FNB, Conovers donate $75K toward Union County Fairground project

AFTON — The Union County Fair Board received more good news this week.

On Monday, First National Bank and the Conover family donated $75,000 toward the board’s “Building on Tradition” capital campaign to upgrade facilities at the Union County Fairgrounds in Afton. This money will be given to the project over a 5-year period.

“We applaud the efforts of this fair board,” said Randy Huewe, president of First National Bank in Creston and Afton. “Agriculture is the cornerstone of our communities in Union County and all across Iowa. Our bank understands the importance of cultivating the leaders of tomorrow and these new facilities will ensure a proper place for our youth to develop for years to come.”

The project includes constructing two new buildings at the Union County Fairgrounds. The first will be 110-foot wide by 240-foot long and will house the swine, sheep and new show arena to be used by local 4-H members. It will be fully-insulated and include restrooms and showering facilities. 

The second will be the 100-foot wide by 160-foot long First National Bank Cattle Barn. It will eventually be constructed where the current show arena sits today.

With this $75,000 donation from First National Bank, the board has now raised $1.1 million in just more than three months. That includes $600,000 raised locally and a $500,000 pledge from the Dekko Foundation. The board plans to start construction of the buildings this August once the Union County Fair ends.  

“The board has been able to raise these funds very quickly,” said Steve Crittenden, senior vice president at First National Bank in Creston and Afton. “For me, I’ve always been proud of the support that First National Bank and the Conover family have given to area youth and agriculture over years. We live by our motto: ‘Commitment you can bank on.’ And, it’s our mission to demonstrate that motto to our customers and communities year after year.”

The Union County Fair Board thanks First National Bank and the Dwight and Neal Conover families for their generosity toward the “Building on Tradition” capital campaign. First National Bank shares the vision that this project isn’t simply building buildings, but rather investing in the youth and ultimately investing in the future of Union County.

Financial support is still needed as the total cost of this project is estimated at $1.5 million. If you wish to be a donor, contact Chad Rieck, Ben Adamson, Tim Loudon, Jamie Travis, Marla Gilliam, Cole Miller or Vince Taylor.