Fairgrounds commercial building fills need for large events
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After overflowing the Pavillion at Ramsey Farms several years ago, the Ringgold County Cattlemen Association set their sights on a facility that could host larger groups. The Pavillion at Ramsey Farms was designed to seat 250 people, but closed at the end of 2022, after the owners decided not to continue renting the facility out.
“It was the biggest building in the county,” Tucker Winemiller stated in reference to Ramsey Farms, “we served 350 there.”
The Ringgold County Cattlemen then joined forces with the Ringgold County Fair Association, and a group of young leaders initiated many conversations throughout the county, completed surveys with community partners and spent time with youth to identify the top community needs.
Space was the first need identified, followed by handicap accessible restrooms, seating for over 400 people, room for equipment and livestock, and a kitchen with concessions.
The two groups then began planning to expand the commercial building at the fair grounds to function as the hub of the fair and the rest of the county.
Now complete, the building addition offers a 20×40 foot kitchen and equipment, modern indoor bathroom facilities, a 40×40 foot gathering area at the front of the building, plus the existing 60×120 foot commercial building space for larger events. Although it is not a commercially licensed kitchen, any organization that has a ServSafe certification or a food service license, can serve food onsite.
Since the soft opening of the renovated commercial building on Saturday, January 27, the facility has been rented every week.
The Ringgold County Cattlemen Association was the first to utilize the new space, welcoming 650 people for their annual banquet. The NEW Coop hosted a meal and a speaker, Ringgold County Hospital hosted a holiday party, and the SW Iowa Women in Ag Summit also took place there.
According to Tucker Winemiller, other organizations including City State Bank, and Pioneer -Bishop Feed have also booked upcoming events.
Dr. Dan Thomson presented at the 2024 Ag Summit held February 7 in the newly renovated commercial building at the Ringgold County fairgrounds.
The building is available for 3-day weekend rental, which includes tables and chairs to seat 600, for $2,000. Weekday rentals also available.
The building is expected to be used for farm safety demonstrations, livestock handling and care demonstrations, beef on a budget, feeding tips for infant growth, 4-H workshops, intergenerational education, food safety classes, young entrepreneur kitchen use, animal health workshops, FFA supervised ag experiences, farmers markets, community entertainment and nutrition workshops.
For more information, contact Liz Stewart at 641-464-5270 or Tucker Winemiller at 641-745-7785.
