EATON — On Friday evening, Feb. 24, county, state and local officials gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Preble County Fairgrounds Expo Expansion — a space for large events which has been years in the making.

Preble County Chamber Executive Director Karen Moss welcomed everyone to the ribbon cutting held to celebrate. “We’re delighted to be here to celebrate with one of our members, the Preble County Agricultural Society, to celebrate this beautiful new building,” she said.

Commissioner Rachael Vonderhaar had her fellow commissioners, David Haber and Adam Craft, as well as members of the Preble County Agricultural Society Board, join her at the front of the room prior to the ribbon cutting.

“When you look up here and you see this group of people, I think, this building and this space came about from the cooperation of this group that was willing to trust each other to move forward as a team to accomplish this goal for the community. David (Haber) and I would especially like to thank Commissioner Craft. He was the point person for this project, and we are grateful for the time and commitment he put into being here to accomplish this, along with Sarah Farno. She was the point person inside the office for contact,” Vonderhaar said.

“And, I just want to say thank you to everyone who turned out here today to step through this ribbon cutting with us,” she added.

“This has been just an honor to be able to work on this, and to be able to finish this and to really get to know the Fair Board a lot better,” Craft said. “You know, we’ve got a good group here. There’s just no two ways about it. They sacrifice so much of their time, so much of their talents, so much of their abilities.

“This fairgrounds is, I would say, probably the best fairgrounds in the state, bar none, and we owe it to these ladies and gentlemen up here that are there. We’re just glad to be able to do it. We’re glad to be able to offer this to the community,” he added, before offering the blessing for the building.

“It’s going to be a super year for this year,” Haber added, after sharing information about the National Quarter Horse Congress cutting event coming later this year. “Let’s just keep building on this. It’s great — a great team here. The future is very bright in Preble County.”

“It’s gonna bring in a lot of business and opportunities that we haven’t been able to to have with weddings and receptions and the Quarter Horse Congress coming in — those sorts of things that we’ve never had opportunities for. It’s going to be more money coming into our community,” PCAS Board member Melissa Miller said.

During fair week, the expansion will be utilized as well.

“We’re going to put the flowers produce and baked goods in here. That way we can lock it up at a certain time, and they can still use the outside restrooms for the showers. Visual arts will also be in here,” PCAS Board President Rodney Mann added.

Miller and Mann expressed their gratitude to the Preble County Commissioners, current and past, the community, and their fellow board members of the Preble County Agricultural Society.

For building rentals and other inquiries, contact Karen Hamilton at 937-839-8307.

Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on Twitter @emowenjr.