An artists rendering depicts what the Cave City Convention Center would look like with an agricultural arena added. The arena would be used for livestock sales, horse shows, farm machinery exhibits, a farmers market and year-round direct marketing for fruits and vegetables. An unidentified donor gave Barren County 35 acres of land on which to build the arena.

CAVE CITY Cave City Convention Center is awaiting word on funding for a new agricultural arena, according to Mayor Bob Hunt. The arena would be used for livestock sales, horse shows, farm machinery exhibits, a farmers market and year-round direct marketing for fruits and vegetables. While construction is set to begin in April or May and be finished in November, work wont start until funds are available, Hunt said. The first of the projects two phases will involve renovations and additions to the existing center. The second phase will involve construction of an arena. The county has been working on the project since 1994.Study revealed (such a) facility was needed in the region, Hunt said. We wanted to help farmers in their daily activities. An unidentified donor gave Barren County 35 acres of land on which to build the arena. Geographically, its located in a good area with (Interstate) 65 and Ky. 90 coming through here, Hunt said. It will benefit the whole region. The convention center now is used by Monroe, Metcalfe, Edmonson, Hart and Barren counties. The project is expected to cost $21 million, $3 million of which will come from the state. A restaurant and motel tax also will help with financing, and Hunt also plans to seek tobacco settlement funds, he said. Hunt said he hopes the arena will keep people from having to drive as far as Nashville, Tenn., to trade livestock. The convention center was built in the early 1980s.