Central ND News

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has allocated $1.5 million in grants to 23 county agriculture fair associations across North Dakota. These funds are intended for infrastructure projects related to planning, design, and construction.

“County fairs serve an important role in teaching about agriculture and need facilities to do so,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “The county fair resiliency grants will assist our county fairs with select infrastructure-related expenses so they can continue to serve as the fabric of their communities – a place for 4-H and FFA members and the general public to come together and participate in exhibits, rodeos and entertainment.”

The program was established by the 69th Legislative Assembly with a total appropriation of $1.5 million. Each grant is capped at $100,000.

Recipients include:

- Adams County Fair Board received $30,000 for electrical upgrades.

- Bottineau County Agricultural Society was awarded $60,000 for facility upgrades.

- Bowman County Fair Association got $58,919 for facility improvements.

- Burke County Fair Association received $66,350 for facility and electrical upgrades.

- Dickey County Fair Association obtained $100,000 for a new livestock barn.

- Divide County Fair Association secured $47,850 for electrical upgrades and concrete replacement.

- Foster County Fair was granted $50,000 to replace aging facilities.

- Golden Valley County Fair Association received $6,600 for facility upgrades.

- Greater Grand Forks Fair & Exhibition was awarded $95,700 for repairs and updates.

- Kidder County Fair Association got $20,333 for facility upgrades.

Other recipients include McLean County Fair ($40,618), Mercer County Fair Association ($45,000), Morton County ($51,360), Oliver County Fair ($7,400), Pembina County Fair ($100,000), Pierce County Fair Association ($100,000), Ransom County Fair Association ($53,000), Red River Valley Fair Association ($100,000), Sargent County Fair Association ($95,000), Stark County Fair Association ($100,000), Stutsman County Fair ($100,000), Tri County Exhibitors Association ($71,870) and Walsh County Fair Association ($100,000).

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) reviewed 25 applications which were evaluated by a committee before being approved by Commissioner Goehring.