By MATT PIKE

With its first event scheduled in the new arena just about two months away, while work on the Buchanan Fairgrounds won’t be complete, it’s progressed far enough the new facility is almost ready to be used.

Buchanan County Presiding Commissioner Scott Nelson says currently the arena is done and ready to go, with a walkthrough scheduled for today. Now the next step, Nelson says, is to equip the arena.

“So that’s paneling, that’s bleachers, that’s the stuff you need rakes, hoses, buckets, and things like that, but the paneling and the bleachers are two big projects we’re working on,” Nelson says on the KFEQmunnity show. “And at the same time, we are moving on putting in bathrooms that are outside the arena, but real close to the arena, for larger events.”

Currently the only existing bathrooms at the fairgrounds are within the activity center, which Nelson says you don’t want to make several thousand people go all the way to that building during large events.

Nelson also says around the southwest corner there will be a ticket window as well as a concession stand. Nelson says there’s a lot happening through the end of this month, and through May, but says the hope is people can be in the arena by June

“We have a big kind of arena rodeo scheduled in the middle of June, so we want to be ready for that, that’s the date you’re pushing to,” Nelson explains. “So, a lot of stuff needs to get done by that.”

On top of work at the arena, Nelson says there is still some work on the grounds to be done, such as natural gardens and fencing, but points out it’s all about priority and focusing on what needs to be done in order to open by the middle of June.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.