By James Bennett jbennett@c-dh.net
Posted Mar 23, 2019 at 11:02 AM Updated Mar 23, 2019 at 5:54 PM
The Tennessee State Fair would be a great coup for Maury County, if it can lure the agricultural expo from Nashville to Columbia.
The Tennessee State Fair Commission voted to find a new location last week after a lawsuit to block construction of a Major League Soccer stadium on the fairgrounds property in Nashville was dismissed.
The State Fair was once one of the best in the country. It never rivaled the Texas State Fair, the Disneyland of state fairs, but it was as good or better as those in bordering states.
This year’s State Fair might not even go on because of the work planned at the fairgrounds to finish the soccer stadium in time for the 2021 season.
That’s a stinging possibility for agriculture in the state, which uses the State Fair as a yearly showcase.
If Maury County enters the bidding for the State Fair, it will need to win approval and construction of a new agricultural center. There’s not enough property at Maury County Park for it, so it would have to be another site.
We believe the effort to find the property, and secure funding for it through federal, state and local sources, would be more than worth it.
We applaud state Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Columbia, for his vision in proposing an agriculture center and the possibilities it would bring for educating students and spotlighting the state’s biggest industry.
It would be a welcome addition to Maury County’s growing list of attractions and things to do.
The State Fair draws more than 100,000 visitors in Nashville. At a new, state-of-the-art site in Maury County, it would attract more than 200,000 for its 10-day run. Imagine the economic impact.
Comments