The United States of StageDrop is a series highlighting customer success stories from each state. This installment of the United States of StageDrop features the Hawkeye State ... Iowa!

When the Floyd County Fair Society talks about strength and durability, they speak from experience.

Located in Charles City, Iowa - best known as the birthplace of America’s first gas-powered tractor - the Floyd County Fair is a 161-year-old tradition in the community, featuring a week of entertainment and showcases every summer, with a focus on the Youth Junior Achievement Show and agriculture education. More than 200 4-H and FFA members showcase their exhibits at the fair each year.

The first fair in Floyd County took place in October 1859 in Charles City with the intention of showing the county’s farmers how to improve their methods. Over its 161-year history, the fair has changed locations and has had to evolve with the community’s waxing and waning interest in agriculture, while still honoring its mission of education by keeping pace with new agricultural technologies. Today, the fair remains a place where “the farmers of tomorrow apply the skills they are learning today.”

But in 2019, the Floyd County Fair faced a new kind of challenge. “We had a tornado go through the fairgrounds on Memorial Day weekend in 2019,” explains board president Amy Staudt. The storm completely destroyed 5 buildings and caused cosmetic damage to 4 others. Thankfully no one was injured, but the rebuilding challenge would be daunting.

Not surprisingly, when the board went looking for a new portable event stage, strength and durability were at the top of their wish list.

“We were looking for an aluminum frame stage that would be durable,” remembers Staudt. “When we have fair acts, bands, or full wedding parties on there, we wanted to make sure we wouldn’t have any problems with stability.”

After reading the customer reviews on the StageDrop website and spending time on the phone with our sales team, they decided to purchase a Biljax AS2100 portable stage system.

The Biljax AS2100 16'x16' Portable Stage & Storage Cart Package they purchased is composed of 8 Biljax AS2100 4'x8' portable stage platforms, 2 complete sets of stage legs in 12" and 24" heights, and a rolling storage cart for easy storage and transport. They also added on one additional 4'x8' stage deck with legs and a Biljax Ultra-Stair.

The Biljax AS2100 portable stage system features 4'x8' heavy-duty stage platforms with a black textured vinyl surface in an aluminum frame, supported by heavy-duty galvanized steel square tube legs with an adjustable rubber foot. Platforms and legs lock together easily with built-in mechanisms for tool-free setup. And since the stage system is completely modular, it’s easy to replace or add pieces down the road to expand the stage. Its versatility combined with its strength and durability makes the AS2100 the ideal choice for venues needing a long-term, portable solution.

Their new stage resides in the Youth Enrichment Center, a large building on the fairgrounds that houses youth activities during the fair and is used for event space rentals the rest of the year, including weddings, craft fairs and wine-tastings. The Floyd County Fair Society is very happy with their purchase.

“It is a durable stage and we needed it,” says Amy. “We have nights where we need to put 9 or 10 sections together to make a huge stage, and we set up and tear it down after every event. It is holding up and lasting great.”

With the fairgrounds put back together and the final damaged building nearly restored, Floyd County Fair is ready to reopen for another summer of fun in 2021 - complete with their new stage from StageDrop!

StageDrop would like to thank the Floyd County Fair for their business and for allowing us to highlight their event space, representing Iowa in this week's United States of StageDrop. We wish them all the best with the 2021 county fair!

Looking to purchase a new stage for your facility? Check out our extensive selection of Portable Stages or call or email us today for a free quote!

Based at the Jersey Shore in Forked River, NJ, StageDrop LLC is a leading provider of stock and custom portable stage systems, stage accessories, truss and event furniture to businesses and consumers nationwide. We specialize in delivering custom stage configurations for business, government, education, religious, fitness and nonprofit organizations. We offer free quotes with expert recommendations to fit our customers' specialized needs.