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Timeline

The first rumblings of the Nebraska State Fair moving began a couple of years ago when then Senator Ray Aguilar asked Mayor Margaret Hornady and Chamber President Cindy Johnson if there was interest in Grand Island becoming the home of the Nebraska State Fair. The official timeline of events, as it relates specifically to Grand Island becoming the home for the State Fair, is listed below.

2007
October
  • Letter of Interest submitted to the Legislature from Grand Island City officials through Committee*.
October-December
  • Meetings were held by Committee with Grand Island City Officials, Hall County Ag Society and Fonner Park.
December
  • Committee made formal presentation to the Nebraska Legislature Ag Committee.
  • Committee met with Governor Dave Heineman to garner his support.
  • Committee met with University of Nebraska Officials to talk about University use of the current state fair grounds, and their support for Grand Island as the new site of the Nebraska State Fair.
2008
January-February
  • Various meetings by Committee with City/County officials, State Fair Board officials, architects, engineers and others to develop a site plan and cost estimates for the state fair move.
March
  • Committee met with State Senators Flood and Erdman, Fonner Park officials and State Fair Board to address issues with ownership and governance of the Nebraska State Fair.
  • Committee worked with members of the Legislature’s Ag Committee to draft legislation.
March 31
  • Legislature Ag Committee met in executive session to bring the bill out of committee and to the full legislature.
April
  • Legislature votes on the bill on three separate occasions (as required by law) with overwhelming support.
    • April 3, 2008 – First Vote
    • April 9, 2008 – Second Vote
    • April 16, 2008 – Final Passage
April 18
  • Governor Dave Heineman signed LB 1116 into law in Grand Island.
2009
July 9
  • Local and state dignitaries participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new State Fair site at Fonner Park.
July 31
  • Final installment of funds was due.
  • Final payment was certified.
August 28-September 7
  • State Fair held in Lincoln

* The members of Committee include: