
For over 120 years, families have traveled to Herman, Minnesota, each summer to attend the Grant County Fair. Following a presidentially declared natural disaster two years ago, fairground officials turned to Rural Development to help restore one building to its former glory.
In May 2022, a storm with 90-mile-per-hour winds ripped through the fairgrounds, ripping a central building off its foundation. The creative arts building, built in 1908, sustained heavy damage and was deemed unusable. This 120-year-old building held great significance as the central hub for the fair, where individuals of all ages showcased their talents, ranging from art displays to culinary creations. In the end, the damage sustained by the storm prompted its demolition due to safety concerns.
Thanks to the support from the USDA Rural Development's Community Facilities Disaster Relief Program, the Grant County Ag Association completed a replacement building project, ensuring the fairgrounds were fully equipped for the 2024 summer fair. The new building not only replicated the preexisting structure but also provided essential shelter during rainstorms and offered educational resources for children. Grant County Fair board member Scott Libbesmeier said the community's feedback on the new building was nothing but positive.
"When you're in a small county fair with very limited funds, it's very difficult to lose a building and expensive to replace it," Libbesmeier said. "It was a huge deal to get it back up."
USDA RD Area Director Jeff VanBuren, who was closely involved in the fairground project, said that the building replacement benefited everyone in the surrounding counties who attended the fair.
"We ended up with a building that looks very similar to the original one, and I think everybody was happy at the end of the day," VanBuren said.
The successful completion of this project exemplifies Rural Development's commitment to assisting communities in rebuilding vital infrastructure following natural disasters.
The Community Facilities Disaster Relief Program provides grants to repair essential community facilities in rural areas that were damaged by Presidentially Declared Disasters.