Photo: Nicole Brackney parades the flag around the refurbished Jefferson County Fairgrounds arena during opening ceremonies on April 1. – Photo by Patrick J. SullivanThe Jefferson County Fairgrounds has opened a refurbished horse arena which the fair association hopes will become known not so much for what it has as what it does not have - mud.
The project to improve the arena began shortly after last year's county fair, with two main goals: Fix the drainage so it would become less muddy and more useable year-round, and make it as large as possible to help with professional barrel racing events.
About 70 to 90 professional barrel racers come to the fair each August to compete. But this has been the smallest arena on their circuit. The new arena (117 x 217 feet) is only 20 feet larger on two sides, but it has more entry gates and the ability now to have a 40-foot runway where competing horses and riders can enter and exit.
The arena was reopened on April 1 for a Hairy Horse Play Day staged by the Silver Spurs 4-H club. The improved arena should be better not only for the barrel racing events, but for all kinds of horse shows leading up to the 70th fair this Aug. 10-12.
Several 4-H'ers testing the arena for the first time said it was great, but they asked when it was going to become a covered arena. (Read More)
