Fair board preparing for 2024, 2025 Great Northern Fair

At their monthly meeting members of the Hill County Fair Board said activity at the Great Northern Fairgrounds has slowed substantially as the weather has gotten colder, but there is still work going on there.

Board Vice Chair Bob Kaul said most of the work is maintenance, but they are getting bids on door replacements for the Bigger Better Barn as well as for some work on their rental house.

Fairgrounds Secretary Joni Keith said five new cameras have been installed on the outside of the Bigger Better Barn and they are having an electrician come in to get their new system up and running.

She also said they’ve ordered materials to construct new handrails in the barn, and they are getting quotes for entertainment at this year’s Great Northern Fair.

Board member Ken Erickson said the entertainment for the 2024 fair should be mostly locked down this week.

Erickson also said they are scheduling things so that there are unique events on Wednesday and Sunday.

He said the first and last day of the fair usually don’t have as much going on, but they are trying to draw more people on those days.

Erickson and Keith also briefly discussed the 2025 fair, and said they are trying to get the ball rolling on booking entertainment two years out from now on.