Remodel of fairgrounds’ diner progressing

With construction begun on a new space for non-livestock exhibits at the Vernon County Fairgrounds, a remodel of the Diner and Home Economics Buildings is currently underway.

“We’ve got about a dozen volunteers working here – fair board members and other supporters of the fair – and I think this is our seventh workday,” said Vernon County Fair Board Chair Nathan Forkner in a Monday interview. “This is our seventh 12-hour work day; we hope to be done by mid-March.”

The fair board chair said the project includes converting the Diner into being an expanded kitchen. They have installed a new metal roof, insulation, new drop-ceiling and light-emitting diode lighting; there will be increased storage as well.

What had been the Home Economics Building will be used exclusively for seating.

“Our goal is to be serving out of two windows and move our seating from about 130 to well over 300,” said Forkner. “We want it so that someone at an office can come out here for lunch, order, get their food, sit and visit and get back all in an hour; that’s our goal.”

He spoke of how people consider eating at the Diner to be a big part of their fair experience but a lack of capacity has meant long-lines, long wait times and a feeling that everyone is on top of each other.

He said thanks to some very generous gifts, the fair board had about $20,000 in memorial money earmarked for the diner.

To make the dollars stretch, board members watched on-line sales and auctions. In mid-November they learned of a restaurant in St. Paul, Kansas which closed and the board purchased their entire kitchen as a single lot.

“We had to disassemble some of the things so we could fit everything in the 24-foot trailer we used,” said Forkner. “Most of the things are only three years old and in great shape; it was a good deal.”

Included were a double convection oven, a large griddle – both of which use natural gas – shelving and a quantity of canned foods such as fruit and vegetables in large number 10 sized cans.

Checking expiration dates, they found most things still usable and so they donated the cans to the soup kitchen and Community Outreach. Other things which came as part of the lot are not needed and so the fair board may conduct a surplus equipment sale in the future.

Said Forkner, “While I’m not exactly sure, I think the kitchen was built sometime in the late 1970s and it’s way overdue for being replaced; actually the whole building needs work. After all, the Home-Ec. Building gets rented out and used a lot throughout the year.”

Asked about work slated for the Home-Ec. Building he said initially the board thought that might have to be put off until next year due to all available funds going into the Diner.

“But when word got out about all we were doing here, various 4-H groups contacted the fair board to volunteer a little money and a lot of kid-powered labor,” said Forkner. “So I know for sure the kitchen will have an additional griddle and the Home Ec. Building is getting a new coat of paint and that’ll really brighten things up in here.”

The fair board chair said the 4-H Council is thinking of putting in several couches as well as charging stations for cell-phones.

“I know those’ll be handy and very popular,” said Forkner.

He said the fair board would like to add insulation and upgrade the lighting in that building but this will likely have to wait until funds become available.

Rental amounts have yet to be set by the county commissioners but Forkner thought the new or remodeled buildings may have an increase in their cost to rent as well as new terms of use agreements.

A separate purchase by the fair board includes two 12-foot diameter round fans to be used in the arena to cool off the kids and the crowds.

Looking ahead, Forkner spoke of parking and being ready for the trends in the livestock being shown.

Not quite sure as to how to describe the ideas he has received on improving the parking and traffic flow Forkner finally said he and other board members have received a good number of “suggestions.”

Not wanting any unintended consequences, he said the fair board is going to take its time on this and think things through.

“One thing I think we are going to have to act on is the overall trend in the livestock being shown at our fair,” said Forkner.

Due to cost and the resources involved, Forkner said there are far fewer cattle and more pigs and hogs as well as goats and rabbits.

He said if these trends continue, and he thinks they shall, the board may need to look at the facilities and amount of space made available for the different animals.

Forkner is in his third year on the board and third year as the board’s chair.

He said, “I got talked into running for the board and it wasn’t very hard since I remember how much showing at the fair meant to me when I was growing up.”

That joy of raising and showing livestock has been passed on by Nathan and his wife, Ashley (Shupe), to their two sons, Rhett and Mason, now ages 11 and 13 respectively.

“Some families are into sports and their kids are on traveling teams but our family travels to livestock shows,” said Forkner.

He said his sons spend about two-hours doing their chores each day and about five hours working with their animals during the summer. The travel has kept the family close as they have plenty of time to talk about everything.

Stopping himself, Forkner said those calls from the various 4-H groups volunteering funds and labor almost made him cry.

“We’ve got 17 4-H clubs and just under 400 kids in them plus we’ve got all the FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapters and scouting groups,” said Forkner. “I’ve been to enough fairs in Missouri and in a lot of other states and the Vernon County Fair is one of the best in the country thanks to the work and support of a lot of great people right here. We aim to keep it that way.”