Poultry Club may hop on solution

A new location and a new direction for the 4-H Poultry Club is in the planning stages at the Putnam County Fairgrounds.

The Putnam County Fair Board is considering a new permanent building for the club, located next to the Rabbit Barn.

As presented by the Fair Board's long-range planning committee, the new location for the barn could run north to south lengthwise, centered off the south side of the Rabbit Barn.

A bonus of that location, board president Ken Heeke noted, is that a small show area could set up on the north end of the new structure, and could be used by both the rabbit and poultry groups as a more spacious location to show their entries during the county fair.

Poultry is usually shown on the first Monday night of the fair, while rabbit events begin Tuesday evening, with the show commencing Wednesday morning.

The proposed improvement comes in response to a request by Poultry Club members, who have exhibited their birds in a tent set up at various locations around the fairgrounds. The club has offered $3,000 of its own funds raised through the years to go toward the structure.

The poultry group also met with the Putnam County Commissioners in April to advise them of the proposed project and request any assistance possible. The item is on the agenda for the commissioners' Monday meeting.

Heeke said the estimated cost of the project, excluding bleacher seating, is $15,000. With a $3,000 donation by the Poultry Club, and a $2,000 contribution from the Rabbit Club, that leaves $10,000 to be financed.

During a 10-year loan, Heeke said, that could cost about $1,500 per year. The tent used each years costs $740, leaving a balance of $760 for the club to raise each year.

The Rabbit Club has indicated it will put money toward the shared arena between the two barns, he said.

The board agreed to continue researching the location and funding of the poultry building, dependent on funding, location and building specifications.

Poultry Supt. Clint Maddox said he has heard support of the project from many people, and donations are welcome for the project.

In other business, the Fair Board: