Pictured from left to right: Don Armstrong, Louis Van Schagen, Minne Wiersma, Valerie Van Schagen, Madison Blenkinsop, Michelle Molloy. Not in photo: Beth Meszaros, Keith Blenkinsop, Mary Ann Found.
In May 2014, Barn 5 [at the fairgrounds] was lost in a suspicious fire along with all of its contents, such as a 16 x 16 stage, horse jumps, signage, etc. Plans were made to either rebuild or replace the building. In 2019, with the help of insurance money and $7500.00 raised in donations, the portable building was purchased and moved to the fairgrounds in the old footprint of Barn 5. The Fair Board decided that the portable would eventually become the main office for the Orono Agricultural Society, where the monthly Board meetings could be held, along with providing a home for office staff where volunteers, exhibitors, and vendors could meet with the secretary and treasurer prior to the fair to ease congestion at the office in the arena during the annual September event. Although some upgrades were initially made (new doors, windows, accessibility pad, etc.), Coronavirus put plans on hold to clean up the interior of the portable. In May 2022 a volunteer committee was formed to organize a “Work Bee” and get the building ready for use for the 2022 Orono Fair.
