A transformation began just a few weeks ago at the fairgrounds when the Webster County Fair Board broke ground on their new grandstand area.

Cory Krug, Webster County Fair Board president said they have made great progress on the project, but there is still plenty to do.

By moving the grandstands and racetrack further east, closer to U.S. Highway 169, the Webster County Fair Board is anticipating the updates to bring more opportunities, comfort and attention to the grandstand events.

“We have been running into problems with parking during the fair — especially when our grandstand events come in, we have a carnival that takes up space,” said Krug. “We had a need to move the track and grandstands for several other reasons. The crowd will no longer have to face the sun and it will get better attention being closer to the highway.”

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson
Cory Krug, Webster County Fairgrounds president, and Heather Stewart, Webster County Fair board member, discuss the progress that has been made at the new Figure 8 racetrack and pulling track and the grandstand area at the Webster County Fairgrounds.

Heather Stewart, a Webster County Fair Board member, agrees.

“Hopefully people on the highway can see us — know that we are here,” she said. “I think people have forgotten about us. We are hoping we will attract more people. We are set up to do so many great things here. Even if it’s not a grandstand event, we have a great auditorium, indoor and outdoor arenas too.”

After the teardown of the old track area, which including pulling fences, barricades, moving the bleachers and more, dirt work began on not only tearing up the old track, but building a new one.

Krug said the new Figure 8 track is approximately 25-feet wider than the previous track, making it now 500 feet long and 210 feet wide with a 55-foot width around the track.

“We did all of that based on the feedback from drivers,” he said, adding that by moving the grandstand, they have managed to free up an additional five acres that will be used for parking and more.

-Submitted photo
Dirt work progresses on the new track and grandstand area at the Webster County Fairgrounds.

Krug said they have also improved their pulling track.

“We brought in more clay. Packed it a lot better so that those events can go on seamlessly — there won’t have to be a lot of prep work like there was before,” he said.

They have also moved the pit area down to the end of track.

“This will allow better access to our facilities for all of the drivers and the people in the pit, so they don’t have to cross the track,” said Krug. “It will be a lot safer that way.”

The added space and new design will also allow for events that aren’t on the regular schedule to happen without tearing up the regular track areas as they have had to do in the past.

-Submitted photo
This photo shows how the grandstand area and racetrack was laid out prior to it being moved further to the east.

“This will allow the grandstand area to be more versatile,” said Krug. “We also have UTV races, tough truck races and we’ve been getting some interest to bring back moto-cross races. We now have the space for those types of events to occur so we don’t have to tear up our regular tracks like we have had to in the past.”

Krug said there is still a lot of work left to be done.

Phase one is nearly complete, but will also include moving all of the electrical components, a new fence and also hopefully new lighting.

Phase two, according to Krug includes new bleachers with a shade roof. The cost for that starts in the $300,000 range, so there is a definite need for fundraising to achieve those plans.

“In terms of enhancements, we would like better fencing instead of having to repurpose what we have, that is something we are looking at doing,” he said.

Stewart said they are also looking into building a permanent beer garden with restroom facilities as well as a new facility for checking in and checking out on race day.

Fundraising

Krug said they were able to raise the funds to begin the transition with a Grandstand Fundraising Festival last summer, which replaced money that would have been raised during the 2020 Webster County Fair.

“Local businesses and supporters came in and helped put on some of the events. Those large crowds that attended, allowed us to get the dirt work done and hopefully everything we need to do from an electrical standpoint,” said Krug.

But more donations are needed in order to complete the work.

Both Stewart and Krug emphasized donations don’t always have to be in the monetary form.

“The seeding has been donated — we have about 11 acres that needs seeded to have grass ready to go next year,” said Krug. “Same with the electrical — we are hoping to get assistance with funding or for equipment and the labor. That is how most things happen out here. If the money is not there, then we hopefully get businesses to step up and help us out.”

Some items that top their priority list include:

Water/sewer work

Highway barriers

6-by6-foot beams (4 feet to 16 feet)

2-by-10-by-18-foot treated boards

New light poles

LED stadium lights

Electric work

Crows nest build

Flag stand build

Beer garden/bathroom build

A list of needs will be updated on the Webster County Fair Board’s website.

Stewart said if anyone or a business is willing to donate money, equipment or labor, they can contact the Webster County Fair Board. They will be a part of the sponsorship list that is listed on the fence that surrounds the grandstand area.

Krug said the Webster County Fairgrounds is a non-profit volunteer run organization.

“We are always looking for more volunteers or members that are interested in helping to improve the fairgrounds for our local youth and the benefit of the community,” he said.

“Having a venue brings people to our area,” said Stewart.

Krug said he would like to see the new grandstand area and the Webster County Fairgrounds eventually become a premier venue for Fort Dodge and Webster County.

“Our main thing we do here is Figure 8s, but, we are going to expand on that. We are going to have more races next year. We bring in a lot of cars from different counties and places in Iowa. We want to expand that even further. Have more truck pulls to put on and just more stuff for people to get out and do,” he said. “We would love to have bigger concerts and also use it for venues like that.”

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