The Alger County Fair received a grant to help renovate the horse arena on the western side of the fairgrounds. The grant will help pay for $24,388 worth of resetting the arena’s surface.

According to Mary Artress, who organizes the horse events at the Alger County Fair, the renovations were needed for additional safety and speed.

“It’s definitely a safety thing. A lot of horses last year had issues, so it became a necessity,” she said. “A lot of this grant application has to do with safety.”

The construction will dig down the sand and dirt at the top of the arena and reinstall layers of various sediment for proper racing. It’s the first time in over 12 years since a major renovation project was done at the Alger County Fairgrounds horse arena.

Artress believes that the horse shows will be more competitive and equal, as owners and riders would be willing to take a new arena at full speed.

“Last year, we had people taking their time and showing concern (about the arena). Hopefully this will make more of an even playing field,” Artress said.

The grand funding comes from a $1.5 million fund for needed building and capital improvements on fairground facilities. Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) established the grant system and administrated funds to 23 counties across the state, four of which are in the Upper Peninsula. Alger received the smallest amount of money of all counties statewide.

“Our county fairs and expositions are often the first connection people have to Michigan agriculture and can be the place where our youth find a lifelong passion to farming and agri-food entrepreneurship,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “These grants invest in our rural communities, support our fairs and expos and help encourage our future ag leaders to learn and grow.”

Artress said the horse arena will be “absolutely” ready to go for the Alger County Fair on August 4-6. Construction is expected to start sometime next week.