The McLean County Farm Bureau has announced a $1 million investment to improve the McLean County Fairgrounds over the next three years.
In 2026, the Mclean County Fair will mark 30 years at the current fairgrounds west of Bloomington.
The McLean County Fair is held yearly and organized by the McLean County Farm Bureau. One of the largest county 4-H fairs in Illinois, it features agriculture exhibits, carnival rides and entertainment.
McLean County Farm Bureau owns the fairgrounds' land and buildings, which it said are in need of maintenance. The $1 million allocation will go toward upgrades, maintenance and new improvements to keep the fairgrounds in good condition.
Planned projects will include repairs to the barns, electrical and concrete work and updates to the Mini Expo building kitchen. More repairs are planned for the Beef & Dairy Barn and Sheep & Goat Barn.
McLean County Fair and Events Manager Katie Rader said the investment is meant to provide a safe, high-quality space for events and youth agriculture.
Other upgrades will focus on energy efficiently, thanks to a large contribution by the Ameren Lighting Efficient Program, including new LED lighting in all the barns. The fairgrounds also plan for the future of solar panels being installed.
“As we plan for the future, we’re asking for community input to help us identify additional needs and prioritize improvements,” Rader said. “We’re inviting the public to join us for our ‘McLean County Fair Fanfare’ event on May 30 to see our recent updates, and we also have a survey on our website.”
The McLean County Fair Fanfare event invites community members to celebrate and support the fair with food and entertainment from 4- 7 p.m. at the fairgrounds.
