After 75 years, annual fair outgrows Hillcrest St. fairgrounds

Excitement about the new fairgrounds and the search for family friendly events are two of the reasons Montcalm County 4-H Fair are seeing a growth in participant numbers and exhibits.

Because of the steady growth, and the need for newer, up-to-code facilities, Montcalm County 4-H Fair has outgrown the current 15-acre fairgrounds site on Hillcrest Street.

“With our demolition derby, camping, and expanding animal exhibits, there’s just not enough room anymore for parking or to house all of the animals,” said New Fairgrounds Fundraising Committee chairman Mike McGonigal. “Many of the buildings are over 60 years old and in disrepair. It has gotten to the point where, after 75 years of being year, it was time to move on.” One area seeing a really large growth this year is the medium-sized animals, goats and sheep.

“We have seen really steady, but slow, growth at our fair for the past several years,” said Fair Board president Pat Schuster. “But, this year, the superintendents inform me, we are seeing a huge growth in the number of exhibitors showing goats and sheep.

Both areas are up at least 50 percent over last year.” One explanation for the growth in those two categories is the size of the animals, Fair Board member Lisa Johnson explained.

“While we have a lot of large farms in Montcalm County, we also have many small hobby type farms,” Johnson says. “We also have a lot of hobby farms, many times populated by families who would be full-time farmers if they could find a way to make it pay. These smaller acreage farms are the perfect place to raise goats and sheep.” Johnson also points to 4-H’s Clover Bud program as one of the possible reasons for the expansion of the goat and sheep project numbers.

“Children too young to participate officially in 4-H can be enrolled as clover buds,” Johnson explained.

“For the past few years these younger children have gravitated to the sheep and goat project areas for the chance to practice showing an older 4-H’ers’ animal.

“I think all it took was that taste of showing one of these animals in the ring to make them want to do it for themselves,” she added.

McGonigal likes what he is seeing, both in the growth of the 4-H program and the planned development of its new fairgrounds on Peck Road, just north of Greenville.

“We are one of the few counties that continue to grow, and I think our numbers will continue to grow,” he said. “That is a great feat considering the kind of economy we are in. That’s really saying something.” The Hillcrest Street fairgrounds was a convenient location, just off the main strip in Greenville, that’s what many people liked about it, said McGonigal.

“The location was easy to find and everything was right there for kids and their animals,” said McGonigal.

“These fairgrounds served the county and our kids well but it’s time to move on. It’s time for a new chapter to begin.” McGonigal said there will be an auction in August to sell items and materials from the old fairgrounds. Some will be saved for memorabilia.

The purchase of theHillcrest Street fairgrounds by Montcalm Community College should be finalized in late July, according to McGonigal. From that purchase, $500,000 will go towards the development of the new fairgrounds.

“Everyone is excited for the new fairgrounds but there might be some kids who will need to adjust to the new site,” said McGonigal. “There’s going to be a lot more distance between buildings now and I’m sure it’ll be a bit overwhelming at first, but eventually everyone will get used to it and enjoy it.”