of the building during this year’s fair Aug. 30 through Sept. 4.
“We’ll have a nice new building,” he said.
The project calls for replacing the building’s aluminum exterior, along with installing a new roof, doors, interior lighting, insulation and other improvements. The chipped and peeling white exterior will give way to a new red- and green-colored facade with stone accents.
Civic leaders and county fair patrons have been talking for years about upgrading the building, also sometimes known simply as the 4-H Building.
The Shawano Area Agricultural Society, which organizes the county fair, raised funds for the makeover and landed a $100,000 donation from Bert and Carol Huntington of Richmond. The building will be renamed the “Huntington Family 4-H Youth Building.”
The estimated $170,000 project also has been supported by other donors, county government leaders, 4-H boosters and more.
Terri Brunner, 4-H educator at the University of Wisconsin-Extension, joined other volunteers last month in getting the project started by clearing the building of all interior furnishings and other clutter.
Brunner said she is excited to see work finally beginning on the long-discussed transformation of such a significant community gathering place.
“It’s a great project,” she said.
The building, which functions as the home base for all 4-H Clubs during the county fair, becomes a hub of activity involving youth camaraderie, competition and exhibition that is separate from the livestock and other attractions throughout the rest of the fairgrounds.
Contractors are working on electrical upgrades and interior painting, which will be followed soon by the exterior remodeling and other major construction work. Bayland Buildings Inc. of Hobart is the main construction contractor on the project.
Hodkiewicz said he is pleased to see the project fully funded and on schedule to be finished before the fair kicks off.
“It’s a real exciting project — let’s put it that way,” he said. “We’re excited to have it get going.”
With the new insulation and other upgrades, the building could become useful in seasons other than just summertime.
Brunner said 4-H officials are planning their own improvements inside the remodeled structure, including a new portable stage and a remodeled office. A wish list of other possible amenities will be presented to patrons during the county fair to generate support.
Brunner said she and other 4-H members are looking forward to seeing the finished product.
“It’s going to be nice to know that we are working in a quality building,” she said.