Vinton County Junior Fair Board hosts bingo fundraiser for concession trailer

The Vinton County Junior Fair Board packed the Fern Kruger Building at the Vinton County Fairgrounds in McArthur with Basket Bingo, using Sunday’s fundraiser to help buy a concession trailer for future fair events.

Doors opened at 3 p.m. and bingo began at 4 p.m. The game package cost $20 for 10 games, with a special game available for $5. Along with the bingo cards, players could also try a lottery tree, a 50/50 raffle and concessions, with baskets serving as the featured prizes.

The money matters beyond one afternoon in McArthur. The Junior Fair Board said the proceeds would go toward a concession trailer, a purchase that could improve food service, convenience and revenue at the fairgrounds during the annual fair and other events. For a youth-led board, that kind of equipment is a practical investment in the infrastructure that keeps the fairgrounds running.

The fairgrounds at 31935 State Route 93 serve as more than a July destination. The Fern Kruger Building is used for fairboard meetings and other public programming, making it one of the few county spaces that can quickly shift from organizational work to community fundraising. That flexibility helps explain why the building was chosen for the bingo night.

The fundraiser also fit into the Junior Fair Board’s broader effort to build participation among local students. The Vinton County Junior Fair says it is welcoming new members in the 7th grade and above, a reminder that the board’s work depends on younger residents stepping into leadership roles. That youth involvement gives events like Basket Bingo a wider purpose than simple fundraising: it helps train the next generation of fair volunteers and organizers.

The annual fair is scheduled for July 27 through August 1, 2026, leaving the board with a short window to gather support, secure equipment and prepare the grounds. For families, regular fairgoers and others looking for a low-cost afternoon outing, the bingo night offered a direct way to invest in the future of the Vinton County Fairgrounds.