GJCF sees third best fair in history

     Great Jones County Fair Manager John Harms presented the 2015-16 profit and loss statement to the Jones County Supervisors during their Dec. 20 meeting.

     Harms said the 2016 fair was the third best in the fair’s 164-year history. The 2014 and 2015 fairs were the first and second best respectively.

     “All of this is in spite of 5-plus inches of rain and 90-degree temperatures,” said Harms of this year’s Five Best Days of Summer in Monticello.

     He told the board that over the past decade, the GJCF continues to grow and patrons become more enthusiastic.

     After so much rain this summer, Harms said the fair board looked at ways to improve drainage on the track during concerts.

     “We needed to get the water discharged quicker,” he said.

     A $55,000 project of adding concrete and drainage on the track provides a channel to funnel the water through inlets to get to a nearby pond.

     Harms said another project that is in the planning stages would include adding a roof on the outdoor horse arena. Right now, studies are being done on the concept.

     “They have raised a fair amount of money already,” Harms said.

     Earlier this fall, the fair board and City of Monticello came together to add a parking lot between the back of the Berndes Center and the Youth Development Center. Harms acknowledged a job well done, as well as the positive comments received.