The Iowa State Fair's 109-year-old Sheep Barn has a new coat of paint. See the renovations:

When it comes to renovations at the Iowa State Fair, the most popular projects usually involve restrooms and air conditioning, according to Peter Cownie, executive director of the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation.

The opening ceremony of the State Fair on Thursday showcased the newly renovated 109-year-old Sheep Barn, spruced up with a new roof, fresh paint, new storm sewer and yes, additional restrooms although air conditioning wouldn’t be on the table for the open-air building.

Even Gov. Kim Reynolds got into the spirit of improvements to one of the most coveted State Fair amenities shouting, “New restrooms, yeah, who’s excited about that!” during the fair’s opening ceremony held at the newly renovated Sheep Barn.

The Sheep Barn is just the first project of a $25 million effort to restore the historic and ultra important livestock barns with the Horse Barn on deck for the next renovation effort. The Swine Barn and Cattle Barns will follow.

“Everyone really likes the new restrooms,” said Don Hummel who has been superintendent of the Sheep Barn for more than three decades.

Hummel said the fresh paint has made for a “brighter” experience for exhibitors and fairgoers.

“I think making it brighter and the restroom work has helped improve the attitude of exhibitors and workers,” Hummel said, adding that creating additional office space has also been helpful to the sheep program.

The only renovation work not yet completed on the Sheep Barn is the decorative terracotta trim on the east side of the building that only a few companies in the United States can do, said Jeremy Parsons, CEO of the State Fair, adding that the work is expected to be completed at the end of August.

“So it (the Sheep Barn) will look great for 2025,” Parsons said.

Cownie said the restoration effort on livestock barns was kickstarted by a $5 million donation from the Jacobson Foundation and has been helped with a $12 million appropriation from the Iowa Legislature and $13 million from the Blue Ribbon Foundation.

New stalls have already been ordered and will be installed when the Horse Barn restoration is complete, Parsons said.

Parsons said it is anticipated each barn will take approximately two years to complete pointing out the facilities get used beyond the State Fair for events such as the National Junior High Rodeo Finals, national livestock shows and the Polk County Fair.

“So those barns get used. There’s not a true construction window, it’s really hit or miss so two years is what we’re saying for most of these barns,” Parsons said.

Updating the livestock barns is important, said Cownie, because the structures represent “the culture and agricultural heritage of the Iowa State Fair.”

During the opening ceremony, Reynolds credited the Iowa State Fair Board and the Blue Ribbon Foundation saying, “It’s a labor of love to put on the best state fair in the country.

“Growing up, the fair could never come quick enough and that hasn’t changed,” Reynolds said.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State Fair reveals Sheep Barn renovations, Horse Barn up next