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For awhile now state health inspectors have been going out of their way to see to it that the Chisago County 4H Food Services building on the county fairgrounds in Rush City isn’t shutdown. The state’s given advice to 4H officials on how to keep the building eligible to meet food prep health standards. This cooperation, though, has been with the understanding that there would soon be a new facility on the fairgrounds to replace the 60-year-old structure.

It’s beginning to look like this could be the year for the 4H to achieve that. A joint grant application between 4H and the County Ag Society to the Onanagozie Research and Development Council is getting some serious consideration. Word is due later this summer on if the funding will come.

Mick Campbell, rural Lindstrom, has accepted the job of overseeing the building replacement project. He says the 4H building has a plain cement floor that’s in tough shape, the kitchen equipment needs replacing and the roof has problems. The food service crew regularly reacts to one mini-crisis after another, he commented. The upper level of the barn-like building is lined with plastic sheets.

Campbell said during county fair this summer and maybe even a little before that -- an effort to raise funds and other materials/labor contributions to replace the 4H building will be getting started. He’s hoping all 4H alumni and any avid fair visitors will consider contributing.

An executive group of fairboard members and youth 4H participants has been meeting to formulate fundraiser ideas and build a cooperative project hopefully as soon as the 2006-2007 year.

The new building is planned to be constructed in the northwest part of the county fairgrounds. Long term maintenance of the new structure would become a fairboard responsibility.

The county fairboard or Agricultural Society would also serve as fiscal agent for the grant.

According to county fair financial reports submitted to the state over the last few years-- the Chisago County Fair makes enough to be self-sustaining but doesn’t have money left at the end of the fair to fund a 4H building project. For example the 2003 Ag Society Annual Report supplied to the paper from the state-- showed the summer fair collected $174,119 in total receipts and dispersed $173,062. The 2004 summer fair brought in $121,430 and dispersed $120,944. The fiscal report for the 2005 fair session isn’t due until later this year.

County Fairboard President Al Hoffman, Rush City, added that the Onanagozie RDC grant of $40,000 is only about one-fourth of the total cost to build a new food service building, but the funding sure would go a long ways toward making the project achievable.

Campbell, who with his wife Karen, has worked with hundreds of 4Hers over many years in the program, said food services is a big part of the county 4H experience. “It trains them for later in life,” Campbell explained. “At the fair the kids get to pretty much run the buildings, the barns and the cafeteria. It’s neat to see them develop skills like handling money, customer service, working their shifts and doing planning.” Campbell added that he often runs across 4H alumni at conferences and competitions and he has always been impressed with how they’ve gotten along in their adult lives and how 4H played a role.

The county 4H program started its relationship with the county fair in 1923. The existing building was constructed in 1945. The county 4H program traditionally has counted on food service profits from the county fair to help pay for the annual costs of 4H.

If you have professional services or materials you might donate, or need more specific information on the new building proposal feel free to contact Campbell at 257-6007.

When an account is established for accepting contributions the Press will let readers know, as well as providing updates on 4H fundraisers such as garage sale, sponsorship opportunities, etc.

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