By Josh Margolis
HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – MSU-Northern Chancellor Greg Kegel provided public comment at Tuesday night’s Great Northern Fair Board meeting to discuss a potential partnership in the University’s project to create an equine center.
The land for the center was gifted to the University and sits near the Fairgrounds. Kegel said they will beginning a capital campaign in the near future to raise funds for the multimillion dollar project, which he hopes will include the building of a “major indoor arena” that could host numerous types of events, from rodeos to conventions.
“I’m thinking that if we get this thing put together, it’ll help me in recruiting students, it’ll help me in retaining students, across all degrees. And it’ll be something that we can use for multiple different types of programming.”
Kegel says he is interested in collaborating with the Fair on this project and believes it could benefit both sides.
“We’re ecstatic about it,” said Board member Ken Erickson. “We think an events center that the community and college can work together to build, the possibilities for Havre is we’re going to get more events, we’re going to attract – we look like a better community, because our Fairgrounds is really, is decrepit in many ways.”
Other topics discussed at the meeting:
- The Board’s goal is to get the west bathrooms completely rebuilt in time for the Fair this July, depending on availability of parts. A cost for the project is not known.
- The Board introduced new member Casey Tilleman, who was recently appointed by the Hill County Commission
- New illuminated exit signs and smoke detectors have been installed in the Community Center, as well as a new water heater.
- The grandstand events for the Fair, set for July 13th through the 17th, are in place. Wednesday night will be a Junior Rodeo, Thursday and Friday there will be an NRA Rodeo, Saturday there will be truck pulls, and Sunday will be the Jaycees Demolition Derby
