The Putnam County Fair Board will host this summer’s fair at the old fairgrounds off South Jefferson Avenue.
Fair Board President Brenda Gentry said while progress continues on the new facility, it does not have barns yet for cattle shows.
“It would cost us so much money to rent panels to corral the cattle shows, the goat shows, the hogs,” Gentry said. “We just don’t have a good place for it right at the moment.”
Gentry said the main arena, bleachers, the midway, and welcome center are all complete at the new fairgrounds. Gentry said the decision is not disappointing but bittersweet.
“We are looking forward to going to the new fairgrounds,” Gentry said. “We are planning to have our 100th fair at the new fairgrounds next year, so hopefully things will come together and we can have it next year at the new fairgrounds.”
Gentry said the decision did disrupt planning for the county fair. Gentry said ahead of the decision the board was planning two fairs.
“We planned two fairs in case the property sold and we couldn’t have it at the old fairgrounds,” Gentry said. “we planned a smaller version of the fair at the new fairgrounds.”
Gentry said the decision will not prevent the county from selling the old fairgrounds. Gentry said should the old fairgrounds sell before the fair, the board would hope the new property owner would allow them to still host the fair on the property this year.
The new fairgrounds is located just off Tennessee Avenue close to the new county convention center.
