The Warrick County 4-H Fair is something many residents look forward to each year. Thanks to some volunteer work and the generosity of some local organizations, this year's fair is going to be even bigger.

A building, donated several years ago by Indiana Farm Bureau, has been sitting by the wayside for a while. But volunteers are working to make it usable again.

"What we have done, the old Indiana Farm Bureau building, we have moved it," said Rob Dimmett, fair chairman. "We built the building about three years ago and we have moved it now over by the lake. Ray Stradtner donated his dozer to level out the dirt. Nick Graham operated the dozer… (Graham) and his brother-in-law leveled out the ground and did the dirt work and set the building."

The idea behind moving the building was to create more foot traffic and make the building - and the land around it - a bigger part of the Warrick County 4-H Fair.

"So, what we're wanting to do is, where we set it up there by the lake, we want to expand our fair and our exhibits down toward the lake some," Dimmett said. "So we thought if we could get that building concreted and get lights there, then that will attract more people down in that area so we could get more booth space in. So, we're just trying to build the fair, make it a little bit bigger, make more attractions."

Dimmett said the building could host fair activities, like a pie baking contest or other family events. One of the features will help participants in some of the fair's most popular activities.

"We're going to build showers on the back side (for) when we have our mud contests down there, like our mud volleyball and hog wrestling," Dimmett said. "We'll have water so they can get cleaned up better, maybe an area so we have it designated just for that."

While the added space was the major improvement on the list of the 4-H board, other projects will change the landscape, too. Hurricane Ike took down a good part of the fence around the arena last fall, so it is being replaced. But, the 4-H fair will also be greener this year.

Keep Evansville Beautiful, through a grant from the Archer Daniels Midland Company, provided the fairgrounds with 75-gallon recycling bins.

"What we're going to use them for is basically during fair time," said Tim Zoll, Center Board member. "That's the biggest user. And also if we have different events, any type of wedding or whatever may go on out there in those buildings, we're going to have recycle containers out there available for that."

Zoll said that the idea of the recycling project extends beyond the events.

"What we'd like to do is get the kids involved," Zoll said. "We're getting our youth groups involved also and trying to get them to do the recycling thing and take care of this project."

The goal is to have all the projects done in time for the Warrick County 4-H Fair, set for July 13 through 18.