Work is well underway in the construction of new Agricultural Center on the campus of the fairgrounds in Alexandria.

"We hope the arena portion will be completed by May so we can use it at this year's fair," said DeKalb County Fair Board President Matthew Boss of the 18,000 square foot structure that is being built thanks in part to a large grant from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. The facility will cost around $400,000 to complete and include both a 700-seat arena and a climate controlled 2,200 square foot Ag Learning Center.

Boss said the arena is the focus presently and hopes that the adjoining Learning Center will be completed in the next year or so, in time for the 165th anniversary of the fair. This year will be the 163rd exposition.

"This is going to be good for whole community," Boss said of the project, noting it will play host to meetings, activities, an agricultural hall of fame and a farmer's market. :"We presently don't have a farmer's market on that side of the county so this will give us an opportunity to open one up."

Along with the facility, which already had its foundation completed Tuesday afternoon, there is a new parking area which will help accommodate the nearly 20,000 people who annually go to the fair.

"We have added five acres of parking," Boss said noting there will be a ribbon cutting once the arena portion of the Ag Center is completed.