The $21.5 Million Sheep & Swine Barn

With your Southeast Regional Ag News, I am Haylie Shipp. This is the Ag Information Network.

Need a new barn? How does $21.5 million sound. Yeah, I could do some damage…but that “damage” that we’re referring to today is a fresh build to the benefit of agriculture in the state of Georgia. Those dollars are going to be directed to a new sheep and swine barn and arena at the Georgia National Fairgrounds.

The $21,540,000 to be specific was a line item as part of the 2025 state budget signed recently by Governor Kemp and serves as proof of investing in both the future of our region’s agricultural youth and education by exposure for the general public further removed from the agricultural production world than it has ever before been.

So we’re getting into the design phase. Obviously, this money just became official. The design phase for the facility is expected to commence this summer with a timeline developed thereafter. This year’s Georgia National Fair will be held October 3 through the 13th in Perry.

It’s a happening place. Earlier this year it was announced that a 129-key hotel, a joint project of TownePlace Suites and Fairfield by Marriott would be built on location. As of February, they had an anticipated opening date of next summer.