Sweetheart Supper supports Poweshiek County fairgrounds

GRINNELL — A fundraising event for updates to the fairgrounds and a proposed indoor show ring is slated for Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Poweshiek County Fairgrounds.

The first Poweshiek County Fair Association Sweetheart Supper features a fun evening of drinks, fellowship, food, auctions and a dance, all for a good cause.

Tickets are available at $40 each. Or reserve a table for eight and receive eight free drink tickets.

Evening agenda

Cocktail hour at 5 p.m.

Dinner buffet of prime rib/pork loin at 6 p.m.

Live auction at 7 p.m.

Silent auction closes at 8 p.m.

DJ Cox providing the tunes from 8 — 10 p.m.

Proposed building

The proposed improvements include a 110-foot by 100-foot indoor show ring arena with a 50-foot by 80-foot connecting hallway to the exhibit building.

The hallway would include accessible handicap restrooms, new livestock office, meeting room and concession stand. The new indoor arena would be located on the west side of the exhibit building.

Plans are to use local contractors on the project.

“Our old show ring building needs some work,” said Scott Sieck, president of the Poweshiek County Fair Board. “We’ve done work on the building over the years. Plus, it is small.”

Auctions

Some items already donated to the auctions include four general admission pit tickets to see Megan Moroney at the Iowa State Fair Aug. 9 and four front row seat tickets to see Brooks and Dunn April 24 at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines as part of the duo’s “Neon Moon Tour 2025.”

Other items being auctioned are listed below.

“Changing Seasons” painting by Jim Hansel (JJ Nichting Company)

“Forever Red” painting by Charles Freitag (JJ Nichting Company)

Shirts, hats and other gear from Bayer Crop Science (production and foundation)

Seventeen 12-foot HW brand corral panels

Pit Boss Smoker (Theisens)

Six bags of Wyffels seed corn (Moon Seed)

Two night stay at Sunset Hills Bison Ranch (Circle U Ag)

Weekend stay at Outback Campground (Blake Jack Construction)

Gun raffle

In addition to the live and silent auctions, two guns will be raffled off — an engraved Henry Rifle .22 American Farmer Tribute Edition and a Savage 350 Legend Axis 11 XP with 3x9 Scope.

Tickets are $20 for the Henry Rifle drawing and $10 for the Savage firearm drawing. Buys must be 18 years of age to purchase tickets for the gun raffles, and a limited number of tickets will be sold.

Tickets for both the gun raffles and the Sweetheart Supper can be purchased at Wagon Wheels West at 175 US-6, or from the Poweshiek County Fairgrounds Office at 425 East St. S., both in Grinnell.

The fair board is currently seeking additional auction items for both the live and silent auctions. Items may be dropped off at the fairgrounds office or Wagon Wheels West in Grinnell.

All proceeds go to support the Poweshiek County Fair and the new show ring project.

Numerous events are held annually at the Poweshiek County Fairgrounds including the Poweshiek County Fair, which will be held July 12 and 15 — 20.