CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield County farmer has hopes of regional agricultural growth as he prepares plans for the construction of a new livestock facility at the Clearfield County Fairgrounds.
At Tuesday’s county commissioners’ meeting, Jodi Brennan, planning director, said it’s become a struggle trying to upgrade the existing livestock facilities, which have long served their purpose and are now deteriorating.
She said Mike Kerr of the Clearfield Fair & Park Board has been leading fundraising efforts within the local agricultural community for the construction of a new facility, but the funds raised to date aren’t anywhere near enough.
Kerr envisions construction of a new completely indoor facility that would become an agricultural hub and expo center, or a “mini” PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, for the north-central Pennsylvania region.
Fair week it would put cattle, swine, goats and sheep under one roof and it would make use of collapsible livestock pens. There would also be a central show ring with seating for over 500 spectators.
Its use would not be limited to the county fair and its events like the 4-H and FFA Junior Livestock Sale.
Kerr intends for the new facility to host agricultural programming throughout the year, regional and state 4-H and FFA events and perhaps even student educational and research opportunities in collaboration with Penn State University.
The facility would be multi-use and available for other community events as well.
“In theory we could have a livestock show one day—and with the collapsible livestock pens—we could clean up, turn around and then have an outdoor show the next day,” Kerr said.
Currently plans are for the new facility to be located in the Expo II Plaza area of the fairgrounds. The existing livestock barns would be razed and future use of those areas would be determined by the Fair & Park Board once grant funds have been received and the project moves forward.
Brennan said Kerr has met with State Reps. Dallas Kephart and Mike Armanini, whom encouraged him to apply for Local Share Account grant funds, which support projects in the public interest.
As a non-profit, Brennan said the Fair & Park Board is eligible to maintain and own an LSA-funded project; however, non-profits aren’t an eligible LSA grant applicant.
Therefore on Tuesday, the commissioners voted to approve a sub-recipient grant agreement with the Fair & Park Board for the county to act as the board’s applicant and pass-through of grant funds, if awarded, pending solicitor approval.
Kerr said he doesn’t have a definitive construction timeline at this point as much is still dependent upon receipt of grant funds.
The LSA grant deadline is Nov. 30 and Brennan was uncertain when the state would announce the grant awards but speculated that it would probably be in early 2025.
And, because they estimate that facility construction could cost between $2.5- to $3-million, Kerr plans to continue his fundraising efforts while in pursuit of additional grant opportunities.
The commissioners collectively shared excitement in Kerr’s vision, saying the new facility would grow the regional agricultural community and engage youth, attract visitors to the area, as well as have a tremendous economic impact.
“Supporting our agriculture and our youth is big for me,” said Kerr, as they are really the “backbone of our country, our state and our county.”
