New Saddle Horse Jr. Fair building opens at Columbiana County Fair

The Columbiana County Fair is in full swing this week, and one group is celebrating a major upgrade that’s already making a difference.

A brand-new Saddle Horse Jr. Fair building is now open at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds—replacing a more than 30-year-old structure that organizers say was falling apart and becoming unsafe.

The $45,000 project was made possible by a donation from the Lisbon Lions Club, using funds donated by longtime community supporter Doris Eells. Eells, who received a pilot dog from the Lions Club years ago, wanted to give back to the organization that once helped her. That contribution, in turn, made its way to the Saddle Horse program.

“We were sitting at the old building and said, ‘we can see outside from inside,’” said Alissa Blevins, event coordinator for the Columbiana County Saddle Horse Committee. “It was over 30 years old. It was just time.”

The new space brings major improvements. The building includes a full concession stand, a separate registration area for committee members to handle show paperwork and ribbons, and a back porch that allows judges to oversee both sides of the horse arena.

Amber May, chair of the Jr. Fair Saddle Horse Organization, said the project came just in time.

“The old building was becoming a huge eyesore and a hazard,” May said. “This cleans up the area, it’s much safer, and gives our kids and judges a better place to run the program and the shows.”

May said the donation came as a complete surprise.

“We were absolutely flabbergasted,” she said. “We’d been trying for a few years and had only had a few donations. Honestly, we were kind of getting discouraged… so we were extremely shocked and excited to have that.”

Both May and Blevins say the building is more than just bricks and mortar—it’s a chance to preserve tradition and invest in the future of 4H.

“We’re all under one roof now,” Blevins said. “Before, everything was spread out. Now we can actually work together, and the judge can see better than ever before.”

Organizers say the building will be used not only during fair week, but for horse shows from May through October, supporting multiple groups and events throughout the year.

And while the building is now officially open, its impact is just beginning. May says she hopes it serves as a reminder of the community effort that made it possible—and the generosity of Doris Eells, whose gift will support young riders for years to come.