On Wednesday, October 24th many gathered for the ground breaking of a donated multi-purpose building at the Sioux Empire Fair Grounds. The building is being built and donated by Art and Marie Nordstrom in honor of their late parents Walter and Leona Nordstrom and Melvin and Pauline Johnson, all of Garretson. Art and Marie grew up with the Sioux Empire Fair being involved in 4-H and want to help make the Sioux Empire Fair thrive. Both of the couples' mothers were 4-H leaders in the Garretson area. Art's dad, Walter, served on the Fair Board for a time. Art and Marie are members of Faith Temple Church and want to provide a place for the weekly Food Give Away held at the Fair Grounds every Friday. It will assure the church can use the new building and not be displaced by other events being held in the present Armory where the Food Give Away is now held. They feel very blessed to have this opportunity.
The couple will be able to build the building, finish the inside walls, ceiling, the plumbing, the restrooms, kitchenette and showers. They are asking others in the community to come on board and help make this building possible by donating to provide the electrical, heating, air, etcetera to finish the building. It is being built by Cleveringa Construction; Merlin Cleveringa is married to Marie's youngest sister, Carol. The building is already underway at the Fair Grounds.
Every donation counts, no matter how small. Every $500 donation will receive their name on a plaque inside the building. Every $1000 or more donation will receive an individual plaque. A plaque telling about Art and Marie's parents will be displayed in the Nordstrom-Johnson building also. Donations may be mailed to Friends of the Fair at 100 North Lyon Blvd, Sioux Falls, SD 57107, a tax deductible 501 C3.
