On Friday, December 21st, the Clayton Fairgrounds received $1,000.00 in grant funding from Northwest Farm Credit Services. Sarah Cotter, Clayton Fair Manager, has been helping the Fairgrounds with writing grants for the past six or seven years, and this is the 3rd grant received since she began. With the help of a letter from Loren Lentz, Northwest Farm Credit Services issued this check for additional improvements to grounds.
When the fairgrounds moved from the center of Deer Park to Clayton, everything that appeared to be of any value was relocated. This includes the lights for the rodeo performances. These lights are now failing and are both costly to run and to repair. This current grant money will go toward replacing these lights. Cotter is working with Inland Power and Light for a rebate on the replacements to help keep costs down; however, the fairgrounds still need to raise twenty thousand to twenty-five thousand more dollars for renovations in order to keep the warm summer-night rodeo performances many of us have grown up enjoying.
If you are able to donate or know of any additional grant opportunities, please contact the Clayton Fair office by calling 509-276-2444. Cotter also shared that there may be an opportunity for some advertising spots for businesses looking to help with some mutual benefits.
