Revamped horse arena to host regional rodeo
By Justin R. Lessman
The revamped horse arena at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Jackson will host a Minnesota High School Rodeo Association event for the first time ever later this summer.
An MHSRA Region 4 rodeo will take place over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5-7, in Jackson.
Cathy Holthe, a longtime member of the Jackson Saddle Club that calls the horse arena in Jackson home, said members of the club and the Jackson County Agricultural Society — which owns the fairgrounds — are excited to host the event, adding recent improvements to the arena itself make that possible.
The improvements, which were completed this past spring, included a complete renovation of the arena’s footing and drainage system. Cost of the project was more than $20,000, the bulk of which was covered by grant dollars.
More than $10,000 in grant dollars came from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, with another $5,000 being granted by the Minnesota Horse Council and nearly $5,000 coming from the Minnesota Legacy Fund.
Sandy Phillips, a longtime member of the local ag society’s board of directors, said the horse arena was updated about 20 years ago, with old fill removed, tile and French drains installed and layered fill replaced. But in the frequent use of the arena over the last two decades, Phillips said drainage had become a problem, with several horse events in 2024 and 2025 having to be canceled due to rain and flooding.
The MDA grant in the amount of $10,050 was an Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation Fund grant designed to preserve and promote Minnesota agriculture. Terri Bargfrede, treasurer and grant coordinator for the local ag society, said the grant can only be used for items that are directly related to livestock on the fairgrounds.
The Minnesota Horse Council grant is one of 10 awarded this year made possible by revenue collected from the 2025 Minnesota Horse Expo. The council uses this revenue to offer “seed money grants” for new projects and capital improvements by Minnesota equine groups.
And the Minnesota Legacy Fund Grant, in the amount of $4,710, is designed to provide access to the arts or the state’s agricultural, historical and cultural heritage.
Gwen Fleace, a longtime member of the Jackson Saddle Club who competed in the very first MHSRA State Finals Rodeo in 1956 and is currently in the final stages of compiling the definitive history of Jackson County youth involvement in the association, said the Labor Day rodeo event in Jackson is a long time coming.
“After all these years, we are finally able to host an MHSRA rodeo,” she said. “Considering Jackson County’s long and successful involvement with the association, it seems fitting.”
The revamped horse arena at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Jackson will host a Minnesota High School Rodeo Association event for the first time ever later this summer.
An MHSRA Region 4 rodeo will take place over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5-7, in Jackson.
Cathy Holthe, a longtime member of the Jackson Saddle Club that calls the horse arena in Jackson home, said members of the club and the Jackson County Agricultural Society — which owns the fairgrounds — are excited to host the event, adding recent improvements to the arena itself make that possible.
The improvements, which were completed this past spring, included a complete renovation of the arena’s footing and drainage system. Cost of the project was more than $20,000, the bulk of which was covered by grant dollars.
More than $10,000 in grant dollars came from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, with another $5,000 being granted by the Minnesota Horse Council and nearly $5,000 coming from the Minnesota Legacy Fund.
Sandy Phillips, a longtime member of the local ag society’s board of directors, said the horse arena was updated about 20 years ago, with old fill removed, tile and French drains installed and layered fill replaced. But in the frequent use of the arena over the last two decades, Phillips said drainage had become a problem, with several horse events in 2024 and 2025 having to be canceled due to rain and flooding.
The MDA grant in the amount of $10,050 was an Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation Fund grant designed to preserve and promote Minnesota agriculture. Terri Bargfrede, treasurer and grant coordinator for the local ag society, said the grant can only be used for items that are directly related to livestock on the fairgrounds.
The Minnesota Horse Council grant is one of 10 awarded this year made possible by revenue collected from the 2025 Minnesota Horse Expo. The council uses this revenue to offer “seed money grants” for new projects and capital improvements by Minnesota equine groups.
And the Minnesota Legacy Fund Grant, in the amount of $4,710, is designed to provide access to the arts or the state’s agricultural, historical and cultural heritage.
Gwen Fleace, a longtime member of the Jackson Saddle Club who competed in the very first MHSRA State Finals Rodeo in 1956 and is currently in the final stages of compiling the definitive history of Jackson County youth involvement in the association, said the Labor Day rodeo event in Jackson is a long time coming.
“After all these years, we are finally able to host an MHSRA rodeo,” she said. “Considering Jackson County’s long and successful involvement with the association, it seems fitting.”
