While the rest of its buildings and grounds slumber on, the Cobleskill Agricultural Society’s newest addition, a covered horse arena, is slowly taking shape.
Crews from Finger Lakes Construction, which is putting up the 120-by-240-foot arena, were at the Fairgrounds Thursday, continuing work begun before the late arrival of winter dropped three feet of snow on stacks of steel.
“That was something we weren’t expecting,” said Jim Collins, a contractor and Fair director, as he waved another construction vehicle into place.
“And then we got all the rain on top of it…”
The rain turned the construction site into a muddy mess, which means most of those construction vehicles were hauling in crushed stone.
“I’ve got a big crane coming in Monday and if that thing gets stuck…” Mr. Collins added.
Site preparation for the project began over the winter and plans are to have it ready to roll when the Fairgrounds hosts its first horse show in May.
Work now is focusing on erecting the steel.
The arena will be open on the sides and has been designed to fit in with the architecture of existing buildings at the historic Fairgrounds.
Some $130,000 in donations and in-kind services have already been pledged toward the $400,000 project with Superior Housing, Fenimore Asset, Sterling Insurance, Bill Lake, Yo Scho Haro, and Support Services Alliance the top donors.
For more information on making a pledge, contact the Fair office at 234-2123 or email them at joann@sunshinefair.org.