ALTAMONT – The Effingham County Fair Association recently acquired an additional 60 acres of land east of the fairgrounds from Fair Meadow Farm. The land was purchased after the 2025 county fair for a total of 108 acres.
The first project the non-profit is working on is re-modeling the existing building into a horse barn for overnight horse stays. There will be 24 new stalls and at least six campsite hookups for horse trailers, hopefully in time for the county fair in August, according to Effingham County Fair Association President Phil Hartke.
Then, a new road will be constructed from Route 40, heading south along the east side of the horse racetrack. Between 25 and 30 semi-trucks haul the equipment that is used in the three tractor pulls, so along with being a more direct route, the road will also help lessen traffic.
“That would alleviate a lot of traffic in our west entrance because all the semis [could] come in here and get direct to the infield,” said Hartke.
During this phase, more parking will be added to the land.
Hartke says the Fair Association hopes to have both the parking and road construction completed for this year’s county fair, but depending on funding, they could get pushed back to 2027.
The fairground’s sewer hookup will be extended to both the new 25 to 30 campsites being built and the 27 spots currently around the horse track. Hartke says the Fair Association would like to have the hookup extended before the road work, but timing depends on funding. New restrooms and a lift station will also be built.
“It’s going to make these campsites more valuable because there’ll be water, sewer and electric all hooked up,” said Hartke.
After 2026, the Fair Association will begin its next project of having at least 50 new operational campsites for camping from March through November.
“There’s so many things going on in Effingham through the summertime,” said Hartke. “If people have their friends, relatives come in from out of town, they can stay at the campground. That’s not very far from Lake Sara. It’s not very far from Effingham.”
Then, the Fair Association plans to build a pond with fish and a dock, walking trails around the pond and a playground. They’ll also add vending machines, an outdoor grill and a pavilion to the area. The group also plans to convert the stream on the new property into a nice-looking waterway with a better slope for mowing grass.
However, the ultimate goal for the Fair Association is to create a 200-foot by 400-foot multi-use, covered arena in the northeast corner of the new property. The arena will be used for horse competitions, horse shows, craft shows, tractor pulls and other community events, but the project is at least five years away, Hartke says.
“This covered arena is really kind of a pipe dream, but we’re gonna keep it on our radar,” said Hartke. “If we can do it, then that’s where we think it could be built.”
If someone wants to donate enough money to re-model a horse stall, they would get the stall named after them. The same idea for naming rights applies to the walking paths, its trees, its benches, the pond, the road, the playground and the new horse-trailer campsites.
For those interested in learning more or donating, visit effinghamcountyfair.com.
The 2026 Effingham County Fair will be from Aug. 1 through Aug. 8.