Iowa City residents Charles and Julie Poeltler have given $10,000 to the Muscatine County Fair Event Center Project. The Poeltler’s have a hobby farm in the Nichols area and reside in Iowa City.
“We grew up going to the fair and have very fond memories there.” Said Charles “The fair holds a very dear spot in our hearts”
The Poeltler’s love of the fair ranges from seeing the livestock, attending the entertainment, enjoying the fair food, enjoying the Midway Pavilion, and most of all socializing with other fairgoers. They also feel the fair is extremely important for the youth. 4-H & FFA allow both rural and urban youth to participate in ag programs.
“We love the social aspect. You just never know who you are going to run into,” said Charles. “We also feel 4H and FFA allow you to learn responsibility and a great work ethic. The fair is a generational thing. You have to expose people to it when they are young, and they will learn to love it.”
The new event center will have a capacity of 500 with a large Great Hall for events and conferences. The Poeltler’s gift is going to support the IT infrastructure in the Great Hall. This addition will help market the facility to large conferences and business meetings.
“A facility this size and capacity is desperately needed in the county,” said Fair Manager, Kelsey Meyers. “Right now, these types of meetings are hosted at facilities at least 45 miles away. We need the facility, but we also need the infrastructure to show presentations, videos, utilize sound, and more. I’m very grateful to have the support of the Poeltlers. They live in Iowa City now, but still support a project to make Muscatine County better.”
The Poelters feel the event center is much needed, and it will help diversify the fairgrounds and county offering.
“This event center will bring new clientele to Muscatine County, which will help the fair grow,” said Charles. “The fair board does a great job of maintaining the facilities. The look and feel of the fairgrounds attracts families, and now businesses. This all helps the fair grow.”
To donate to the project contact Kelsey Meyers at the Muscatine County Fair Office at muscatinecountyfair@gmail.com.