Hutchinson in McLeod County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Small Animal Complex

Fairgrounds History

Photographed by McGhiever, August 9, 2025

1. Small Animal Complex Marker

Inscription.

• The Swine Barn was built in 1923 as a WPA project.
• The Sheep Barn was built in 1939 as a WPA project. The building was moved to the new Century Avenue site in 1993 and used as the Pavilion until spring of 2018.
• The Poultry Barn was built in the 1920's. Its early use was the Horticulture Building and had the same latticed arch structure as the Sheep Barn interior.
• The Children's Barnyard was built in 1974 and was moved to the new Century Avenue fairgrounds site to be used as a garage and storage.
• The Poultry Barn was the first Lesters building constructed at the new Century Avenue fairgrounds site.
• New buildings contain show arenas and wash rack spaces. Sheep/Goat and Swine Barns are 42'x128', Poultry is 40'x96' and Children's Barnyard is 25'x40'.

Erected 2018 by McLeod County Fair.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.

Location. 44° 52.348′ N, 94° 22.965′ W. Marker is in Hutchinson, Minnesota, in McLeod County. It can be reached from the McLeod County Fairgrounds midway, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 840 Century Avenue, Hutchinson MN 55350, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Minnesota. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cattle/Agribition (within shouting distance of this marker); Administration (within shouting distance of this marker); Horse Barn (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Horticulture Building (about 300 feet away); 4-H Café and Exhibit Building (about 500 feet away); Grandstand (about 700 feet away); American Legion Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Harrington Merrill House (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hutchinson.

More about this marker. The QR code simply goes to mcleodcountyfair.com

Small Animal Complex Marker (left) at the northwest corner of the Swine Barn image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, August 9, 2025

2. Small Animal Complex Marker (left) at the northwest corner of the Swine Barn

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 5, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 51 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 5, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.