Ohio Correspondent

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) has awarded a record number of county fair grants for the 2026 season, supporting new construction and renovation projects across the state. Ten county fairs will receive a combined total of $748,793 through this year’s funding cycle.

The Shelby County Fair in Shelbyville, the state’s fourth-oldest running county fair, is recipient of $100,000. Shelby County Fair board president Tommy Ingram said the funds will be used to renovate their horse barns, which were erected in the early 1940s. Shelby County Fairgrounds is home to the 33-stall Bradley Barn and 39-stall Weller Barn. In addition, there are two shed row type barns on the grounds which have approximately 40 horse stalls each.

“We could have used a lot more funding as this project will run about $200,000,” said Ingram, who has worked for the fair the past 32 years. “For the past 10 years we’ve been renovating structures on this 21-acre fair because it’s been generations since anything’s been done.

“The barn are the only structures that have had no refurbishing done to them at all. They might be the oldest structures on the grounds as we’ve found square nails in some of them. They’re the only structures we need to bring up to standards.”

For the past few years, volunteers at the Shelby County Fair have worked to put in new seating at the track, upgrade the electric throughout the fairgrounds, add new circuit boxes and lightings, and improve on the speaker systems.

“We do get some sponsorship from the county and some from the city, but for the most part we’re totally funded by the community events that we hold here on the grounds,” Ingram said.

The Shelby County Fair was established in 1854. In 1860, 220 farmers and townspeople each contributed $25 to establish the county fair. These people were the fair’s stockholders.

In 1991, the fair became a non-profit 501-3 (c) and it’s now an all-volunteer fair.

“The only problem our fair has it that it’s land-locked,” Ingram said. “There’s no room to expand the acreage. At times we have a lot of parking problems. But the fair is going to remain at its current location as it costs too much to move.”

With such little space, officials at the Shelby County Fair hold the fair’s horse show and carnival during separate weeks. The fair’s 2026 carnival will be June 8-13 while the County Fair Horse Show will take place June 16-20.

Nine other fairs plan to make good use of their allotted funds: Ballard, Boyd, Clark, Clinton, Hart, Laurel, Oldham, Pulaski and Germantown. 

The Ballard County Fair will use its $44,117 for site preparation and installation of a horse barn with metal stalls.

The Boyd County Fair will construct nine sets of bleachers into concrete work with its $62,233, while the Clinton County Fair will use its $75,859 allotment for arena fencing, a new gate, concrete safety walls, guard rails, an announcer’s stand, speakers, a flagpole and septic system replacement.

The Oldham County and Laurel County fairs each will receive $100,000. Oldham will put the money toward bleachers, new asphalt and concrete walkways, and toward an agricultural building. Laurel will use the funds to build new restrooms and a concession facility.

The Hart County Fair was awarded $70,746 and will use it for reconstruction of the exhibit hall roof, new porch overhangs, walkway updates, lighting, fencing and a public announcement system.

The Pulaski County Fair will use its $709,852 to upgrade an existing building and replace outdoor lighting and HVAC systems.

Germantown Fair officials will make major renovations, including new windows, doors, insulation, HVAC, electrical, siding and roofing with their $100,000 allotment.

“For agricultural communities across the state, county fairs lie at their cores,” Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell said. “We’re thrilled to be able to award grants to a record number of counties this year. These grants will allow county fair boards to enrich the fair experience for their communities and their agricultural partners.”

Through the State Aid to Local Agricultural Fairs Program, any of the state’s 74 incorporated fair boards may apply for grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Each award covers 75 percent of the project cost, with local boards contributing the remaining 25 percent. Projects must begin within 90 days of award notification and be completed within nine months.

Applications are due annually by Oct. 1, submitted to the KDA’s Shows and Fairs Branch.