08 04 2015 (Pdf)

8-4-15 Sect. 1.qxp:Layout 1 7/30/15 1:20 PM Page 1 Jackson County holds first fair on new grounds By Donna Sullivan, Editor clover is still prominent. A project that has been “The jury is still out on nine years in the making whether we are going to re- came to fruition as the Jack- paint it,” Nelson shared. Old son County Fair was held in panels have been repurposed its brand new facility south to make signs while gates of Holton this year. Wholly from the old hog barns have owned by the fair board, the been painted green and used purchase of the 50 acres the in landscaping. fairgrounds inhabits was Looking ahead, the board made possible in part by the has left options open for sale of the real estate that adding more buildings in the was previously home to the A 30,000-square-foot building now houses all the livestock pens as well as the show arena for the Jackson Coun- future, but is more focused Jackson County Fair. ty Fair. Photos by Donna Sullivan on being good stewards of Fundraisers too numerous to what they already have. “We mention, as well as the gen- want to be able to keep the erosity of many donors, al- doors open on what we have lowed the board to build two before we do anything dif- new buildings – one that was ferent,” Allen pointed out. finished a couple of years “The main thing we’ve ago and now contains the in- had a challenge with is that door project exhibits – and we as the board want to op- the other a 30,000- square- erate within our means,” foot building that houses all Nelson agreed. “We would the livestock exhibits as well have liked to build a building as the show arena, fair office that was maybe a little bit and a concession stand. bigger, but this is what we They broke ground on the could put up and take care $650,000 livestock building of.” this past January. By May 1, The board is proud of the the shell of the building was fact that both new buildings standing, but there was no are completely paid for. electricity and none of the The first building erected on the new grounds a couple The weathered triangle from the end of the old live- Comparing the new facil- inside work done. That’s of years ago has been used for dog shows and other stock building is a testament to the the rich history of 4- ity with the old, Nelson con- when the community, that events and now houses the indoor exhibits for the fair. H in Jackson county. trasts the two eras in which had invested so much time, work by area youth. door area – would be perfect they were built. “It’s like energy and money already, “This is really nice,” said for the building. driving a John Deere A trac- rallied again to see the proj- fair board president Aaron “The roof and sidewalls tor, or one of the new air- ect through to completion. Allen. “There used to be are insulated, and all the conditioned ones,” he said. “You talk about a com- people at the fair that I never garage doors will be insulat- “That’s the dramatic differ- munity coming together,” saw because I was only in ed,” said Nelson. “So you ence, and that’s what they said fair board vice president the beef building. So now I could put some big heaters in would have been farming Jerry Nelson. “The last thirty get to see a lot more people.” here and do whatever you with when that (old facility) days, it’s been a huge sup- But with the fair only want to any time of year.” was started.” porter of what we’re doing.” lasting for a few days in the While their eye is on the He reflects on the wide 4-H’ers showed up in summer, the board hopes the future with the new facility, range of programs 4-H pro- droves to set up and paint all community will find other the fair board has worked to vides to all kids, whether the pens and countless other ways to use the facility. “Our be mindful of the rich her- urban or rural. “4-H is such a volunteers invested their goal for this facility is for it itage the fair had in their old broad spectrum any more,” own sweat equity in the proj- to be used for more than just location. On one end of the he said. “I really think the ect. The end result is a sight the fair,” Allen said. “We show arena is the outside tri- community is starting to fig- to behold as the building need to have it busy as much angular end of the former ure out that this is a reality brings together friends and as it can be year-round.” A donor board recognizes the contributions to the new show barn. The old wood is and it can really benefit from neighbors for the celebration Horse events, auctions – fairgrounds from many in the community. weathered, but the 4-H this. And who else is going of a year’s worth of 4-H anything that needs a big in- to benefit but the kids?” El Niño signals wet weather potential ahead for Kansas farmers By Julia Debes a shifting weather pattern is Knapp explained to heat up in real time. than average conditions. predict a quick end to the El From fishermen in Peru the single largest influence the entire surface of the Pa- Bueno for Kansas While beneficial here in Niño. In fact, according to to wheat farmers in Kansas, on any crop. The rains that cific Ocean, which covers Farmers, Not for Kansas, Knapp explained NOAA on July 18, forecast- fell across the state in May one third of Earth’s surface, Competitors that for competitors across ers report there is more than brought new life to the wheat that requires a lot of heat. As Knapp explained, an the world, an El Niño can a 90 percent chance that the crop that was recently har- The result of this warm- El Niño event generally signal drier than normal con- El Niño pattern will continue vested and spotted delays ing was first documented in means wetter-than-normal ditions, especially for the through the winter of 2015- during cutting. And, after the 1880s by fishermen off conditions for Kansas, in- Black Sea, China and Cana- 16 and about 80 percent years of drought conditions, the coast of Peru. The differ- cluding more moisture in da. Areas closer to the coast chance into spring. farmers can reasonably ex- ing temperatures brought summer months and milder- are impacted more by El Farmers recently harvest- pect more of that moisture to different-sized fish, meaning than-normal winters, espe- Niño, Knapp said, making ed better than expected continue, thanks to the offi- warmer seas attracted small cially for the southern tier of countries like Australia espe- wheat in many fields thanks cial El Niño pattern declared fish that could slip through counties. This El Niño was cially susceptible to these to that May moisture, even if in April, according to Mary nets intended for larger fish. declared in April, later than dry conditions. the rain also brought foliar Knapp, state climatologist As scientists learned more, typical according to Knapp, But as Knapp explained, diseases and hail events in with Kansas State Universi- these changing sea tempera- and Kansas did see substan- “No two El Niños behave in many places. And, with El ty. tures corresponded with tial rains throughout May as exactly the same manner.” Niño predicted to continue Observing El Niño barometric pressure anom- the rising moisture from As a result, these observa- for the months ahead, By definition, National alies and shifting wind pat- Gulf of Mexico mixed with tions are trends, not guaran- Kansas farmers may see Oceanic and Atmospheric terns. cold fronts. tees. even more rain drops for Administration (NOAA) will Only in the last 25 to 30 Knapp said if the El Niño Long Lasting Potential next year’s crop. Either way, declare an El Niño has start- years, however, have re- pattern persists, then most of Indications that Kansas El Niño is a phenomenon to ed when the sea surface tem- searchers started associating Kansas will continue to re- will continue to receive more watch. peratures in the Pacific this El Niño phenomenon ceive more moisture moisture than normal look Check out NOAA’ s offi- Ocean are one half degree with disruptions in global throughout the rest of sum- positive at this point. Knapp cial El Niño portal at Celsius warmer than normal weather patterns, according mer and into the fall. How- pointed out that of the 16 dy- http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/ for five consecutive three- to Knapp. This effort is now ever, states further north like namical and nine statistical for more information and month periods. While one assisted by array buoys in South Dakota and North models researchers use to regular reports on El Niño half of a degree seems small, the ocean that transmit data Dakota are likely to see drier determine an El Niño, none conditions. 8-4-15 Sect. 1.qxp:Layout 1 7/30/15 1:21 PM Page 2 Page 2 Grass & Grain, August 4, 2015 sia, etc. also be fun. If you don’t They see stems, leaves, think so, ask children seeds, flowers and bulbs in who’ve been on a field trip.

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