New Snack Bar and Picnic Area at the Fair
Idaho County fairgoers will have a treat this year as a new snack bar is up at the fairgrounds.
The popular 4-H snack bar and concession area have been completely renovated.
“Initially, we planned on replacing just the snack bar, but when we started tearing down the building, we found the roof and beams that covered the six tables were rotten, and needed to be replaced, also,”  fair board member Nancy Uptmor explained.
The new roof over the picnic table area was torn down and replaced, the propane tank moved to a safer area, roll-up garage doors put in for the order/pickup windows, and new cabinets and countertops.  In addition, a walk-in cooler, two ovens, a three-bay sink,  a commercial freezer, two 36-inch grills, a new refrigerator and a new freezer have been added.
“Those who have worked in the old snack bar will be very pleased to learn the new building has a lot of plug-ins, better lights and insulation,” among other things, Uptmor said.
She said the fair board is continuously looking for ways to improve the fairgrounds and keep it a safe environment for people and animals.
Uptmor said this is even more important as fair participation continues to grow.
“Last year, we had 139 4-H pigs at sign-up. This year, that number increased to 175,” she said.
Idaho County 4-H Program Director Jill Bruegeman added some additional numbers that show the growth, as well: In 1995, there were 107 market animals, and for 2025 that number is 296.
“And this only includes market, not the breeding animals, which is at about 40 this year,” Bruegeman said.
Although archives do not list an exact date when the first snack bar was built, the 1963 Premium Book was the last printed for the Idaho County Stock Show; the 1964 Premium Book was for the Idaho County Fair, which signaled the move to the current fairgrounds.
“Pam [McIntire, fair board secretary] and I really enjoyed reading Marge Spengler’s memories regarding the ladies starting a snack bar around 1959 downtown when it was still the stock show,” Uptmor said. “Marge wrote that they carried buckets of water and brought canners and dry pans from home. They worked so hard, and ended up with $7 profit.”
In September 1965, county extension agent George Cool suggested having a roof built over the area at the fairgrounds. In 1966, the board discussed building a shelter. Fair board minutes for March 8, 1966, documented that the Extension Club requested to take charge of the snack bar.
The Idaho County Extension Homemakers ran the concession stand at the fairgrounds until they disbanded in 2008 and it was turned over to Idaho County 4-H.
At that time,the snack bar was then run by Bertie Forsmann, who served as the 2021 grand marshal of the fair. She ran the bar for more than 15 years.
“Friday night is the busiest night of the fair,” she said in 2021, adding the booth sells about 1,600 hamburger patties alone during fair week.
This year, Cheryl Norland has been hired to manage the snack bar.
On behalf of the fair board, “We are very grateful to all the individuals and businesses who donated to this project,” Uptmor emphasized. “Especially the generous grant for $100,000 from AgWest to get the whole project rolling.”
Thank yous/donors/workers:
AgWest-$100,000 grant; CCFCU-$5,000; Jacobs Lumber—tin, rafters; Atlas-20+yards of concrete; Smart Solutions-bracing, decreased price ICF blocks; Pacific Steel-decreased price rebar; Douglas Doors-reduced price on rollup doors; building inspector-waived fee; Gem Builders-outside door at cost; Pepsi-pop and pie coolers; Tom Fliss-sheetrock, insulation; Jim and Julie Church-$500; Lorraine Nuxoll-$100; Lindsley’s Furniture-donation of new upright freezer; Advanced Welding-beams and posts; Rusty Lorentz-skidder use; Andy Terhaar-electrical work; R. Lorentz and Ammon Scott-carpenters; Matt Beckman-plans; Wes Munger and Rocky Mountain H-Vac-moved propane tank; Jerimiah Webb with Sonntag Recreation-built tables; Cash Uhlenkott and Waylon Gehring-put together 16 metal tables; Pacific Cabinets-installation of cabinets and countertops; Pat McWilliams-duct work; Will Adams of Midstate Fire Protection-fire suppression unit; Dave Skinfil of 1^st Choice Equipment-help with choosing restaurant equipment.
Picnic Table Donors:
Hometown Auto and Ag; Dion and Susie Heckman; Hal and Nancy Uptmor; Fred and Doris Kaufman, Hal and Nancy Uptmor and Glenn and Loretta Poxleitner in memory of Norman and Ella Poxleitner; Rusty and Laurie Lorentz; Frank and Pam McIntire; Mike and Tara Connolley; The Rowlands-Brent and Tara and Dennis and Helen; Ken and Bertie Forsmann and Forsmann Accounting; The Kent (Kathleen) and Dain (Rhonda) Rad families; Infinity AgriService; Seubert Excavators, Inc.; New Century Farm; Diane Arnzen Foss-in memory of Henry and Roseanne Arnzen; Idaho Couty 4-H; Anonymous-in honor of exceptional 4-H leaders Ann Hoffman and April Lustig.