Benton, Arkansas – The Saline County Fair and Rodeo is preparing to open its gates next week, but reaching this point has required months of work after severe winter weather caused major damage to the fairgrounds.
The trouble began in January when heavy ice from winter storms caused the roof over the rodeo arena to collapse. The damage did not stop there. The swine barns also lost their roof, while the announcer’s booth, fencing across the property and bleachers inside the rodeo arena were destroyed.
With the annual fair approaching, the Saline County Fair Association faced the difficult task of repairing the property while also trying to raise enough money to make the necessary improvements.
In May, the association started a fundraising campaign with a goal of collecting $300,000. The money was intended to help rebuild areas of the fairgrounds damaged by the winter storms.
The campaign did not reach its full financial target. However, support from local businesses helped the association make enough progress to keep the fair on track.
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Fair Association treasurer Julie Kerr said the financial situation was not ideal, but businesses and contractors stepped in to help with important work around the grounds.
“Money wise, (it’s) not great, but that’s okay. We had other companies come in here and help us rebuild to where we needed to be to where we can open the doors, so that’s what we’re really thankful for,” Kerr said. “Newcomb Construction came here and did our dirt work for us, that has helped.”
The fairgrounds will not look exactly as they did before the storms. The roofs over the rodeo arena and swine barn have not yet been replaced. Even so, organizers say the missing roofs will not prevent the scheduled events from taking place.
The association’s immediate goal is to make sure visitors can still enjoy the fair and rodeo. The longer-term plan is to eventually rebuild the structures and other features that were lost during the winter storms.
For now, Kerr said organizers are determined to move forward rather than allow the damage to stop the annual event.
“Everything is still going on just like we never had any damage out here. We’re going to have our cultural arts, horticultural livestock entries, and all the carnival rides and rodeo. We’re not missing a beat,” Kerr said. “One day we will come up and have enough money to sit here and maybe rebuild this arena and have a roof over it. But we’re going to have a rodeo no matter what, roof or no roof, we’re going to do it.”
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That determination means the Saline County Fair and Rodeo will proceed despite the significant storm damage from earlier this year. Organizers have spent months working to get the grounds ready and relying on community and business support to make it possible.
The Saline County Fair and Rodeo is scheduled to begin Tuesday, September 8, and continue through September 12. The event will include cultural arts, horticultural and livestock entries, carnival rides and rodeo activities.
While some major repairs remain ahead, the association is focused on welcoming the community and keeping the fair tradition going. The damaged structures may still serve as a reminder of the winter storms, but organizers say the event itself will not miss a beat.
A complete list of events and additional information about the fair is available at SalineCountyFairgrounds.com.
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