The Beginning of a Legacy at the Mighty Howard County Fairgrounds

   "We are excited to announce that we are fundraising to build a new community event center named Legacy Hall that will be used for weddings and special events in Howard County," stated President Walton. The hall that will be attached to the north end of the existing Featherlite Center and Historical Society Building will include state-of-the-art features such as seating for 600 plus guests, an industrial kitchen, a spacious stage with ADA accessibility, a bar area, a patio area, a bridal suite, and more.

   The idea for Legacy Hall originated from retired Cresco Bank and Trust retired President Donna Thomas, who sought a legacy project to give back to the community. "The owners (Grimstad Family) made me an offer: find a community project that you can get involved with and they would give generously to the organization as a legacy in my honor," explained Thomas. For several months, I pondered about what project would be the perfect way to leave a legacy in the area. The Expo Center kept coming into mind, what does it need? Can we find a way to make it more functional? I decided to share my thoughts with (Executive Secretary/Manager of the Howard County Agricultural Society and Executive Director at the Association of Iowa Fairs) Tom Barnes. After discussions with Barnes, the focus shifted towards building a new facility rather than renovating the existing Expo Center.

   An extensive research project was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of upgrading the Expo Center versus constructing a new building. Barnes noted,“We looked at the logistics of renovating the existing structure of the Expo

Center. With the structure the way it is makes it very difficult. Basically, it has no insulation. Structurally it is a very good building. When you look at renovating a structure like that, there’s so much that’s going to be hidden. We looked at raising the ceiling, accentuating the beams, and adding insulation. We looked at a new heating and air conditioning system, which is a significant amount of money, and the floor alone was around $100,000 to replace. So when you put all of the costs together you are looking at $650,000-$750,000 to do what needs to be done to bring it up to current standards. 

   Because of the cost comparison and the bonuses of having a completely new updating building, the decision to build a new facility was done with careful thought. 

   Barnes added, ”The costs were roughly twice that, maybe a little more (than renovating the Expo). But, when you’re all done with that you’ve got basically 20 years before any maintenance issues and you can have a structure that meets today’s standards, building codes, and the insulation is a lot better. We know our utilities will go down simply because of the efficiency of the equipment that’s available to us today. So, it kind of really was a no-brainer if you think about it. New would be a better way to go.” Preliminary estimates suggest Legacy Hall will cost approximately $1.7 million to build.

   Thomas who is spearheading the fundraising project, “Say I Do to Legacy Hall” is excited to be working with a dedicated steering committee, comprised of fair board members and community members that has been assembled to lead the fundraising efforts for Legacy Hall. Thomas adds, "Watching it all come together as the 'I Do Crew' was formed and seeing how quickly everyone rolled up their sleeves and went to work putting this all together is exciting."

   To support the "Say I Do to Legacy Hall" fundraising campaign or learn more about the project, visit mhcfair.com/donate. Barnes emphasized, "Together we can say 'I Do' to Legacy Hall, and build a place where traditions continue, new memories are created, and our community thrives." The community's enthusiasm and dedication towards this project showcase the strong spirit and unity of Howard County residents.