Making history on Monday, May 1, 2023, the date of the closing of the sale of seven acres, including animal show buildings and the exhibit hall at the Morrill County Rodeo, Farm and Ranch grounds south of Bridgeport on Highway 88 are, in front shaking hands over the check: Jeff Metz and Del Kraupie; back row: Bill Steel,Trevor Blomenkamp, Josh Schmidt, Clint Sterkel, DJ Hoxworth, Robbie Steffans, Mike Goeman.The entire purchase price was $275,000, paid with funds provided to the county via the American Rescue Plan Act during the Covid pandemic.
Morrill County now owns those seven acres closest to Highway 88 to be used as a fairgrounds for the annual county fair. Originally purchased from Fred and Pearl Lindberg in 1921 by the Morrill County Fair and Stock Growers’ Association in the amount of $625, the present buildings were moved to that site one hundred years ago, in the spring of 1923.Then the Stock Growers sold the fairgrounds to the Morrill County Fair Association in February of 1926, for $1.00.The Fair Association changed its name in 1999 to Morrill County Rodeo, Farm and Ranch Association.
