The Clay-Battelle FFA Alumni Association received $50,000 for construction of a new building at the Battelle District Fairgrounds.
The old barn was built in 1927 and is getting tired, president of the alumni association Keith Watson said. The chapter governs the Mon County Show and Sale, which is held in the barn.
Sen. Charles Clements and Del. Joe Statler presented the check to Watson with Monongalia County commissioners on Wednesday. Clements said the $50,000 was from him and Sen. Michael Maroney. Statler said he and Del. Dave Pethel will donate a combined $10,000.
The money is from the Local Economic Development Grant fund, which is money given the House and Senate then divided equally, Clements said.
“So far it is the biggest one we’ve written out,” Clements said. “And we’re glad. It’s a good thing for that part of the community and state.”
Watson said the money would help a lot in the new building’s construction. The hope is that it will be ready by July 2023, in time for the Battelle District Fair.
Watson described the planned structure.
“It’ll be an 80-by-80 structure, freestanding; it’ll have some pens that could be removed. But just imagine what you could do in an 80-by-80, freestanding concrete roof building, in the area, in the community. It’ll go into an area of a roughly 1,700-square-foot arena-type show ring, you know, dirt floor where the kids can do different things.”
The building could also be used for craft shows, the fall festival, agricultural shows, farmers markets and more, Watson said.
There’s really nothing like it in the western end of the county and the building will be a boon to the area’s economy and community, commission president Tom Bloom said.
The commission plans to contribute at least $150,000, depending on the final project cost, Commissioner Sean Sikora said.
Commissioner Jeff Arnett said the commission made a commitment to draw attention to that end of the county.
“That’s what we’re focusing,” he said. “So any economic development growth that we can promote out there, we’re all for. And this will go a long way towards that.”
Statler said the western end is going to see huge growth because there are several well pads being built in the area, each of which will support multiple wells. Agriculture is also making a comeback with young folks as they realize how important the food chain is.
