PRESQUE ISLE – Less than a year ago, officials with the Northern Maine Fair Association launched a capital campaign to raise money to construct an Agriculture Heritage Building to function as an agricultural museum and educational center.

And, while it is not quite complete, fair-goers can see the blossoming fruits of the association’s labor just by taking a look at the shell of the soon-to-be-completed building.

Expositions of antique farming equipment have delighted fair-goers in the past, and the fair association last year made plans to construct the building in order to preserve and display antique farm equipment while also envisioning it to serve as a museum and educational center.

Fair President Lynwood Winslow said Wednesday that while the building is still under construction, officials are hoping to use the basic shell of the structure to showcase antique farm equipment when the fair kicks off on Friday. The new structure is located next to the Flower Building.

“The frame is up and the roof is on, and I think it is going to be neat for people who go to this year’s fair to see all of the hard work that has gone into it and what it eventually will look like,” he said.

The capital campaign was sparked after fair organizers realized that they had to turn away some of those who wanted to display their antique farm equipment during the fair, but could not move it to and from the fairgrounds that easily. Potential exhibitors told the fair association they would leave their antique equipment at the fairgrounds year-round if there were a permanent home for such pieces.

The association needs to raise $100,000 to finish the building, and currently has reached approximately 70 percent of their fundraising goal.

“We are thrilled to be at the level we are now,” Winslow said Wednesday, “And we will continue to raise money right through the fair and we’ll continue right through the fall.”

Officials hope to complete construction by next summer.

jlbdn@ainop.com

532-9257