COLUMBIANA CO. FAIRGROUNDS Cattlemen seek funds to raze old steer barn, build new one

More room is needed for the growing livestock show participants.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Area cattlemen are hoping 4-H alumni and others will step up to fund construction of a new steer barn at the Columbiana County fairgrounds before next year's fair.
Todd Hoppel of Hanoverton is chairman of the Columbiana County Steer Club, one of several groups attempting to tear down the aging steer barn and raise about $100,000 to build a new one.
Area cattlemen interested in the project are also members of the Columbiana and Mahoning county cattlemen's associations and other groups, he said.
The various cattlemen's groups will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the fairgounds' commercial building to discuss the project.
"There have been about 80 steer each year of the fair through that barn, so over the years, that's a lot of cattle," he said. "We hope people who were in 4-H over the years will support the project."
Hoppel said the steer barn needs to be replaced not only because of its age but also because more room for steers is needed. The steel-frame pavilion building planned would have a show ring in the center with steer stalls around it.
He said a pavilion-style building is planned to give the cattle as much air circulation as possible during the fair's hot and humid days.
Fair concerns
The show barn, known as the coliseum and used for most of the livestock shows, is overbooked each year, so a show ring for the steer shows and sales would alleviate the congestion problem, he added.
Another concern of the fair board and cattlemen is the potential for accidents when fair participants have to lead their steer from the steer barn to the coliseum show arena and back, a distance of about 400 feet.
"You have a steer weighing 1,200 pounds or more being led by 9- to 18-year-olds," Hoppel said. "There are a lot of distractions, and the potential for trouble is there. We have the opportunity here to reduce the chances that something bad will happen."
tullis@vindy.com