Pictou County 4-H plans new barn at exhibition

Pictou County 4-H plans to raise a new barn on the exhibition grounds.

Sterling Heighton, who is coordinating the project for Pictou County 4-H, said the 4-H barn located closest to the Kinsmen Centre building is in poor shape and needs to come down.

“It is well past its prime,” he said. “The canteen is no longer usable and that is a big part of 4-H. The building is done and it is time for a replacement.”

The news shouldn’t come as a surprise to any involved in 4-H because the group has been talking about a replacement for some time.

The life skills building, currently beside the barn, is going to have its own repairs including a new foundation. The new barn will be joined to the life skills building and he estimates costs for the entire project will be over $200,000.

The new barn will be one level with a concrete floor, he said, with a canteen and washrooms and possibly an area for bleachers. An engineer has done the design work for the building and foundation so construction can begin in time for use this fall for the exhibition. A new roof will also cover the entire building once it is complete.

“We have to get the structure up and the canteen in and after that we will work on the bells and whistles,” he said.

Heighton said the community has rallied around the project with many businesses providing supplies, while some volunteers have come forward to help out with the construction.

4-H has secured a $75,000 grant from Municipality of the County of Pictou for the project, but it’s only available for a two-year period. The project is entering its second year with no construction having taken place yet, so there is no time to waste, said Heighton.

Pictou County 4-H is also planning to fundraise on its own, starting April 22 by hosting a talent and services auction. Money raised will go towards programming and the barn construction.

The fundraiser will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Pictou with the doors opening at 6 p.m. and auction starting at 7.

All items have been donated by 4-H members and include such things as hay, baked goods, gravel, themed baskets as well as talents such as singing and dancing lessons.

The auctioneer will be Tim Parker and the storm date will be April 29. Admission is $5 at the door and dessert and tea will be served.