By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

GREENVILLE, Mich. — The Montcalm County 4-H Fair kicked off its 76th annual event at its new fairgrounds July 3. A steak dinner hosted by the Montcalm County Farm Bureau attracted more than 400 people to celebrate the milestone, including Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley.

“It seems like just yesterday that we were here for the groundbreaking,” Calley said, holding a large clear glass pig donation container under his left arm. “I have with me my pet pig,” he added. “He turns tents into barns, but he can’t do it without your support.”

On June 21, 2010, the fair association broke ground on a $4 million project at its new location on 63 acres in Montcalm Township, just north of Greenville. Since then, fair board members and a variety of volunteers have worked tirelessly to raise well over $1 million to support the first phase of construction.
Initially, phase one called for excavation and grading of the site, establishing water and electrical service and installing fencing. However, because of tremendous community support, construction of two horse barns, two horse arenas, a livestock show arena, a multipurpose barn to house a variety of small animals, a livestock barn and primitive campsites also were completed by the time the fair started.

Several tents were set up throughout the grounds to house animals and other exhibits that do not yet have permanent facilities on the fairgrounds.
“What an amazing asset for this community,” Calley said. “If you look around the state, new fairgrounds aren’t just being built. This will make a big difference for generations in the future.”

Trent Hilding, who serves as the Montcalm County Farm Bureau president and vice president of the fair association, lauded the fair for its accomplishments and the community for its support of the project.

“Take a look around you. Last year at this time, these buildings weren’t here,” he said. “It’s amazing. We set out to do this over 10 years ago. It has been a long process.”

Fair Board President Pat Schuster said the project, which spanned well over a decade and included four top-level board leaders during that time, was worth the wait. “This wouldn’t have been possible without all of the support we have received,” Schuster said. “It took four presidents and over 10 years, but we’re here.”

Eventually, site plans call for construction of more animal and exhibit buildings and arenas, a grandstand, full-service camping facilities, landscaping and more. The work is expected to be completed in phases as money is raised through fund-raising efforts.

The new fairgrounds project has been a long time coming for the association, which is made up entirely of volunteers. In the late 1990s, the fair association board began exploring the possibility of moving the fairgrounds. At the time, the association acquired a parcel of property from John and Laura Chapin, longtime Greenville-area residents and business owners.

In 1999, fair leaders realized the rolling parcel of property, which resembled a scenic photograph – complete with wetlands and abundant wildlife – could not be developed as a fairgrounds because of the land topography. The group quickly struck a deal with the Chapins to “swap” parcels for a 63-acre flat tract of land about one mile away, and finalized the deal in May 2000.
The Chapins donated about half the land, while the fair association purchased the other half. An easement granting a right-of-way to Peck Road, which provides primary access to the site, was donated by Jerry and Pat Miller of Stanton.

Since then, the fair association has worked with a design firm, local and state planners, contractors and a variety of community and municipal leaders to devise a plan to develop the site, which gave the fair nearly four times the space it had at its old site inside Greenville’s city limits.

E.J. Brown, executive director of the Michigan Assoc. of Fairs and Exhibitions (MAFE), said construction of the new facility is a milestone in the state. He said the most recent new facilities – those in Shiawassee and Barry counties – are about 20 years old.

“I’m very impressed with the quality here,” he said. “Over the last few years, I’ve heard a lot about the struggles here. Yet, in a year’s time, they’ve moved to the new facility with the community’s support.

“They have a great start. Once they get a fair under their belt, they will know better what they will need for next year. This fairgrounds is going to be a tremendous boost to the county’s economy and to Greenville.”