April 18, 2022

The Minnehaha County Commission has named 15 people to serve on a task force that will review and establish a vision for the William H. Lyon Fair Grounds.

There were 64 applicants and the following were named to the task force:

• Adam Kniffen
• Amy Pokela
• Bryce Jones
• Cathy Harr
• Chad Biegler
• Erik Nyberg
• Heidi Zwinger
• Holly Rader
• Jeff Eckhoff
• Jon Carroll
• Michael Jamison
• Regina Beers
• Robert Thimjon
• Ron Nelson
• Sylvia Wolters

At its meeting this week, the commission will consider hiring a facilitator for a two-day workshop next month.

The task force will work with the facilitator to review the history of the fair, community needs and community support for the activities at the fairgrounds and will create a vision for it.

Winona Axtell gifted the land for the fairgrounds in memory of her husband, William, in 1938 and 1942.

More than 600,000 people attend an event there annually, the commission estimates. The site, which is commonly referred to as the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds, is at 100 N. Lyon Blvd., near Interstate 29 and 12th Street.

While some new facilities have been added in recent years, much of the fairgrounds is aging.

The work of the task force is expected to take about a year.